Pi Network Ecosystem Tracker

Protocol UpgradeNode Update

Upgrade Schedule Updated Again: V24 Deadline Changed to June 2, Full Roadmap at a Glance

This isn't the first time. Following the V23 deadline extension from May 15 to May 19, the official node upgrade documentation has been quietly updated again—the V24 node deadline has been changed from the original May 25 to June 2, with V25 also shifting accordingly. As with the last time, there was no official announcement; OrbitWatch observed this change directly from the official node upgrade documentation. Latest Full Upgrade Schedule According to the latest information available: What Does V24 Bring? Unlike V23's major feature like "smart contracts," V24 is positioned as infrastructure enhancement. Specifically, it includes: updated Docker images, optimized automatic migration systems, and improved restart capabilities, aiming to minimize downtime and make nodes more stable. It also includes performance enhancements and security strengthening, preparing for a more decentralized node architecture. Honestly, V24 brings almost no directly noticeable changes for ordinary miners. The significance of this version is to 'make the network's underlying layer more stable,' rather than 'adding new features.' A Notable Rumor Recently, rumors have started circulating in the community that "V26 has been canceled." This is false. Testnet 1 is already running Protocol V26, and the official team has clarified this. V26 has not been canceled and is still progressing as planned. What Does an 8-Day V24 Delay Mean? Let's review the historical pattern: The number of delayed days is increasing, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The V23 upgrade involved a complete database rewrite, requiring the official team to give node operators more time to complete this complex migration. The V24 delay likely means that the ripple effects of V23 are still being processed, and the official team is choosing to proceed cautiously rather than rush. This aligns with Dr. Fan's statement at Consensus 2026: Pi Network prioritizes infrastructure stability over short-term speed. Reminder for Node Operators V24 Deadline: June 2 If you are running a node, you need to complete the upgrade to v24.1 before June 2. This upgrade includes optimizations to the automatic migration system, which should theoretically be simpler than V23's database rewrite. However, as always, it's recommended to start a few days in advance and not wait until the last day. For ordinary miners not running a node: No action is required; continue to await the gradual launch of ecosystem applications. OrbitWatch's Continuous Monitoring OrbitWatch's Horizon API monitoring checks the mainnet's protocol_version every 15 minutes. After the V24 mainnet protocol switch, we will publish a confirmation article immediately, just as we did for V22 and V23. Currently, the V24 node deadline is June 2, and the mainnet protocol switch is expected to occur within a few days after the deadline. Further Reading V23 Mainnet Protocol Switch Confirmed V23 & V24 Node Upgrade Deadlines Quietly Updated V23 Testnet Switched, Mainnet Still on V22—Is This Normal? Data sources: Pi Network official node upgrade documentation (directly tracked by OrbitWatch), MEXC News, coinfomania, hokanews. All analysis does not constitute investment advice. OrbitWatch is an independent Pi Network ecosystem observer and is not affiliated with the official Pi Network team.

•The V24 node upgrade deadline has been extended from May 25 to June 2, with V25 also shifting accordingly, as observed by OrbitWatch from official documentation.
•V24 focuses on infrastructure enhancements like updated Docker images and optimized migration systems to improve network stability and prepare for decentralization, rather than introducing new user-facing features.

May 27, 02:06 AM

EcosystemSmart ContractsPiRC1Community

After V23 Launch, The First Ecosystem Application is Here: What Does CiDi Games' Beta Test Mean?

