Pi Network started on March 14, 2019, which is probably the origin of the project name, the circumference ratio π. That was an era when expensive mining machines were required for purchase, even though some investment schemes were selling virtual mining machines at high prices. The most special aspect of Pi coin during that time was that it allowed users to mine using their own mobile phones, meaning there was no need to purchase expensive mining machines; just clicking in the app could earn free Pi coins.
The concept of free mobile mining emerged, directly leaving a group of hardware miners stunned, resulting in a significant reduction in complexity, and the download volume of the Pi coin software skyrocketed, with tens of millions of members in a short time. This level of dissemination was undoubtedly a blow to physical mining coin operations, leading to a rapid decline in the number of people actually engaging in physical mining machines.