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With the formal launch of the Pi Coin Open Network, the Pi Community can now connect globally. This milestone supports Pi’s goal of developing an inclusive and useful cryptocurrency by enabling its ecosystem, applications, and peer-to-peer network to interface with the larger blockchain world.
1. External Connectivity & Transactions Pioneers can now conduct transactions with other compatible networks and systems using Pi outside of the contained ecosystem. This improves Pi’s usefulness in the real world.

2. Businesses Verified by KYB There is now a list of companies that have been KYB-approved, guaranteeing safe transactions throughout the ecosystem. Companies who want to take part in the Pi economy can apply for verification.

3. Integration of CEX and Onramps Pi has made it simpler for people to obtain and use Pi by integrating with a number of centralized exchanges (CEXs) and onramps. To prevent scams, Pioneers are recommended to only use services that have been approved by KYB.

4. Extension of Nodes The network is strengthened when new nodes can join Pi’s Mainnet once the Enclosed Network firewall is removed. With the publication of ranking data, node operators can now move from the Testnet to the Mainnet.

Measures for Security and Compliance KYC (Know Your Customer) and KYB (Know Your Business) verification are essential for preserving a secure environment. Non-custodial Pi Mainnet wallets can only be created for transactions by KYB-verified companies. To prevent possible fraud, pioneers should only interact with validated companies. The Open Network Challenge is coming up! Pioneers can take part in the Open Network Challenge on the Pi mining next week. In addition to completing crucial tasks (such the KYC migration), this event will offer an engaging opportunity to discover Open Network’s capabilities and communicate with Pi’s social media platforms, such as Fireside Forum and Pi Chats. There are exciting incentives in store.

The first wave of 20 Mainnet Network has gone live, laying the groundwork for future expansions and demonstrating the vast potential of the Pi ecosystem. Pi Coin has revealed a revolutionary update to its Ecosystem Interface, now including Mainnet Pi apps that can be accessed through the Pi Browser. This development marks a significant milestone in Pi’s mission to empower Pioneers and developers by enabling real-world transactions with Mainnet Pi.
This latest update marks a significant milestone on the path to Open Network, as Pioneers can now access Mainnet Network where real Pi can be used to exchange goods and services. Previously, the Ecosystem Interface was restricted to Testnet Network, allowing developers to refine their creations and Pioneers to explore new functionalities in a controlled environment.
Unlocking Mainnet Network’ Potential Pi Coin is getting closer to its objective of giving its coin real-world use with the integration of Mainnet Network. The network is creating the foundation for a thriving digital environment by making these apps easily accessible through the Pi Browser. This action not only enhances the Pioneer experience but also demonstrates Pi’s dedication to development and innovation.
However, Pioneers are urged to use caution when using the Ecosystem Interface’s Network. Users must assess each Network’s legitimacy and hazards on their own, just like they would with traditional websites or decentralized Network on other platforms.
Note: The Network accessible via the Ecosystem Interface are not verified or recommended by Pi Coin. You have complete control over how you use these programs, so use caution.
An Excellent Chance for Developrs The launch of Mainnet Network presents developers with a thrilling chance to improve their work and add to the larger Pi ecosystem. Making sure your program is useful, easy to use, and properly integrated with Pi is crucial, regardless of whether it is live or still in development. As the Open Network launch draws near, fixing problems like bugs or missing features will benefit not only certain Network but the ecosystem as a whole.
If your Network is ready for Mainnet, you can apply for inclusion in the Ecosystem Interface using the Pi Developer Portal. For individuals interested in designing new Pi Coin, materials and guidance are available to help you get started.
Together, we are building the future. Mainnet Network integration is only the start of a developing process. Pi Coin is still focused on developing useful tools and possibilities for both developers and Pioneers as it approaches its Open Network debut in Q1 2025.
Stay tuned as additional Network are incorporated, and the Pi ecosystem continues to flourish, paving the road for a thriving digital economy.

Any Pioneer with a computer linked to the internet can participate thanks to Pi Nodes, which serve as the foundation for the decentralization of the Pi blockchain. As Pi Coin approaches the Open Network milestone, their advancement is crucial. In addition to their ability to serve the blockchain, Pi Nodes have enormous potential for large-scale computing jobs, which could lead to creative applications and community utility
Pi’s decentralized network can run over 1 million CPUs, with over 200,000 Nodes presently operating on the Testnet. As a result, Pi Nodes rank among the biggest distributed systems in the world. Training enormous open-source AI models is one of the revolutionary possibilities made possible by such processing capacity. While promoting decentralized computing activities, these opportunities open the door for Node operators to maybe earn more Pi Coin in the future.
Updates to Nodes and Open Network Preparations
Significant progress is being made in improving the capabilities of Pi Nodes in order to fully realize their promise. These initiatives seek to strengthen their position in the ecosystem and guarantee a smooth transition to the Open Network..
How Pi Nodes Are Installed or Updated
The official Pi website offers the most recent version of the Pi Node. When you run the Node software, it will automatically update to the most recent version if you have already installed it. A number of improvements have been made to the current
version,0.4.11, to increase usability and usefulness.
Turning on Testnet and Mainnet Switching
Future Node versions will enable switching between Testnet and Mainnet blockchains as part of the Open Network preparation. Once the Mainnet opens, this feature guarantees a seamless transition for Node operators. A new Testnet environment called Testnet2 will be built in order to test this feature. To simulate network switching, a subset of nodes will first establish a connection with Testnet2. The Node application interface allows node operators to see their blockchain status directly.
Note: Testnet is only for testing.
We remind developers and users that Testnet is only for testing. To keep it functioning, it can occasionally reset, wiping out all Testnet wallets and Test-Pi balances. To ensure ongoing compatibility, developers should create programs that can recover from these resets.
Current Node Updates: 0.4.9 through 0.4.11
The platform’s functionality and stability have been improved thanks in large part to three recent Node releases. This is a synopsis:
0.4.11 (as of May 9, 2024)
New Functionalities and UI Improvements:
A user interface display for node catch-up progress was added, giving node operators comprehensive information.In order to prevent disruptions during the catch-up process, warnings were introduced.Enhanced techniques for identifying the most recent block.Improved logging features that enable the sending of up to 40 lines of logs for troubleshooting.Accurate container reporting was put into place to properly monitor nodes that support the network.
*Corrections:
Problems that were causing nodes to go into resource-wasting loops while the blockchain was syncing have been fixed.Errors in version display have been fixed, guaranteeing that every node displays the correct software version.
April 9, 2024, version 0.4.10
Resolved a problem where Docker Containers did not launch automatically when launched inside the Node application. For nodes with sufficient system resources, this guarantees more seamless operation
Version 0.4.9 (March 14, 2024) UI Improvements and New Features:
A page showing connected nodes (a peer list) was introduced.For continuous Testnet access, Node operators can now add known Nodes (peers).The ability to download blockchain history has been added, nabling nodes to reconnect from disconnected states.
Corrections:
Infinite loading problems during node setup were resolved.Port-checking functionality has been fixed to guarantee that the network is prepared for security.Uptime reporting and installation date tracking have been updated for better analytics.Improved error-handling systems to cut down on downtime and avoid problems with operations.
Gazing Ahead Continuous updates are being made to improve Node functionality and decentralization as part of the ongoing journey towards the Open Network. These enhancements are essential to establishing a strong, utility-driven Pi ecosystem that supports the network’s long-term goals.
Keep checking back for additional updates and make sure your node is still prepared to take part in the next stage of Pi Coin. One Node at a time, we’re working together to create a decentralized future.