Less than 24 hours after the V23 Mainnet protocol switch, one event in the Pi ecosystem warrants serious attention: CiDi Games' Beta test is now underway. This is more than just news from a gaming company. From OrbitWatch's perspective, CiDi Games is the first real experiment after V23 to test whether the Pi ecosystem can truly function. What is CiDi Games? CiDi Games is a gaming platform focused on the Pi ecosystem, directly supported by an investment from Pi Network Ventures—part of Pi's official $100 million ecosystem investment program. Its technical approach is clear: using HTML5 technology for browser games that run directly within the Pi Browser, requiring no downloads or additional fees. This is a smart choice—most Pi users entered through mobile mining and are not traditional gamers, so lowering the barrier to entry is the most direct and effective strategy. Currently, the community's main focus is Pi ELF: each Pioneer will receive a unique digital companion, permanently bound on-chain, representing that Pioneer's history and identity within the Pi ecosystem. The Timing is No Coincidence CiDi Games' actions align closely with key Pi Network events: This sequence indicates that CiDi is not a random ecosystem project, but rather one of Pi's concrete strategies to advance the goal of 'real applications after V23'. Why is This an Important Test? From OrbitWatch's perspective of tracking the Pi ecosystem, CiDi Games' Beta is a highly significant subject for observation, for three reasons: First: This is among the first practical applications of V23's smart contract capabilities V23's launch brought full smart contract support, but smart contracts themselves are meaningless without applications running on them. CiDi's Pi ELF, being 'permanently bound on-chain,' utilizes the on-chain capabilities only available with V23. Second: This is a concrete test of PiRC1's 'product first, then token issuance' principle CiDi first launched games for users to actually use, which aligns with the core spirit of PiRC1. However, whether CiDi has officially passed PiRC1's compliance review and whether it will issue tokens on Pi Launchpad is currently unclear. The answer to this question will be a key focus for OrbitWatch's ongoing tracking. Third: It directly tests Pi's ability to retain users Pi has 18 million KYC-verified users, but what do these users do daily within the Pi ecosystem? What else is there besides mining? If CiDi's games can truly encourage Pioneers to open the Pi Browser and play daily, that would be the most direct proof of the Pi ecosystem transitioning from a 'mining community' to a 'real-use ecosystem'. Current Issues to Observe Honestly, many questions remain unanswered: Complete data opacity. CiDi began trial operations in Q1 2026, but has yet to release any player numbers, engagement data, or transaction volumes. For an ecosystem project aiming to build trust, this level of transparency is insufficient. Unclear on-chain details for Pi ELF. 'Permanently bound on-chain' sounds interesting, but can Pi ELF be traded? Can it be transferred? What are its actual functionalities? CiDi has not yet provided a complete technical explanation for these questions. Unknown PiRC1 compliance status. Has CiDi passed the official PiRC1 review process? If so, when will Pi Launchpad open? If not, what is their current token plan? What Will OrbitWatch Track Next? CiDi Games is a new monitoring subject for OrbitWatch. We will pay particular attention to: Will on-chain activity emerge? V23's launch, if CiDi truly deploys smart contracts on-chain, OrbitWatch's Horizon API monitoring should detect corresponding operation types. This would be the most direct objective verification. Who will be among the first projects on Pi Launchpad? When Pi Launchpad officially opens on the mainnet, will CiDi appear in the list of first projects to pass PiRC1 review? Will user activity impact on-chain data? If CiDi's games truly attract a large number of Pioneer participants, Pi mainnet's operation count and active address numbers should show changes. These numbers speak for themselves. Final Thoughts: This is the Pi Ecosystem's First Real Test of 'Walking the Talk' The founders stated at Consensus that Pi should have real applications, V23 provided the tools for smart contracts, and PiRC1 defined the rules for ecosystem tokens. CiDi Games is the first ecosystem application we can actually observe—not a whitepaper, not a roadmap, but something you can open in the Pi Browser and play directly. OrbitWatch makes no predictions about its success. However, we will continue to track data and let on-chain facts speak for themselves. Further Reading V23 Mainnet Protocol Switch Confirmed What Did Pi Founders Say at Consensus 2026? Full Retrospective Smart Contracts Overview How Do PiRC1 Compliant Projects Pass Review? Data sources: livebitcoinnews.com, cryptopolitan.com, playtoearn.com, prismnews.com, blocktelegraph.io. All analysis does not constitute investment advice. OrbitWatch is an independent Pi Network ecosystem observatory and is not affiliated with the official Pi Network.

•CiDi Games' Beta test is the first major application post-V23 Mainnet upgrade, directly testing Pi's smart contract capabilities and its ability to retain users beyond mining.
•The project, backed by Pi Network Ventures, introduces Pi ELF (on-chain digital companions) and follows PiRC1's "product first" approach, but faces questions regarding data transparency and PiRC1 compliance.

