It’s been just over 100 days since Pi Network finally opened the gates and kicked off Open Mainnet, and let’s be honest, it’s been a pretty wild ride.
For years, we were all mining Pi on our phones, waiting for that magic moment when the network would become real. No more IOUs, no more internal-only transactions. And now here we are, Pi is live, public, and laying serious tracks for its ecosystem.
Let’s break down the top 5 biggest announcements from these first 100 days, and what they mean for the average Pioneer, especially if you’re like me and want to build, earn, or just be part of something decentralised and game-changing.
1. 🚀 Open Mainnet Launch – Feb 20, 2025
This was the big one. On February 20, Pi Network went fully public. The firewall dropped, and external transactions were finally allowed. That means real-world Pi transfers, dev tools opened up, and the whole ecosystem finally got a green light to build for the long term.
By launch day, over 10 million users had completed KYC and migrated their Pi to the Mainnet wallet. And get this, Pi IOU prices jumped over 85% in the lead-up. Markets were ready. Pioneers were ready. The network was ready.
For us Aussies grinding away on our phones for years, it was finally validation.
2. 💰 $100 Million Pi Ventures Fund
This one came out of nowhere (in a good way). Alongside the Open Mainnet announcement, Pi Network launched “Pi Ventures”, a $100 million investment fund for Pi-based startups and developers.
So if you’ve got a good idea, an app, a marketplace, a service that can plug into the Pi ecosystem, there’s now real money behind helping you bring it to life.
It’s all about growing the Pi economy from within. Not relying on hype, but actually building use cases. If you ask me, this is the kind of move that separates hype coins from real contenders.
3. 🌐 .pi Domains Go Live
Now here’s something slick. In March, Pi Network released custom .pi domains, think mystore.pi, footycards.pi, or aussiebuilder.pi.
Why does this matter? It gives every Pioneer a recognisable identity in the ecosystem. No more clunky wallet addresses. Just simple, memorable names you can use for your Pi app, store, game, or profile.
It’s like Ethereum Name Service (ENS) but Pi-focused. Web3 identity, Crypto-style.
4. 🎉 Pi Day 2025 & PiFest – March 14
March 14 (aka Pi Day, get it? 3.14…) was more than just a celebration; it marked the launch of PiFest, a global push to show off real-world Pi commerce.
Merchants, app builders, and community leaders all jumped in to showcase how Pi could be used. And the devs dropped a long-awaited feature too: the ability to change your phone number linked to KYC. A small thing, but massive for people who lost access or needed flexibility.
PiFest really brought the community energy back, the kind of vibe that reminds us this is bigger than just tech. It’s a movement.
5. 📲 Pi Ad Network + Wallet Activation Tools (May)
In May, we got two more solid updates:
- Pi Ad Network: All verified Pi apps can now run ads, meaning app developers can actually monetise their projects. Great incentive to build.
- Wallet onboarding improvements: New users can now activate and use their Pi wallets much more easily, opening the door for more seamless adoption.
These two changes may not sound flashy, but they’re vital for the growth of the ecosystem. No builders = no users. No wallets = no transactions. Simple as that.
Are you Mining?
As someone who’s been on this journey since the early days, it’s honestly refreshing to see Pi Network stepping up and delivering real results. No more speculation. We’re in the thick of it now.
Here’s a breakdown:
- The infrastructure is there (wallets, domains, ad network).
- The money is there ($100M fund).
- The momentum is there (10M+ migrated Pioneers).
- All that’s left now is you, the user, the builder, the dreamer.
Whether you’re trading, building an app, or just watching the space unfold, it’s clear that if you’re not mining yet, ask yourself, “Why not?”
Got questions about Pi Network or want to share your Pi story? shoot me a message, always happy to have a yarn.
Firstly, for those who don’t know me, I’m Scott, the driving force behind DeFi Life, where we’re revolutionising how Australians approach decentralized finance (DeFi) and the Education around it.
