Developers behind the Pi Network are inching closer to one of the project’s most anticipated milestones - the full rollout of Protocol 23.
After weeks of testing, insiders say the network’s latest upgrade has made major strides in improving scalability and transaction speed, setting the stage for deployment on the mainnet before the end of 2025.
The upgrade marks the most substantial technical overhaul since Pi Network’s inception. Early testnet results suggest smoother block validation, faster transaction confirmations, and stronger infrastructure for future decentralized applications. These advances, if maintained, could bring the network closer to competing with large-scale blockchains such as Stellar, from which the new protocol draws part of its architecture.
Industry analyst Dr. Altcoin, who has followed Pi Network’s evolution closely, said the project’s team remains cautious but steady. He noted that after the first testnet concludes, a secondary testing phase known as Testnet 2 will begin before the software transitions to the mainnet. “The Core Team tends to move slowly, but they prioritize precision over pace,” he commented, emphasizing the group’s focus on long-term network stability.
Protocol 23 is powered by Stellar Core v23.0.1 – a framework designed to handle larger transaction volumes without compromising security. It also enhances the tools developers use to simulate mainnet conditions, allowing for extensive testing before final deployment.
Beyond the protocol itself, Pi Network has quietly expanded its testnet ecosystem with the introduction of two significant components: a decentralized exchange (DEX) and an automated market maker (AMM). These systems allow users to experiment with token trading and liquidity management inside a secure testing environment, effectively giving the project its first taste of on-chain DeFi.
While developers focus on technology, traders are watching the Pi coin’s price with concern. The token has hovered around $0.23 for weeks, its trading volume dipping below $30 million. Dr. Altcoin has urged the Pi Core Team to explore measures such as token burns or buybacks from exchanges to strengthen liquidity and restore confidence.
The project’s decline in market cap has been stark. Once among the world’s top 15 digital assets earlier this year, Pi has now slipped out of the top 50 after losing nearly 90% of its value. Yet optimism remains. With Protocol 23 nearing completion and DeFi integration taking shape, analysts argue that the network’s fundamentals are quietly improving – and that a recovery could be possible once the upgrade hits the mainnet in late 2025 or early 2026.
In a market dominated by short-term speculation, Pi Network’s slow, methodical progress may ultimately prove to be its biggest advantage.