May 25, 02:07 AM

CommunityEcosystemPiRC1Smart Contracts

What Did Pi Founders Say at Consensus 2026? Full Recap and OrbitWatch Analysis

From the announcement of their attendance in April, to their stage appearance in early May, and then to yesterday's official release of the speech videos—the complete story of Pi Network at Consensus 2026 is now finally whole. This article integrates all information from the past three months, along with OrbitWatch's analysis: what the founders said, and what it means for the Pi in your hands. The Story Behind This Series Consensus is one of the most important annual conferences in the cryptocurrency industry, held this year in Miami with over 20,000 attendees. The fact that both Pi Network founders were invited to speak simultaneously is a signal in itself. Dr. Fan's Speech: 'Aligning Web3, AI, and Blockchain to Serve Real Applications' Dr. Chengdiao Fan's speech focused on a core challenge within the entire cryptocurrency industry: the frequent misalignment between token design and real product innovation. She discussed a necessary shift in approach, treating tokens as tools to support user acquisition, product engagement, and long-term utility. In plain language, this means: in the past, many crypto projects used tokens for 'rug pulls,' but Pi's direction is to make tokens genuine tools for driving product development. This directly ties into PiRC1. PiRC1 requires projects issuing tokens on Pi to first have genuinely functioning applications. This is precisely the practical implementation of Dr. Fan's statement in her speech about 'making tokens a tool.' Her public endorsement of this direction on the world's largest cryptocurrency stage signifies that PiRC1 is not an arbitrary rule, but a core component of Pi Network's long-term strategy. Dr. Kokkalis's Speech: 'How to Prove You're Human in the Age of AI?' Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis joined the discussion on 'how to prove you're human in an AI world (without exposing personal data),' an issue focusing on one of the most critical challenges of the AI era: as AI systems become increasingly capable of generating realistic bots, fake profiles, and automated interactions, how to maintain trust and verify genuine human participation. This topic might seem highly technical, but its significance for Pi Network is very direct. Pi's KYC verification system was designed from the outset to solve the problem of 'how to confirm this is a real person.' In 2026, with AI becoming increasingly powerful, this issue has become more critical than ever—if you cannot confirm that the other end is human, the entire trust system will collapse. Pi's answer is: relying on its vast network of verified users (18 million KYC'd users) to provide an identity layer that AI cannot easily fake. OrbitWatch's Analysis: Both Speeches Address the Same Core Issue Superficially, Dr. Fan discussed token design, and Dr. Kokkalis talked about identity verification; they appear to be two distinct topics. However, from OrbitWatch's perspective, both speeches are actually addressing the same core proposition: In the age of AI, 'authenticity' is the scarcest resource. Authentic users (KYC verification) + Authentic products (PiRC1 threshold) + Authentic engagement (Engage-to-Earn) = The entire system Pi Network aims to build. These three elements now appear not just as independent functions, but as a complete logical chain: Practical Significance for Regular Miners Short-term (Now): The most direct impact of these speeches is Pi Network's international visibility. Speaking publicly on the Consensus stage signifies that Pi is officially recognized by the mainstream crypto community as a project worth watching, no longer just 'that thing many people are mining.' Mid-term (After V23 Launch): The Pi Launchpad and token mechanisms mentioned in Dr. Fan's speech are features that will be activated after the V23 smart contracts go live. The timing of the speeches (around the V23 node deadline) indicates this is no coincidence—the founders endorsed upcoming features at the most important industry event. Long-term: Dr. Kokkalis's speech positioned Pi's KYC as infrastructure for the AI era, rather than just a 'verify identity to migrate Pi' procedure. If this positioning holds true, Pi's network of 18 million verified users could become a unique asset in the future AI era. Full Speech Videos The official full videos of both speeches were released on May 20 and can be found on the official Blog: → Official Speech Videos and Full Recap Related Articles → Part 1: Pi Founders Confirmed to Attend Consensus Miami 2026 (4/23) → Part 2: Pi Founders to Speak at Consensus 2026 (5/5) → Part 3: Topics Discussed by Pi Founders at Consensus 2026 (5/20) Data Source: Pi Network Official Blog (minepi.com/blog). All analysis does not constitute investment advice. OrbitWatch is an independent Pi Network ecosystem observatory and is not affiliated with Pi Network official.