Pioneers who have successfully moved to Mainnet can now benefit from the recently added on-chain Lockup feature in the Pi Wallet, as was mentioned in the Pi2Day announcement. Pioneers were previously unable to lock up their Pi on the Mainnet blockchain, even if they so desired, following a migration or the expiration of their initial Lockup. This update enables migrated Pioneers to generate new Lockups and obtain more mining rewards by using their available Pi.

By utilizing the same Lockup incentives method described in the 2021 Whitepaper, the new Lockup mechanism enables Pioneers to boost their mining rate. This program promotes a strong and stable ecosystem in addition to providing incentives for sustained network participation.
Just tap the "Lockups" tab in your Pi Wallet and choose "Create New Lockup" to begin a new Lockup. Once verified, the Lockup is final until the selected time frame has passed. This lockup's mining boost will start in the mining session that follows the lockup's creation.

What Distinguishes This from Lockups Prior to Migration?

Although Pre-Migration and on-chain lockups are both irreversible once verified and provide comparable reward computations, their implementation and scope are different:

Pre-Migration Lockups: These settings apply to the Pi balance during your Mainnet migration and increase your mining earnings based on future Lockup settings.
On-Chain Lockups: Only the Pi that has already moved to the Mainnet can use this new functionality. The Pi is instantly locked on the blockchain after confirmation.
Furthermore, a 200% Lockup option is now available with the new on-chain Lockup. Pioneers can use this feature to lock up 200% of their migrating Pi balance, which is especially helpful for users who use Pi apps or local commerce for utility-based Pi transactions. Pioneers can increase their Lockup mining rewards by locking up additional Pi.

Not a Single Migration Yet? Not a problem!

You may be sure that your pre-migration Lockup configurations are still in place if you are a Pioneer who hasn't moved to Mainnet yet. After the migration, these settings guarantee that you will still receive bonus Pi rewards. Another feature that becomes accessible after migration is the on-chain Lockup, which provides more chances to profit from the network's mining incentives.
Encouraging Open Network Objectives

An important step in creating a healthy and balanced Pi ecosystem is the implementation of on-chain lockups. The network guarantees long-term stability and utility by allowing Pioneers to actively participate in managing the circulating supply of Pi through decentralized Lockups. By encouraging greater engagement and sustainability, these lockups are essential in getting the ecosystem ready for the Open Network phase.

See the 2021 Whitepaper's Lockup section for additional information on the Lockup mechanism.

Remain Active and Prepared!

The network is changing quickly, so now is a great moment to become involved and take advantage of these new features. Make sure you keep abreast of the most recent advancements and take advantage of chances to improve your Pi Network experience.
Pi coin is still dedicated to making the switch to Open Network by 2024. Achieving the goals and conditions specified in earlier announcements is a prerequisite for reaching this milestone. Read the entire announcement for a thorough explanation of the requirements driving this accomplishment.

Pi2Day Progress to Open Network Challenge demonstrated the combined passion and commitment of the Pi Coin community. By encouraging Pioneers to do necessary tasks like KYC and the Mainnet Checklist and to interact with new features like Social Profiles and on-chain lockups, this event sought to hasten the transition to the Open Network.
Highlights of the Challenge
With nearly 4.5 million Pioneers signed up from all around the world, the Pi2Day Challenge was a huge success. Of these, more than 1.4 million Pioneers finished the challenge's five steps, receiving exclusive benefits like:
In Pi Chats, a chosen emoji appears next to their username.
A distinctive, editable photo to post on social media to commemorate their accomplishment.
The community's dedication to the network's mission and vision is demonstrated by this amazing turnout.
Important Findings from the Pi2Day Challenge
Pi Social Profiles Make Their Debut Pi Social Profiles, a feature intended to improve communication within the Pi ecosystem, were introduced during the challenge. During the event, more than 2.6 million Pioneers created new profiles, and the number is still rising. This milestone demonstrates the community's eagerness to adopt new technologies that improve involvement and connectivity.
Innovative Contributions Through events like the PiMusic Festival on Fireside Forum, where almost 100,000 submissions demonstrated the skill and enthusiasm of the Pi community, the challenge also honored innovation. Impressive entries were also received for the Photography Showcase, and the best ones will soon be featured.
Looking Ahead: Increasing Open Network Momentum
The Pi2Day Challenge was created as an entertaining and interesting method to engage Pioneers and further the strategic goals of the network. The Pi community's vitality and zeal are demonstrated by the outstanding involvement and outcomes.

Events like the Pi2Day Challenge are essential in creating a sense of cohesion and purpose as we continue to work toward the Open Network milestone. The long-term viability of the network depends on these efforts to build a more robust and dynamic ecosystem.
A Sincere Appreciation
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped make the Pi2Day 2024 Challenge an unforgettable and significant occasion. Your participation and labor are essential to the network's development, and we look forward to hosting more events of this nature in the future.

As we approach closer to achieving the Open Network's 2024 vision, let's work together to create a thriving and inclusive environment. Keep an eye out for future obstacles and chances to support the Pi Coin 's expansion.
Make the Switch to Open Network
The Pi Coin 's move to the Open Network is still a top priority for 2024, provided certain requirements and strategic goals are met. Our community's combined efforts and outside influences will determine how we go. See the comprehensive release for further details on these requirements.

Together, let's maintain the momentum and strengthen the Pi Coin !

With more than 18 million KYC-verified members and 8 million migrated users on the Mainnet, the Pi Coin community has accomplished important milestones. The first quarter of 2025 is the anticipated launch date for Open Network. By allowing more users to finish their migration, this timeframe seeks to close the gap between members who have successfully migrated to the Mainnet and those who are KYC-verified.
stressed the value ofa ccessibility and inclusivity.Increased participation and stability in the ecosystem will result from adding more Pioneers to the Open Network. The announcement's salient features are as follows:Launch the Network Update Launching in Q1 2025, the Open Network aims to:
1. Achieve the 10 million migration target ahead of schedule.
2. Close the divide between Mainnet-migrated users and KYC-verified users.
3. Increase involvement and engagement to fortify the ecosystem.
Pi Coin is already handling close to 200,000 migrations every day with the enhancements, and by January or February 2025, it should have surpassed the migration target. This schedule strengthens the groundwork for a successful Open Network transition by guaranteeing the inclusion of millions of Pioneers who have not yet migrated.
The Significance of Increased Migration Inclusivity is crucial to achieving the migration goals. Making it feasible for as many Pioneers to take part in the stability of the Open Network Ecosystem More Mainnet users promote greater utility and engagement Security Bonuses: The transferred team members help Pioneers by increasing the bonus Pi
Important KYC and Migration Updates
1. KYC Accomplishments Thei nitial target of 15 million Pioneers has been surpassed by almost 18 million who have finished KYC. More users are now able to complete their verification because of recent enhancements to the KYC procedure that have fixed flaws and tentative cases.
2. Progress of Mainnet Migration The Mainnet now has almost 8 million Pioneers. In order to ensuret hat more Pi gets transferred to the Mainnet, new upgrades now permit secondary migrations for users with residual transferable balances.
3. Extension of the Grace Period In order to give Pioneers more time to secure their Pi balances, the Grace Period deadline has been extended to January 31, 2025
Mainnet App Development Progress With the Pi Browser, users can access more than 80 Mainnet-ready applications in thee cosystem In order to make sure their apps are compatible with the Mainnet
ecosystem, which will launch alongside the Open Network,developers are urged to improve them Open Network Objectives
The December 2023 launch conditions for Open Network center on: Open Network Objectives
1. Scaling KYC and migration procedures is the main goal of the Open Network launch criteria, which were set in December 2023
2. Making sure there are no outside delays and that the ecosystem is strong.
3. Ensuring a smooth transition for every Pioneer Prepare for the Open Network Here’s how you can support
Pioneers Complete KYC and Mainnet migration criteria while the Pi Coin gets
ready for this important milestone, and encourage your networks to follow suit.
Shopkeepers Look at ways to incorporate Pi into your online and local companies Developers Complete your apps and move them to the Mainnet.
For the Pi Coin community, a robust and longlastinge cosystem begins with the Open Network launch in Q1 2025 Together, let’s ensure that this transition is successful!

