Pi’s Quiet Gambit: Building Value Through Utility, Not Hype

Pi Network has recently implemented significant changes to its token distribution model and ecosystem development, including a reduction in mining rates and the expansion of strategic partnerships. The project has also made its native token, Pi, available for purchase through Onramp Money in over 60 countries, enhancing global accessibility. Despite these advancements, Pi’s price remains below $0.35, reflecting weak market performance.

The Onramp Money listing is a milestone for Pi Network, enabling users to purchase Pi tokens using local payment methods such as GCash, Maya, and Alipay. This integration is expected to boost liquidity and ease of access for Pi’s global community, aligning with the project’s broader strategy of controlled distribution and real-world utility. Onramp Money’s platform supports over 170 payment methods across 100 countries, reinforcing Pi Network’s commitment to regulatory compliance and broader adoption.

Rather than flooding centralized exchanges with Pi tokens, the project has opted for a more controlled distribution model. Tokens are being issued directly from foundation wallets to KYB-approved onramp partners, including Onramp Money, Banxa, and TransFi. This strategy aims to ensure a steady and sustainable release of tokens, prioritizing ecosystem development over speculative trading. Analysts, including Dr Altcoin, highlight that this approach channels token flow toward users who engage in real-world applications such as app usage, payments, and peer-to-peer commerce.

The Pi Core Team has also announced a major protocol upgrade from version 19 to 23, which is expected to enhance the network’s functionality and improve compliance mechanisms. This upgrade is being rolled out in stages, starting with Testnet1, followed by Testnet2 and Mainnet in the coming weeks. The new protocol is influenced by Stellar and aims to introduce expanded functionality and improved control layers. Additionally, the team recently launched support for Linux nodes, which is expected to attract more developers and open-source contributors to the Pi ecosystem.

Despite the positive developments, Pi’s price action has been weak. According to TradingView data, the token has fallen 4.52% in the past 24 hours and is currently trading at $0.3441. Over the past month, Pi has dropped 7.57%, and its value has declined by 80.98% over six months. The token briefly tested the $0.35 level before losing momentum, with sellers dominating the market. Weak buying pressure has further limited recovery attempts, highlighting the challenges faced by the asset despite the recent listing and protocol updates.

The Pi Network’s strategy of prioritizing real-world utility over speculative trading has also been supported by the launch of the first Pi Network ETP in Europe. This development indicates growing institutional interest in the project and underscores the convergence between onramp partners and financial institutions in supporting Pi’s growth. While the market remains cautious, the Pi Core Team continues to emphasize long-term adoption and ecosystem development, viewing the current price performance as part of a broader, fundamentals-driven trajectory.

Source: [1] Pi Network Secures Major Listing Boosting Pi Coin’s Adoption (https://coingape.com/pi-network-secures-major-listing-boosting-pi-coins-adoption/) [2] Pi Network's Latest Update Explained - And Why It's a Big Deal (https://cryptopotato.com/pi-networks-latest-update-explained-and-why-its-a-big-deal/) [3] Pi Coin Faces Classic Pump and Dump Despite Recent Pi Network Upgrade, ETP News (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pi-coin-faces-classic-pump-160820513.html) [4] Major Pi Network Listing News: Could This Be the Start of a ... (https://coindoo.com/major-pi-network-listing-news-could-this-be-the-start-of-a-massive-comeback/) [5] Pi Network Adoption Increases, Pi Coin Officially Listed on ... (https://pintu.co.id/en/news/201500-pi-network-adoption-pi-coin-listed-onramp)