•Pi Network founders spoke at Consensus 2026, significantly boosting Pi's international visibility and mainstream crypto recognition.
•Dr. Fan emphasized aligning token design with real product utility, directly linking to PiRC1's requirement for genuinely functioning applications, while Dr. Kokkalis highlighted Pi's KYC system as crucial infrastructure for human verification in the AI era.

May 23, 01:36 PM

Protocol

★★★★★▲

Mainnet Protocol Upgraded: From v22 to v23

Protocol Upgrade

The Mainnet protocol version has finally been upgraded from v22 to v23, which is quite important news for us veteran Pioneers. I recall we were just discussing a few days ago how the Testnet was already on v23 while the Mainnet was still stuck on v22. Well, now the Mainnet has caught up, and it feels like the Pi Core Team has taken another step forward. OrbitWatch's Horizon API monitoring detected a switch in on-chain protocol_version from 22 to 23 on May 22nd. You can verify this directly in Block Explorer: Block Explorer This kind of protocol upgrade is essentially an update to the underlying technology. While we, as regular Pioneers, might not directly feel any drastic changes, it signifies that the Pi Network's stability, security, or future functionalities are being strengthened. I believe this also paves the way for the upcoming v24, which is expected to launch on May 28th, allowing the entire ecosystem to evolve more smoothly. Next, we look forward to when the project team will open up functionalities related to PiRC1, PiRC2, and smart contracts, allowing ecosystem developers to participate as well. Further Reading V23 Testnet Switched, Mainnet Still on v22 – Is This Normal?

•On-chain protocol_version has been confirmed to have switched to 23 (detected by OrbitWatch on 5/22)
•V23 brings full smart contract support, Pi Launchpad mainnet functionality is expected to be available

May 22, 12:15 PM

V23 Testnet Switched, Mainnet Still on v22 – Is This Normal?

If you open your Pi Node screen today, you'll see the node software is already v23. However, if you check the mainnet's protocol version on the Block Explorer, it still shows 22. This is exactly the same as with V22 last time, and it's normal. Data Observed by OrbitWatch Today The testnet is already running on v23, which is a crucial technical signal – it means the V23 protocol logic has been successfully verified in the test environment, and the mainnet switch is only a matter of time. Why Hasn't the Mainnet Switched Yet? This is related to the design of the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), exactly like the situation with V22 last time. Just because nodes have upgraded doesn't mean the mainnet protocol version will switch immediately. The on-chain protocol version switch requires consensus voting among nodes – it must wait until a sufficient proportion of nodes are running the new software before they all switch together. This process cannot be forcibly accelerated. Reviewing the V22 timeline for reference: The V23 node deadline was May 19th, and today is May 21st, so 2 days have passed. The testnet has already switched, and the mainnet should follow soon. What's the Significance of the Testnet Switching First? There's a clear difference this time compared to V22: the testnet protocol has switched to v23 first. During V22, the testnet and mainnet switched almost simultaneously, without this noticeable 'testnet running ahead' gap. This time, the testnet switching first means the Pi Core Team is letting the testnet run for a period for final verification before pushing the complete V23 protocol to the mainnet. This is good for the mainnet – using the testnet as a buffer ensures no unexpected issues arise during the mainnet switch. Practical Impact on Regular Miners Miners not running a node: You don't need to do anything; just continue to await news of the mainnet protocol switch. Miners running a node: If your node has already upgraded to v23, you are now in a normal waiting state for the mainnet switch and don't need to perform any additional actions. OrbitWatch's Monitoring Commitment Our Horizon API monitors the mainnet's protocol_version field every 15 minutes. Once the mainnet switches from v22 to v23, this website will update immediately, so you don't need to constantly refresh the Block Explorer or community groups. Just like when V22 switched, we will publish an on-chain confirmation article on the day of confirmation. Data sources: Pi Network Horizon API (api.mainnet.minepi.com), Pi Network Block Explorer, direct observation of Pi Network node screen. All analyses do not constitute investment advice. OrbitWatch is an independent Pi Network ecosystem observatory and is not affiliated with the official Pi Network.

•Pi Node software is v23, and the testnet protocol has switched to v23, but the mainnet protocol remains v22, which is a normal part of the upgrade process.
•The mainnet protocol switch relies on consensus voting among nodes and will occur once a sufficient proportion of nodes are running the new software, a process that cannot be forcibly accelerated.

May 21, 06:53 AM