 

 

The 2024 Pi Commerce Hackathon has concluded, and the Core Team is delighted to announce two winners and two honorable mentions! The winning apps, Map of Pi and PyNook, were previously unveiled on Pi Day, and today, we also recognize City for Pi and Easy Goods!
The objective of the Pi Commerce Hackathon was to bring together community developers to create an app supporting local Pi commerce worldwide. The necessity for such an app was highlighted by the Pioneer community during last year's PiFest in December. Pi Network's inaugural PiFest event showcased the widespread engagement of businesses and customers in Pi Commerce on a global scale, with over 21,000 responses from Pioneers across 155 countries and regions.
We commend all participants of the hackathon; this month-long event was a dedicated effort from Pi community developers worldwide. Read on to discover more about each app, their achievements, and their future plans!
Why We Selected Map of Pi and PyNook:
Map of Pi and PyNook are platforms designed to meet the needs of both Pioneers and merchants in the Pi community. These apps facilitate the discovery of nearby businesses accepting Pi and offer merchants a user-friendly storefront, simplifying the adoption of Pi as a payment method. Their emergence reflects a tangible demand within the Pi community, evidenced by widespread Pioneer involvement in commerce-related activities, potentially unlocking the full potential of Pi cryptocurrency in local economies worldwide.
What distinguishes Map of Pi and PyNook is their intuitive user interface and focus on empowering local Pi commerce. Furthermore, both platforms utilize the Pi Open Source (PiOS) license, enabling developers worldwide to contribute to their growth and localization. Despite the time constraints of the hackathon, both teams collaborated effectively, demonstrating significant progress in just a month.
Map of Pi impressed with its intuitive user interface, cantered around a map where users can discover local Pi businesses. Merchants can seamlessly add their business to the map, and the Map of Pi team is enhancing functionality such as QR codes and menu items. With a robust UI, numerous sample storefronts worldwide, and integrations for Pi Authentication and Pi Payments, Map of Pi is off to a promising start.
PyNook has developed a clear app focused on the central use case of connecting merchants and pioneers. In addition to basic functionality, the PyNook team has implemented various features, including language options for global accessibility and a searchable list of businesses. Planned features include enhancements to user profiles and merchant sections.
Insights from the Winning Teams:
For the Map of Pi team, the hackathon was just the beginning: "Our focus post-hackathon is on refining the code, addressing bugs, and adding usability features as we prepare for the app's launch. We aim to launch shortly after Pi Day, with a dedicated team committed to maintaining, enhancing, and marketing the app in the future."
The PyNook team's decision to participate stemmed from confidence in the platform's potential: "We believe in the Pi platform's future and its potential to revolutionize technology development. Developing a Pi app allows us to realize our innovative ideas."
If you're a developer interested in contributing to these impactful ecosystem apps, explore their repositories and other Pi commerce PIOS apps here.
Honorable Mentions:
While Map of Pi and PyNook were standout apps, the Core Team is proud to acknowledge Easy Goods and City for Pi as honorable mentions.
Easy Goods closely followed the Pi Core Team's app prototype, making steady progress during the hackathon. Their compelling app interface will enable businesses to create storefronts, allowing pioneers to locate them easily. Next steps for Easy Goods include developing functionality for listing products and facilitating transactions.
City for Pi stood out for its unique design and advanced in-app functionality. While supporting local businesses and enabling users to select different locations, the app could further enhance support for local commerce and the discoverability of Pi merchants.
Several other robust Test net apps were submitted, delighting the Core Team. We encourage all named and unnamed apps to continue building exceptional local commerce apps. Diversity in apps provides pioneers and businesses with choice, facilitates localization, and contributes a wide range of utility to the Pi ecosystem. With over 55 million engaged pioneers, there is ample opportunity for numerous commerce apps to thrive together in this global community!

The inaugural Pi Hackathon has drawn to a close, marking a significant milestone in our journey. Our primary objective for this event was to catalyze community engagement and facilitate the development of Pi apps, nurturing an ecosystem that showcases the potential of the Pi Blockchain. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, community reviewers, and moderators whose contributions were instrumental in making this expansive online hackathon a resounding success.
While this chapter of the Hackathon comes to an end, it signifies merely the genesis of our endeavor to cultivate a thriving Pi ecosystem. The Core Team is pleased to unveil the winners of the #buildPi2gether Hackathon below. We extend warm congratulations to all winners and honorable mentions!
Hackathon Winners:
1. Pi Workforce Pool (#1 Business App ) A marketplace connecting skilled Pioneers with job opportunities.
2. Pi Care (#1 Ecosystem App) A bug reporting platform dedicated to enhancing Pi apps and ecosystem apps.
3. Pi Chain Mall (#2 Business App) An e-commerce platform facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers.
4. World of Pi Championships (#2 Ecosystem App) Engage in a social match-three puzzle game and compete for prizes, developed as a non-profit endeavor.
5. Watugot (#3 Business App) Empowering local businesses by providing a platform to showcase coupons and discounts.
Honorable Mentions:
• Pi Game Platform (Business App)
• Pi Barter Mall (Business App)
• Pi to Go Travelers Handy Platform (Business App)
• Pi Webinars (Business Model App)
• Pi Games from Latin America (Ecosystem App)
Prizes:
• 1st Prize: US$20,000 + 20,000 Pi
• 2nd Prize: US$15,000 + 15,000 Pi
• 3rd Prize: US$10,000 + 10,000 Pi
• Honorary Mention: US$1,000 each + 1,000 Pi
Logistics for Award Disbursement:
To facilitate the distribution of awards, all members of the winning teams are required to undergo KYC compliance checks, ensuring adherence to AML and anti-terrorism regulations. Detailed instructions for claiming prizes will be communicated by the Core Team in the coming weeks
Selection Process:
The Core Team meticulously evaluated all submissions, taking into account community ratings and moderator feedback. Eligible apps demonstrated both adherence to basic requirements and showcased qualities such as utility, quality, and potential for fostering Pioneer engagement.
Future Opportunities:
While only a select few emerged as winners, we encourage all participants to remain steadfast in their pursuit of innovation. The Core Team remains committed to supporting developers within the Pi ecosystem, with forthcoming developer programs and opportunities on the horizon.

