The Pi Network is steadily advancing toward a major milestone with the Protocol 23 upgrade, which is currently undergoing active testing on the Testnet. Market analysts anticipate that the upgrade could roll out to the mainnet by late Q4 2025 or early Q1 2026, bringing substantial improvements in scalability, security, and transaction efficiency to the blockchain.
According to Dr. Altcoin, a leading Pi community expert, the testing phase has shown promising results so far. Once this stage is complete, the development team plans to proceed with Testnet 2 before final deployment on the mainnet. He emphasized that while the Pi Core Team (PCT) is known for its slow but precise approach, their cautious strategy ensures a stable and secure blockchain transition.
The Protocol 23 upgrade, built on Stellar Core Version 23.0.1, aims to enhance scalability and streamline transactions while equipping developers with better tools for decentralized app testing. It’s a crucial step toward preparing the Pi Network for more robust mainnet functionalities. Alongside this, the testnet has introduced a decentralized exchange (DEX) and an automated market maker (AMM) — features that allow users to trade tokens, provide liquidity, and experiment with DeFi applications in a controlled environment.
Despite these technological advancements, Pi Coin’s market performance remains weak. The cryptocurrency has been trading around $0.2368 with daily volumes below $30 million. Dr. Altcoin urged the PCT to implement token buybacks or coin-burning mechanisms to counter low liquidity and strengthen tokenomics.
Earlier this year, Pi Coin boasted a market cap of over $17 billion, ranking among the top 15 digital assets, but it has since fallen by nearly 90%, slipping out of the top 50. Still, with the Protocol 23 upgrade nearing completion, many investors are hopeful that the Pi Network could soon enter a new phase of growth and potential price recovery.
