About Us – Pi Network Project Overview

At Pi Network, we are reimagining the future of digital currency by making it accessible, secure, and environmentally sustainable. Founded in 2019 by a team of Stanford PhDs and professionals, Pi Network set out with a bold vision: to create a decentralized, user-first cryptocurrency that anyone can mine using their smartphone.

Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that require expensive hardware and consume enormous amounts of electricity, Pi Network uses a lightweight consensus mechanism that allows users—called "Pioneers"—to earn Pi Coins (PI) through simple engagement with the Pi mobile app. Our mission is to build the world’s most inclusive and widely distributed digital currency, supported by a growing global community and a fully functioning blockchain infrastructure.

Our Story

The idea behind Pi Network began at Stanford University, where Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis and Dr. Chengdiao Fan explored how blockchain could be made more accessible to everyday people. They believed that for a cryptocurrency to be truly decentralized and scalable, it had to be easy to use and widely available without technical or financial barriers. Pi was launched on March 14, 2019 (Pi Day), and quickly grew into one of the world’s largest grassroots crypto movements.

Over the years, we have grown from a concept to a global platform with over 60 million engaged users across nearly every country. We started with mobile mining and introduced features like referral-based trust circles, KYC verification, and the Pi Browser—a gateway to decentralized apps built on the Pi blockchain. All of these developments laid the groundwork for our transition to Mainnet.

The Open Mainnet Launch

In February 2025, Pi Network achieved a major milestone: the launch of the Open Mainnet. This allowed users to finally trade, transfer, and utilize Pi Coin outside of the enclosed Pi ecosystem. More than 10 million Pioneers successfully migrated their balances to Mainnet, and over 19 million completed KYC, ensuring a trustworthy and human-verified network.

The Open Mainnet launch also marked the beginning of our next chapter—building real-world utility and adoption for Pi Coin. With support from community developers and the global Pi ecosystem, we are enabling apps, platforms, and marketplaces that use Pi for peer-to-peer payments, services, and digital experiences.

Our Mission

We believe that cryptocurrency should not be reserved for the tech-savvy or the wealthy. Our mission is to:

• Make crypto inclusive and accessible to all

• Build a secure and human-verified network

• Promote eco-friendly blockchain technology

• Support real utility and adoption through a decentralized app ecosystem

Pi Network is committed to financial inclusion, and we envision a world where Pi is used by everyday people to exchange value, access services, and participate in the digital economy.

Our Technology

Pi Network uses a modified version of the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), tailored to support mobile-first mining and social trust. This architecture allows Pi to operate without energy-intensive proof-of-work, while still maintaining a decentralized and secure ledger.

Key features include:

• Mobile mining

• KYC-based security

• Trust-based consensus algorithm

• Developer tools and SDKs for building Pi-based apps

Our native wallet is integrated into the Pi Browser, which also serves as a hub for interacting with Web3 apps and the growing Pi ecosystem.

The Core Team

The project is led by co-founders Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis (Head of Technology) and Dr. Chengdiao Fan (Head of Product), supported by a growing team of engineers, researchers, economists, and community leaders. Based in Silicon Valley, the Pi Core Team continues to actively develop and expand the platform with transparency and long-term vision.

Join Us

Whether you're new to crypto or a seasoned blockchain enthusiast, Pi Network offers a unique opportunity to participate in a community-driven digital revolution. Download the app, become a Pioneer, and help build the future of decentralized finance, one Pi at a time.