Pi Coin stands at the forefront of the cryptocurrency revolution, not only for its unique approach to mobile mining or its massive community, but also for its deep commitment to creating practical utilities within its ecosystem.
The network pioneered expanding universal access to cryptocurrency with a simple, yet powerful, unconventional invention of mobile mining. What followed is a growing community of over 47 million engaged members. Along with accessibility, utility is another cornerstone purpose of the network. Accessibility answers the question, “How can people around the world irrespective of their economic circumstances and knowledge barriers gain access to the cryptocurrency revolution by actually owning it?” Utility answers the question, “How can cryptocurrency actually make a positive change in the lives of everyday people?” Or “What can cryptocurrency be used for in addition to trading and financial purposes?”
The network has created several forms of utilities. You may be familiar with the Fireside Forum app that uses Pi for decentralized content creation, curation, and moderation; the Staked DM feature in the Chat app that uses Pi for peer-to-peer connections; the wallet app used for direct payment of Pi for goods and services locally; the KYC app that uses Pi to crowdsource essential validation work in the community; or with many of the apps created by Pi community developers with compelling use cases for the Pi cryptocurrency (see, for example, our past Hackathon announcements such as 1 and 2). Apps enrich our lives in many ways and create diverse utilities for the network through innovative integration of Pi cryptocurrency. 
What are Platform-level Utilities?
Apps are, however, not the only source of utilities creation. There is substantial scope for creating utilities at the level of the Pi platform as well. This scope hinges on some of the unique collective resources of this cryptocurrency network, including but not limited to the following: 
The size and engagement of our communityOur collective attentionOur verified digital identityOur large distributed network of computer nodes

At a given point in time, there will be one person or another engaging in one activity or another on the platform. The diversity of these activities has the potential to create diverse utilities for the Pi cryptocurrency. However, if we take stock of our collective resources (i.e., our presence and activities as a whole), how can we translate them into network-wide utilities of Pi that every Pioneer holds? 
This question is key for the creation of utilities on the platform level. On each of the collective resources that the Pi community possesses, it is possible to design and create the utility of Pi. For example, Pi cryptocurrency can be potentially used to access the abundant attention resource of a massive, engaged community in a diverse ecosystem, or to plug services that involve ownership or require human authenticity into a large crypto-enabled, KYC’ed network of humans worldwide—which will especially be a common need in a future world where AI is pervasive—or to deploy software products that require huge, reliable computing power of a distributed system, etc. Pi’s collective resources listed above lend themselves to utility creation on a platform level that will ultimately benefit all Pioneers, because such true utilities will seek to address real human and evolving societal and technological needs and will create organic demand for Pi that every Pioneer holds. 
The platform-level utility of Pi is what the Core Team has been envisioning, researching, designing and building, in addition to the app-level utility creation through the various Core Team apps or enabling community developers to build apps.
An Early Instantiation of Platform-level Utility on Pi
The Roadmap v2 released in December 2023 lists under the Developer Platform and Tools section a stealth project about a utility feature on the platform level, undertaken by the Pi Core Team, currently being designed and tested in stealth mode. This project is an early instantiation designed to leverage some of the collective network resources following the theories and directions on utility creation explained in this announcement. It has the potential to enhance the overall utility of the Pi cryptocurrency, as well as facilitate the sustainability of Pi Apps in our ecosystem. 
Stay Tuned
We will be back with further information to unveil the specifics of this project in the near future. Until then, happy mining, and a heartful shoutout to all in the community to help propel us to Open Network by meeting our KYC and utility goals.

Pi Day 2024 marks the 5th official anniversary of the network and comes at a pivotal time when we’re preparing for Open Network.
Today we’re proud to be announcing new products and exploring how our collective work is building out Pi Network’s ecosystem vision. We’ll also share the network progress—such as in KYC, migration, Pi Node, ecosystem infrastructure and programs—towards the Open Network conditions laid out in the Open Network plan released on December 27, 2023, including a new Race to 10 million KYC event where you can share your KYC success to encourage more community efforts in achieving the Open Network milestones and help other Pioneers get KYC’ed!
Pi Day 2024 image
Ultimately, we know that creating a strong ecosystem that supports and works for our community and the world is essential. To meet this end, Pi has been nurturing an identity-verified and inclusive Web3 ecosystem designed to be user-friendly and accessible with abundant apps and utilities for Pioneers and more to engage with. Before Open Network, we, the community as a whole, need to provide the utilities that Pioneers need in the ecosystem and make it engaging and useful for non-Pioneers as well, and we’re proud to share that we’re making progress in those fields aligned with our timelines.
For just one example of how these utilities strengthen the network, we can highlight the now completed Pi Browser – PiNet loop: the Pi Browser, as the interface of the Pi ecosystem and utilities, is opened up by PiNet to the external world where non Pioneers are able to view and interact with Pi apps, and potentially join the network as new Pioneers. With new products released this week, this completed user journey loop can help 1) open up the Pi ecosystem to the outside world, gradually moving from an enclosed state to an open state starting from the utilities aspect, 2) grow the network further, increasing our collective resources that can boost all Open Network milestones laid out in the Open Network plan, and 3) further reinforce utility creation and ecosystem building at Pi by providing utility-based entry in addition to our traditional mining-based entry into the network.
Specifically, to complete the Pi Browser – PiNet loop, we released important products recently that allow seamless user experience of the Pi ecosystem that starts from seeing a specific Pi app page shared by Pioneers via PiNet (new PiNet user journey released), be it a hilarious post or a useful service; to visiting and interacting with that Pi app on pages without login via PiNet (Pi Ad Network released to facilitate Pi app developers to build more intriguing and useful apps), then to taking actions that require Pi Browser (new Pi Browser released recently) such as for using Pi Wallet or Pi KYC; and later to mining and contributing to the network. While mining, more Pi ecosystem content will be visible in the mining app (new content feed released in mining app piloting Fireside Forum content first) that can spur Pioneers to share again through PiNet, completing and repeating the loop. The completed Pi Browser – PiNet loop is designed to provide utility, access, and ease for the community––which, in turn, will promote more activities, more Pioneers, more collective resources and more utilities.

PiFest, the much-anticipated global event celebrating Pi commerce, recently concluded with resounding success. This success was not only a result of the active participation of the global community, but also a testament to the hard work put in by local merchants. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key highlights of PiFest, showcasing the global reach, community engagement, and promising future for Pi commerce.
Global Participation
PiFest transcended borders, with participation recorded in 155 countries and regions around the world. The event’s global scale reflected the universality of Pi commerce and its potential to connect businesses and consumers on a truly international level. While there was widespread global participation with six continents represented, there was one region that had the most submissions to the PiFest survey: Indonesia! Congratulations to Indonesia and all of the dedicated local businesses and Pioneers who came together for PiFest.  
Community Engagement
One of the pillars of PiFest’s success was the enthusiastic response from the community. Over 21,000 responses were collected through a survey that asked Pioneers to share images captured at local businesses participating in PiFest. This extensive participation not only showcased the community’s support but also provided valuable insights into the event’s impact and level of integration of Pi into local commerce.
Diverse Business Participation
PiFest saw a diverse range of businesses taking part, highlighting the inclusivity and utility of Pi commerce. According to survey results, businesses from over 30 categories actively participated. Participating businesses ranged from travel and tourism to health and beauty, from medical practitioners to nightlife, from education and training to entertainment, and many more in between. The survey revealed that food services and retail for physical goods stood out as the top business categories to actively engage in PiFest.
This diversity is a positive sign for the future of Pi commerce, suggesting its applicability across a broad spectrum of industries.
Post-PiFest Era
Although PiFest 2023 has come to a close, the journey of Pi commerce is only beginning. Businesses can maintain PiFest fliers to help Pioneers identify establishments that integrate Pi. This continuity ensures that the momentum generated during PiFest extends into ongoing support for businesses embracing this innovative approach.
To further empower Pioneers, the call to action is clear: if you discover shops integrating Pi technology, spread the word and continue supporting those businesses. This grassroots effort is fundamental to the sustained success of Pi commerce, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.
Conclusion
PiFest achieved its goals thanks to the global community’s participation and the dedicated efforts of merchants. The event not only celebrated the present state of Pi commerce but also laid the groundwork for its promising future. As businesses continue to integrate Pi technology, and Pioneers actively support them, the landscape of commerce is set for a positive and innovative transformation. PiFest may be over, but its impact on the world of Pi commerce is just beginning.

