Post Pi Day 2026: Smart Contracts, Launchpad Token and 526 Million Rewards; The post Biggest Pi Network Update in 7 Years appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
The Pi Network just celebrated its seventh official anniversary with one of the most important product releases in its history. On Pi Day 2026, the team unveiled a wave of new features that bring the project significantly closer to the utility ecosystem it has been building towards since 2019. This is not a roadmap update. These are live releases.
Pi Launchpad goes live on Testnet
The most anticipated announcement is the launch of the Pi Launchpad on Testnet, a dedicated token launch platform for early product projects within the Pi ecosystem.
What makes it different from the usual cryptographic platforms is the underlying philosophy. Projects launched via the Pi Launchpad must already have a working program before being given a token. The token exists to acquire real users and integrate directly into product functionality, not to raise capital. Pi’s revenue from each token launch goes into the liquidity pool, not the issuer’s project, creating a healthy liquidity base from day one.’
With over 17.7 million KYC-verified pioneers on the Mainnet, Pi offers distribution that most platforms cannot match.
Protocol 20 and Smart Contracts
All Pi core nodes have been upgraded to version 20.2, which supports Protocol 20. The full Mainnet update will be completed next week.
This is a fundamental milestone. Protocol 20 introduces the technical infrastructure necessary for smart contracts on the Pi blockchain, providing programmable logic that allows developers to create decentralized applications, transaction automation and power functions such as NFTs, subscriptions, escrow systems and on-chain market transactions.
Smart contract implementation is incremental and service-oriented. Subscription contracts, escrow contracts, and NFT-related contracts are prioritized, some of which are currently undergoing external security audits before deployment.
The second migration is now open
After several months of community anticipation, the second migration has officially begun. Pioneers who have completed their first migration can now bring additional Pi balance to the Mainnet, provided they set up two-factor authentication on their Pi wallet via the Mainnet Checklist Step 5.
The second migration also includes mining rewards for Referral Group members who complete KYC. Promoters are encouraged to remind their networks to complete the test before the window closes.
KYC Validator rewards have finally been distributed
The Pi Network is releasing its first round of KYC verification rewards, covering the work done by the community’s human verification workforce. The numbers involved are significant.
Over 526 million successful human tests have been completed by over 1.09 million validators. The 16.57 million PI reward pool was added with an additional 10 million PI from the Pi Foundation, bringing the price per confirmation to 0.0504 PI, which the group notes is 21 times higher than the current mining rate. Payments are distributed directly to validators’ Mainnet wallets over the next ten or so days.
Mainnet payments are now live in Pi App Studio
Pi App Studio now supports live Mainnet transactions, allowing select apps to move from Testnet to real-time on-chain activity with real-time PI payments directly integrated into the user experience. Four programs have already been called for the transition.
The update also introduces persistent payment integrations, meaning in-app purchases and unlocks take place over multiple sessions, rather than when a user closes an app. This is an important step towards sustainable business models for creators on the Pi.
Pi is currently trading at $0.19, down more than 7%. While the price is low today, the infrastructure is moving forward regardless.
Source: https://coinpedia.org/news/pi-day-2026-smart-contractstoken-launchpad-and-526-million-rewards-pi-networks-biggest-update-in-7-years/