We are pleased to announce that we intend to go to the Open Network period of Mainnet in the year of 2024, if the following three conditions are met! There is no specific date set. These three essential conditions depend on the collective efforts of Pioneers, community developers, and the Core Team, in addition to uncontrollable external factors. 
Such conditions are based on Pi Network’s long-term objectives and strategies, and take into consideration the feasibility of their accomplishments within the year of 2024.

Conditions for having Open Network in 2024
Condition 1: Finish any Open Network preparation work in technology, product, business and legal following the consistent strategies of Pi Network.
Most technical and product milestones of such preparation work are listed under different projects in the V2 Roadmap also released today, except for work in the business and legal side. The V2 Roadmap also excludes some technical and product milestones due to security reasons or because they relate to stealth projects that are meant to be published later. The V2 Roadmap released today will be further supplemented and polished later, and the status of milestones (i.e., whether they are in History, In Progress or in Future Pipeline) will also continuously be updated throughout the year. The work to achieve this condition will be primarily done by the Core Team. As of now, we are on track to fulfill Condition 1. 
Condition 2: Achieve the following goals in network KYC, migration and utility creation.
This condition is consistent with the Enclosed Network objectives from the updated Roadmap chapter of the Pi Whitepaper published in December 2021, such as reaching critical mass of KYC identity-verified Pioneers on the Mainnet blockchain and having diverse utilities of the Pi cryptocurrency in the Pi ecosystem. These objectives are paramount to the success of the Open Network and ecosystem in line with Pi’s vision to build the world’s most inclusive peer-to-peer ecosystem and online experience, fueled by Pi. The targeted milestones below help specify what these Enclosed Network goals mean in concrete terms (per our community’s request), while considering the feasibility for the community to achieve them within the year of 2024. 
The specific targets for meeting this Open Network condition are as follows:
KYC and Migration
15 million Pioneers have passed KYC including fully and tentatively KYC’ed; and10 million Pioneers have migrated to the Mainnet.
Utility 
100 real Pi apps that (1) are on the Mainnet or are Mainnet-ready, (2) comply with the Pi platform policies, (3) solve a true need and bring utility to the Pi ecosystem, and (4) are a distinct application (i.e., not simply an unmodified clone of the demo app or another Pi app).
As reference, the current data about the above variables are 8 million KYC’ed Pioneers including fully and tentatively KYC’ed, 3.9 million migrated, and about 40 real Pi apps that we preliminarily deemed as meeting the standards above, although there are many more Pi apps on the Testnet or fulfilling a subset of the standards above which can be improved to qualify during the year.
This condition will be primarily driven by the decentralized efforts of the community with the Core Team’s support. While the Core Team will continue to provide technical and product support, to meet the KYC and migration goals will require the community to mobilize itself through decentralized efforts to have more Pioneers join, re-engage, apply, validate and pass in the KYC process, and complete their Mainnet Checklist to migrate. The utility goals rely on community developers to build and launch Pi apps following the Pi policies with the technical, product, design, program and mentorship support of the Core team.
Condition 3: The absence of an unfavorable external environment which would hinder the success of Open Network.
In short, world events affect currencies, and Pi is no different. While we do not control what happens in the world, we do control our launch and will not jeopardize the community’s hard work and dedication with a reckless move to Open Network. 
The timing of Open Network will need to incorporate these global factors that are beyond the control of the Core Team or the Pioneer community. These factors include macroeconomic crises, unfavorable legal or regulatory developments, industry uncertainties, pandemics, wars, or any number of unpredictable, uncontrollable, and/or unforeseeable external factors inhospitable to the launch of Open Network.

These three conditions will help determine the timing of the Open Network. We hope the network can achieve them in the year of 2024, with our decentralized efforts and with the absence of unfavorable uncontrollable external factors. If such conditions are not met, then Open Network may be delayed to ensure a more successful transition for all Pioneers. All in all, the decision on Open Network’s launch and its timing will be made to best serve Pi’s vision, the community and the network.
We know that this announcement will be met with jubilation and excitement within the Pi community, and we hope that each Pioneer takes it upon themselves to help achieve the above goals. 
We wish that all Pioneers enjoy a wonderful end of the year holiday season, and use this information to truly engage with Pi and our community to work towards the Open Network in 2024!
Below are some important Q&As for this announcement.
Is there a guarantee that Open Network will happen in 2024?
No, there is no such guarantee. However, this announcement shares the true plan and the process that the Core Team has for the Open Network move. It also sheds light on more specific conditions and milestones for us to achieve Open Network, and who and what are the primary drivers behind these conditions and milestones. Clear distribution of responsibility guides productive execution. As explained above, it depends on the collective efforts of the Core Team, community developers, and Pioneers to push us through. Even if the Core Team and Pioneers were to fulfill two of the conditions, the uncontrollable and unpredictable environmental factors (i.e., the third condition) can still possibly force the network to stay in the Enclosed Network period and continue to build, adjusting to the new global realities. 
How can the Pioneer community contribute to our progress towards Open Network?
The Open Network move in 2024 depends on YOU, especially goals listed in Condition 2. Pioneer contributions are critical to both KYC/Mainnet Migration and utilities goals. For KYC, you can (1) first complete your KYC application and Mainnet Checklist, (2) validate available KYC applications after you pass your KYC, and (3) invite your Security Circle, Referral Team, as well as your colleagues, friends, and family or anyone to complete their KYC applications and finish the Mainnet Checklist. 
For utilities, if you are a developer, (1) you can build a Pi App for this community of tens of millions of Pioneers from a variety of possible use cases without any prior blockchain experience. If you are not a developer, (2) you can invite developers from your personal and professional network to create a Pi App under our Developer Ambassador program and receive a reward of 1000 Pi. Utilities are not just created, but also used. Therefore, whether or not you are a developer, (3) you can support the network utility goals by (a) using Pi Apps on the Pi Browser, (b) sharing Pi Apps content to the world via PiNet, and even (c) using your Pi in your local businesses.  
Why are the KYC and migration goals achievable by and primarily dependent on the community?
The overarching crucial fact is that almost all Pioneers are eligible to apply for KYC and the majority of all applications can pass KYC within a short amount of time. So with a growing community of over 47 million members, these targets of 15 million KYC passed and 10 million migrated should be achievable. While the Core Team’s support work for Condition 2 will continue to focus on resolving the corner-case applications that are stuck in the KYC process,  we need to recognize a network-level fact that the long tail of corner cases will not be the biggest driver in achieving the target numbers of KYC and migration. These KYC and Mainnet migration milestones in Condition 2 will primarily rely on the community to mobilize itself through decentralized efforts to have more Pioneers join, apply, validate and pass in the KYC process and complete the Mainnet checklist to migrate. 
What is the purpose of KYC and why is there a delay for some accounts?
As communicated in the 2021 December Whitepaper and many KYC announcements (such as 1, 2, 3), the purpose of the KYC is to ensure the integrity of the network by preventing fake accounts, policy violators and bad actors from going through while allowing honest miners to pass, and to comply with laws such as anti-money laundering regulations by preventing sanctioned accounts from passing. In making such determination of accounts, there will be additional scrutiny and checks on a small minority of applications that will inevitably increase their processing time to ensure fair and accurate results as much as possible. Such accounts that need extra checks are not necessarily fake accounts, policy violators or bad actors, but the determination of such may be more difficult than usual and thus take extra time. Resolving the corner cases in KYC applications to allow honest Pioneers to pass and migrate will be a major focus of the Core Team in 2024. This will include providing information and next steps for stuck applications to take and informing applicants of any rejections. 
What types of Pi Apps do not count as “real” apps for the utility goals in Condition 2?
Apps that are simply replicas or instantiations of other Pi apps without a meaningful distinction, violate the Pi policies, do not intend to really engage users, or do not bring utility to the Pi ecosystem are not counted toward the utility goal of 100 real Pi apps. The criteria for what counts as a real Pi app will be further calibrated throughout the year. 
What is Open Network?
On December 28, 2021, Pi Network launched its Mainnet blockchain in an enclosed state, meaning that the Mainnet is live but with a firewall that prevents any unwanted external connectivity. Moving to Open Network means that the firewall will be removed, allowing for any external connectivity, e.g., to other networks, wallets, and anyone who wants to connect to the Pi Mainnet blockchain. API calls will not be firewalled, and Pioneers will be able to run their own Mainnet Pi Nodes and API services. Read the updated Roadmap chapter of the 2021 December Whitepaper to learn more.
How can we know the progress toward the Open Network goal in 2024?
In 2024, the Core Team will continuously provide updates on the network’s progress under Conditions 1 and 2 through the Roadmap itself and/or announcements. This way, Pioneers as well as the Core Team can check on our collective progress, assess where the gaps lie, and focus our efforts accordingly to accomplish our collective goal of Open Network transition in the year 2024. 

Pi Coin or “Know Your Customer” is a procedure to first identify and then verify Pioneer identities, to comply with regulations and to ensure that Pioneers within the global Pi Ecosystem are real individuals.
The vision of Pi Coin is to build an inclusive and the most widely-distributed digital currency and ecosystem for all Pioneers. Pi Network’s mining mechanism is social-network based and relies on contributions of real Pioneers. Therefore, Pi has a strict policy of one account per person. 
This requires a high degree of accuracy to establish that members in the network are genuine human beings, preventing individuals from being able to hoard Pi by creating fake accounts unfairly. KYC thus helps ensure the true humanness of the network. 
How does the KYC solution work? 
Pi Network’s KYC solution is being built through our Pi App Engine as an ecosystem app. Keep in mind that this solution attempts to address accuracy and privacy, while achieving scalability for millions of KYC, wide coverage of diverse populations, and accessibility. 
Our KYC solution itself combines machine automation and human verification in order to accomplish accurate and efficient KYC for everyone. Machine automation will be responsible for processing, analyzing, and obfuscating Pioneer information. KYC’ed human Validators may then have to check certain parts of the obfuscated information and submitted documents. The importance of having and improving the machine automation component are threefold: 1) scalability to KYC millions of Pioneers, 2) reducing the data exposure to human Validators to better protect Pioneers’ privacy and 3) catching the maximum number of fraudulent applications.
Specifically to protect individual Pioneers’ privacy, personal data—except for data the machine failed to read—will be properly redacted. Human Validator will be previously KYC’ed Pioneers who opt in to work as a crowdworker in the KYC app to verify redacted ID documents and selfie images to help ensure that the information is correct.
Human Validators are randomly selected from a pool of crowd workers from the same country of the ID document provided. Before verifying real Pioneers, they must first agree with the Validator Service Agreement of the app and then go through a tutorial to train their verification skills. Since these Validators’ work is constantly cross-validated to prevent bad actors, providing consistently inaccurate verification will lead to their removal from the workforce pool.
Given that the Core Team has scaled the machine automation part as needed, the network KYC progress now primarily depends on how many good human Validators there are in each local community to process the human verification step of the KYC solution. 
As more Pioneers get KYC’ed, more human Validators are available to validate others. This way, the KYC solution can support the widest variety of countries and regions ID types in the world, making Pi as accessible as possible. 
What makes the Pi KYC Solution unique?
Most other projects outsource KYC to a third-party KYC provider because the process to verify lots of people from almost all the countries is an extremely difficult problem. However, every third-party KYC provider charges a fee for each KYC check. To allow Pioneers the opportunity to participate in the Pi Mainnet regardless of financial barriers, Pi Coin has designed and built its own KYC app to provide KYC checks that are free of out-of-pocket charge for all Pioneers, and cost 1 Pi each to compensate human Validators for their work. This is part of our continued efforts in striving for inclusivity. 
Furthermore, given the millions of Pioneers in over 230 countries and regions and the scale of KYC checks needed, it is impossible to outsource the process to any third-party in the first place, because no other KYC solution in the market provided KYC services in almost all countries and regions in the world as widely distributed as the Pioneers. Hence, we innovated this native solution that can scale the KYC process in both volume and diversity of identity by leveraging machine automation and the crowd power of Pi’s distributed global community Pi Coin’s ultimate strength.
Lastly, Pi KYC also helps create true utility of Pi itself in the Pi ecosystem. It is a perfect representation of how the entire Pi ecosystem works—a native, decentralized community where labor is exchanged and real utility is created, for the Pi cryptocurrency with no fiat involved. 
KYC next steps
The majority of the network was enabled to apply for KYC in June 2022. Most recently, Pi opened up KYC applications to all! This was partially achieved by a Tentative KYC program which allows newly KYC-enabled accounts to be able to apply to KYC and undergo additional verification checks when needed. Only after they have submitted the necessary documents, passed reviews by Validators, and passed any additional checks, do they attain the “passed” status. Such additional checks will combine the newly submitted information to further verify their identity. The Tentative KYC program gives accounts with more complex properties a chance to proceed with KYC and provide proof of their identities as real humans, while exercising caution in granting “passed” status.  
The reason for such an eligibility rollout to KYC and the selective Tentative KYC program is to ensure the integrity of the network—cautiously allowing as many real human Pioneers as possible to pass KYC, while catching and preventing as many fake and bot accounts as possible. Not only is this important for the network, but it’s also fair for all human Pioneers who have been honestly mining in their own accounts. Read the KYC Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
The design of the Pi KYC is a revolutionary decentralized and scalable KYC solution while maintaining privacy, accuracy, scalability, wide coverage of diverse populations, and accessibility. It has helped verify millions of Pioneers and enable them to migrate to the Pi Mainnet blockchain and participate in the Mainnet ecosystem. When the Pi KYC solution successfully verifies the identity of the majority or all of the millions of Pioneers, the Pi KYC along with the community’s decentralized efforts will enable Pi Coin to be the largest KYC’ed and crypto-enabled social network, getting the world ready for easy development and deployments of future innovative services involving finance, economics and ownership, thus further advancing it towards the Web3 era.
Be sure to fill out your KYC application now, and participate in this historic undertaking by becoming a Validator. 

Pi is excited to announce the launch of the Pi Commerce Hackathon, in which the Pi community will create an app to easily locate local businesses that accept Pi.
Following the success of the PiFest event in December 2023, where thousands of Pioneers participated from 155 countries, it became evident that the Pi community—both merchants and customers—is enthusiastic to engage in Pi transactions within their communities. But, these businesses and customers need a platform on which they can discover each other and conduct business, all while using Pi. 
That’s where the Pi Commerce Hackathon comes in. In response to this demand, this hackathon is supporting development of a Commerce app that connects local Pi businesses with Pioneers.
In support of this Hackathon, the Core Team has developed a prototype for a commerce app that developers can build off of. This prototype will be shared at the start of the Pi Commerce Hackathon, on February 1st, but for now, find a selection of images from the prototype below! This hackathon aims to bring together Pioneer developers to contribute to the development of this utility, furthering our goal of Open Network.
The Challenge
Based on the Core Team’s Commerce App prototype, work in teams to build a Commerce App that will support discoverability and connections between local businesses and customers. App features include a searchable database and map of businesses, business profiles, menus, loyalty programs, Pi payments, and more!  
Below is a video that walks you through the app prototype and links directly to the Figma mockups and prototype. This video serves as a guide. For up-to-date and detailed prototype and mockups, participants should consult the Figma files on Github.
Download the app prototype and mockups on GitHub here. These files are PiOS-licensed for use by Pi community developers. Click on the file name “pi_commerce_app_mockup.fig.” On the following screen, click on the Download icon on the far right.
After you have the Figma files downloaded, you will see the mockup screens. To use the prototype, click on the Play button, which allows you to click around and navigate the app prototype.
Benefits and Support
Pi Day Feature: The winning app will be featured during our global Pi Day celebration on March 14, 2024! The app will be shared in our official communications, bringing it to millions of Pioneers around the world.Winning App Support: The winning app, if built using PiOS, may receive support from the Pi Core Team, including server resources to ensure app stability and the removal of cost barriers.
How to Participate
To participate in the hackathon, interested developers must fill out this registration form and sign up to the hackathon mailing list for official updates and team formation help. Collaboration is key, and participants are encouraged to reach out to other developers to create teams or groups focused on building their app.
Between February 1 and March 3, 2024, developers around the world will collaborate to build a Pi commerce app that will connect merchants and customers, and facilitate Pi transactions and utility. The winning app will be announced to the community on Pi Day, March 14, 2024!
Participation Guidelines
Registration: All participants must register using the provided form to be eligible for the hackathon. Also be sure to sign up to the hackathon mailing list for official updates from the Core Team, hackathon resources, submission links and reminders, and more. Timeline: Registration and team formation will begin January 23, 2024. The hackathon will officially begin on February 1, 2024, and submissions will be due on March 3, 2024 by 11:59pm PT. The app prototype will be available around February 1, after which developers will have a month to build the app. Therefore, the period of January 23 – 31 will be critical to forming teams and preparing to build your Pi App.Team Size: There is no limit on team sizes as we encourage developers to collaborate on PiOS and contribute to building the best commerce app possible. Pi Community will see better Pi Commerce applications if developers band together to build a few, high quality apps instead of forming large numbers of teams that lack the necessary developer resources. PiOS License: Just as participants are encouraged to use the prototype created by the Pi Core Team as a starting point, they are also strongly advised to use the Pi Open Source license for their app. This not only fosters collaboration with developers globally but also allows for additional contributions and localization for the diverse Pi community. Learn more about PiOS below.
App Guidelines
The prototype serves as a guide for the flow and functionality of the app. While developers are encouraged to follow it closely, they are not required to build an exact replica. Adding additional features or unique elements specific to their locality is allowed.Apps must abide by our Trademark Guidelines.Apps may never request Pioneers to enter their passphrase.Apps must use only Pi SDK for payments; apps may not charge with non-Pi assets or fiat currencies. Apps must use only Pi SDK for authentication; there should be no app-specific account or login needed, or additional account creation.Apps must be deployed on the Testnet, outside of the sandbox, for Pioneers and reviewers to interact with the app.App has a functional UI and supports user interactions.App should be minimally functional.Apps must adhere to our recommended data collection guidelines and may NOT collect any user data beyond what is necessary for core functionality.App name should be in English characters.App should have an accurate description in English.App has a Privacy Policy.
Instructions
Team formation 
Chat channelJoin “Pi Commerce Hackathon” Pi Chat channel on the mining app or on Pi Browser.Post about yourself: what your skills are, what your experience is, and anything else that you would like to share. You can reach out to others via staked DMs to chat about joining teams.Registration form and Google group.Upon registering for the Pi Commerce Hackathon, you will be asked to join a Google group. You will then receive emails from Core Team to help you identify and connect with peers with complementary skills for potential collaborations.PiOSCheck out the commerce apps on PiOS, and make contributions to their code!
App Development
You will need to register your app in the Pi Developer Portal. Follow the instructions below to get started, and to make sure your app is accessible on the Pi Browser. 
Navigate to the Developer Portal (develop.pi) within the Pi BrowserIf visiting for the first time, read and accept the terms and conditionsIf you haven’t created an app before, tap “New App” and make sure to select “Pi Testnet” as the App NetworkOn the app dashboard for the app you wish to edit, press the “Configuration” buttonScroll to the field titled “Your App’s URL”, and enter the URL of your applicationThe URL cannot be the same as another URL already in use by a Developer Portal project. If you have a Testnet and Mainnet application, you should use the URL that you wish users to use to access your Mainnet application. The Testnet app should use a subdomain of the Mainnet app or a completely different URLYou must own this URL; you will be asked to verify ownership laterPress the “Submit” button, this will return you to the app dashboardPress the “Checklist” button Follow the steps of the App Checklist to set up, test, and deploy your application
Submission
App submission will take place on a form. This form will be shared in the weeks leading up to the submission deadline (March 3, 2024). The Core Team will share this form with the registered participants. 
Resources
Developer Onboarding Guide: Details the steps needed to get set up as a new developer in the Pi EcosystemGetting Started Checklist: A quick start guide of the steps needed to start building on PiPi Platform Github Repository: Our developer documentation that has all of the information needed to integrate our Pi SDK and our APIsPi Demo App Repository: Review or clone our demo application code as a blueprint for your apps. To play with it, navigate to “demo.pi” within the Pi Browser PiOS: Learn about the Pi Open Source software license and how to use it (Commerce App PiOS page found here)SDK Workshop: Watch a presentation on how to use the Pi SDKProduct Workshop: Watch a product design guide for Pi Apps, tailored for hackathon participants
PiOS 
The Pi Open Source (PiOS) Software License allows Pi Community Developers to create Pi Open Source applications and tools for the Pi Ecosystem. The PiOS license grants unrestricted use of the software only within the Pi Ecosystem. Developers are encouraged to use this license when developing a Pi App as well as build on top of the various PiOS applications and tools shared by other Pi Community Developers. Follow the instructions below to use the PiOS license. 
Follow the instructions here.Incorporate the PiOS License: Your code repository must include the PiOS license. Obtain it here. Remember to customize the Copyright section of the LICENSE file in your repo.Link Your Repository: Use the template provided below to add your project to the list. Ensure you fill in all the relevant details about your app.
Conclusion
The Pi Commerce App Hackathon presents an exciting opportunity for Pioneer developers to contribute to the growth of the Pi ecosystem. By building a localized commerce app, participants can play a vital role in facilitating Pi transactions and connecting businesses with the Pi community. We look forward to the innovative solutions that will emerge from this hackathon, contributing to our broader utility goal of Open Network. Register now and be part of shaping the future of Pi transactions!

In our recent Open Network plan announcement on December 27, 2023, we shared our intention to enter the Open Network period of the Mainnet in the year 2024 and its important three conditions. Especially, the milestones in Condition 1 & 2 depend on the decentralized efforts of Pioneers, community developers, and the Core Team. Today, we want to provide an update on recent progress in one of the critical metrics: the KYC process. The KYC milestone is paramount to the success of the Open Network and ecosystem in line with Pi’s vision to build the world’s most inclusive peer-to-peer ecosystem and authentic online experience, fueled by Pi.  
As stated in the Open Network plan announcement, the KYC milestone will be primarily driven by the decentralized efforts of the community with the Core Team’s support. This KYC piece today specifically provides an update on the Core Team’s recent progress in unblocking Pioneers’ applications stuck in the KYC process and supporting the community to achieve its KYC goals to get prepared for the Open Network. 
Identifying and Addressing A Core Problem
One major hurdle in our KYC process has been with applications that are missing or have incorrectly entered information. 
This issue, while sometimes appearing minor, significantly slows down the processing efficiency. The “missing” status might be caused by various reasons: the wide range and vast diversity of ID document layouts and designs, scattered data on the front and back sides of ID, unclear ID images, human errors in filling in the application form, etc. Small errors, such as omitted details or data mismatches, lead to verification delays and create system bottlenecks.
To verify you quickly and securely, we need all your KYC documentation to be exact. Not getting KYC’d because of these tiny hiccups can be frustrating, and we’re doing everything we can to solve these problems, both individually and at scale.
Ultimately, the most efficient way to improve our KYC system is to implement new changes that enhance the process. In the Pi KYC application, we’re asking you to help deliver accurate data entry––but we’re also stepping up to help, with manual fixes, a more intuitive system design, and better algorithms and designs to extract correct data as we work to streamline the KYC process and onboard new applicants.
Solutions and Recent Effectiveness
In response to the specific challenge of missing and mismatching data in KYC applications, we’ve implemented and released a comprehensive set of measures, each designed to target specific issues and finally reduce the cases stuck by this cause in the KYC process significantly. These measures, along with specific metrics since a recent update in mid-December 2023, are as follows:
Comprehensive Application Reprocessing: Before November 2023, there were about 1.5 million applications in total that were stuck in the KYC process due to missing data in their applications. We improved the code to extract the data from the ID documents, applied the new improvements to all 1.5 million cases in November, unblocked about 200,000 applications to move on in the KYC process and resulted in 1.3 million remaining cases having this issue by the end of November 2023. 
Improved algorithm to resolve sub-issues: With further analysis on the remaining applications, we identified sub-issues and implemented the second iteration of the code that extracts necessary data from the ID document. In mid-December, we undertook another comprehensive reprocessing effort, revisiting a total of 1.3 million applications. This second comprehensive reprocessing let about 532,000 applications get unstuck and move on in their KYC journey, and significantly reduced the number of applications blocked by missing data in the KYC process. 
Resubmission Opportunities for Pioneers: In the remaining cases stuck by the same issue, we identified that resubmission by Pioneers can help resolve it. For example, unclear images of the ID documents can’t be resolved purely by algorithmic improvements. Just uploading another clear image can do. Human errors in the application form were caused by the applicants themselves in the first submission, so they have to fix such errors themselves. Thus, we allowed about 768,000 remaining applicants blocked by this issue to have one more chance to resubmit their applications. This move deployed in late December was not only about giving a second chance but also about educating users on the importance of clear, accurate and complete information. The resubmission measure allowed another 123,000 applications to be successfully unblocked from the missing data issue in the KYC process, and this number has been continuing to increase as more applicants act on the resubmission opportunity.
Validators Review as the Solution: The next strategy to tackle the missing data issue for the remaining affected cases will rely on KYC Validators. Currently, a new design and tutorials for this task for Validators have been developed and tested, and will be soon slowly rolled out to Validators based on their prior performance to help address this issue and unblock more applications affected by missing data that cannot be resolved algorithmically or via resubmissions. 
The above were updates on resolving one major blocker in the KYC process and will have ongoing effects on future applications as well (future applications will have a lower chance of being stuck or will be delayed for a shorter amount of time by similar issues due to such improvements). As they show, each measure or strategy involves a lot of data analysis, identification of specific causes, development of solution, testing, deployment and iterations. With such similar efforts in each step, sometimes a measure can lead to bigger results while at other times one measure unblocks fewer applicants. However, the challenge of the KYC process is that each corner case matters because each Pioneer going through KYC matters even if the measure to resolve that one corner case takes as much time and effort as others. The above list was only for one blocker—albeit a major one—and there are other KYC blockers the Core Team has been working on and providing solutions to unblock applications in similar manner. 
Some of the other KYC updates and progress include:
Improved Liveness Video Processing: There were about 153,000 KYC applications before November 2023 that were stuck in the KYC process due to failures of processing their video in their initial submission.  After examinations of the issue, a tailored measure was implemented to reprocess the video submissions of these applications and deployed in November 2023, effectively reducing the backlog to just 19,000 Pioneers needing further measures. 
Unblocking Applications with Watermark Issue: In December 2023, a specialized measure was implemented to rectify some failures in adding watermarks to images that prevented some applications from going through. This solution resulted in the successful unblocking of 1,367 Pioneers to continue their KYC process.
Name Comparisons and Appeals: The complexity in verifying that all names (KYC ID name, Pi account name, appealed names) associated with an account refer to the same person in the KYC process also prevents many applications from moving forward. While most name comparisons were done by the machines, there are cases that ultimately cannot be resolved algorithmically. New tutorials and designs were implemented and are released to trusted Validators to resolve such name comparison difficulties and resolve many name appeal requests. This feature was released around the time of this blog release, so no metrics are available at the moment.  
Tips for Pioneers for a Smoother KYC process
Drawing from what we learned when helping to resolve different stuck cases, we also want to share with Pioneers some tips to reduce your own chance of being stuck in the KYC process and help the network to make faster progress in the KYC goal. 
Complete Information: Ensure all data, especially crucial details like Date of Birth or ID document Expiration Date, are filled in accurately.
High-Quality Document Images: Submit clear, well-lit images of your ID and a clear liveness video.
Correct Country of ID Submission: The ID document’s country of issuance should match the country selected in the dropdown at the beginning of the KYC application.
Consistent ID Document Submission: Ensure the type of ID you submit matches the one you’ve selected in your application form.
Consistent Language in Data Entry: Enter your details in the application form in the exact language as they appear on your ID. If the names on your ID document are in your native language, please fill in the form with your native names. 
Moving Forward
As stated, the network KYC progress depends on Pioneers to apply, fix their applications, resubmit, invite their teams to go through KYC, and KYC validators to help resolve difficult cases that machines cannot resolve. The Core Team is also committed to provide the necessary technology, designs and support for the community to make progress in this metric we all share towards the Open Network. 
We thank our community for their ongoing participation and feedback, which are invaluable in this journey towards a more efficient and user-friendly KYC process. Stay tuned for more updates and improvements.

To start mining Pi, follow a few simple steps:Find the mobile phone app in the App Store or Google Play by searching for the Pi Network.Download the app and install it on your mobile device. It's free.Choose whether you want to register using your Facebook account or your phone number. Please note that if you choose the former method and then lose access to your Facebook account, you may also lose access to your Pi coins.Enter your first name, surname, nickname, country of residence and telephone number.Enter the invitation code. Use This invitation Code (SanjayKalasua) You can get it from someone who's already a Pi Network user. The easiest thing to do would be to Google it.Press the lightning button to start mining Pi. The mining process will run for 24 hours before you need to press this button again.

Introducing Pi Staked Direct Messages (Staked DMs)—the latest Web3 feature in Pi's mission to redefine social access that integrates tokenomics into Pi Chats. With Staked DMs, Pioneers can now connect directly with other Pioneers in private chats through message requests that require staking Pi, promoting authentic, meaningful connections while deterring spam

Pi Coin Price Prediction 2023-2027 Pi Coin has been around since 2018. According to its creators, the blockchain protocol was designed so that anybody could mine Pi on their mobile device. The Pi Coin’s popularity grows as the project’s getting closer to a public launch. This article discusses the Pi coin
price prediction for 2023 and upcoming years, where it stands now and how it may perform in the future. This article does not provide investment advice; instead, we urge investors to do their own due diligence and commit only what they can afford to lose.

Pi coins are not currently trading on any cryptocurrency exchange, so it is difficult to gauge their price. The current Pi cryptocurrency price is not available as you cannot buy or sell these tokens at present. One can only obtain these coins by mining them on a mobile application. Once the blockchain is released, users will be able to transfer their mined Pi coins to their wallets and start trading.