Coin issuance major upgrade on January 22! 15.8 million users vote to decide mainnet governance

Pi Network launches its first upgrade in 2026, with a new SDK that allows developers to complete payment integration within 10 minutes. Over 15.8 million KYC-verified users will participate in governance voting on January 22 to decide on network upgrades. On the same day, Stellar will launch X-Ray Protocol 25, adding zero-knowledge proof technology, and Pi Protocol v23 will integrate Stellar Core to enhance transaction speed.

Pi Network Launches 10-Minute Fast Payment SDK Integration

Pi Network has released its first upgrade in 2026, a brand-new developer library that enables quick integration of Pi payments into applications. According to community feedback, developers can now complete Pi payment integration in less than 10 minutes. This new tool packages the Pi SDK and backend API into a simple installer, saving time and removing technical barriers for developers.

This 10-minute figure is highly convincing. In traditional blockchain payment integrations, developers often need days or weeks to understand protocols, configure nodes, handle transaction logic, and test security. Pi’s new SDK simplifies this complex process into a standardized installer, significantly lowering the development threshold. This user-friendly design philosophy continues Pi’s original vision of “enabling everyone to participate in cryptocurrency.”

This means more real applications, more genuine services, and more reasons to use Pi. Users can now mine and hold Pi, as well as use Pi in apps, games, and digital services. For today’s Pi news, this is one of the most important updates so far this year. It demonstrates Pi’s commitment to building a well-functioning digital economy.

From “mining and holding” to “using and consuming,” this shift marks Pi’s strategic transformation from a speculative asset to a practical currency. The long-term challenge in the crypto industry is “price without utility,” with many tokens having large market caps but lacking real use cases. Pi aims to establish a genuine payment ecosystem by lowering barriers for developers, and this pragmatic strategy could be key to its long-term success.

January 22 Mainnet Governance Vote Opens the Decentralized Era

On January 22, Pi Network will hold an important mainnet governance vote. Over 15.8 million KYC-verified mainnet users will have the opportunity to vote on the network’s next major upgrade. This is a true embodiment of decentralized governance. The Pi community is no longer making decisions behind closed doors but shaping the future of the network together. “Vanguard forces!” community members wrote, “Your voices are crucial to our future development.” This vote marks another step toward a fully open, community-driven blockchain.

The figure of 15.8 million is extremely rare in the crypto industry. Most blockchain projects’ governance votes typically involve only thousands or tens of thousands of participants, but Pi can mobilize over tens of millions of users, demonstrating a strong community foundation. This large-scale participatory governance model is both an advantage and a challenge. Its advantage lies in truly realizing the democratic principle of “one person, one vote,” while the challenge is how to ensure voting quality and decision-making efficiency.

The KYC verification requirement is a key design feature of Pi’s governance system. Unlike many blockchains that allow anonymous participation, Pi requires users to complete identity verification to participate in governance votes. Although this sacrifices some anonymity, it effectively prevents Sybil attacks (where one person creates multiple accounts to manipulate votes). With over 10 million users, without a KYC mechanism, the governance system could easily be manipulated by a few participants holding many accounts.

The topic of this vote is “the next major network upgrade,” though specific details have not been fully disclosed. It is expected to involve protocol parameter adjustments, new feature activations, or economic model optimizations. This mode of letting the community directly decide on technical directions contrasts with the core developer-led model of Bitcoin and Ethereum, highlighting Pi’s emphasis on community democracy.

Stellar X-Ray Protocol 25 Brings Privacy Technology Upgrade

January 22 is also an important day for Stellar, the blockchain protocol that inspired Pi’s consensus model. Stellar will launch X-Ray (Protocol 25) on its mainnet at 17:00 UTC. This upgrade introduces two powerful privacy tools: BN254 and Poseidon.

Stellar X-Ray Protocol 25 Core Technologies

BN254: A cryptographic system used for zero-knowledge proofs, allowing verification of transaction validity without revealing specific details.

Poseidon: A hash system optimized for zero-knowledge proof scenarios, more efficient than traditional hash functions.

These tools enable developers to build applications that protect user data while complying with relevant rules. Zero-knowledge proof technology is at the forefront of blockchain privacy protection, allowing one party to prove a statement is true without revealing any additional information. For example, users can prove they have sufficient balance to complete a transaction without revealing the exact amount; or prove they meet certain conditions without disclosing their identity.

Pi is not directly running on Stellar, but both networks share the same core vision: fast, secure, privacy-first blockchain systems. Pi adopts the Federated Byzantine Agreement (FBA), inspired by Stellar’s Consensus Protocol (SCP). This consensus mechanism does not require mining or staking but reaches agreement through a trusted node network, offering high efficiency and low energy consumption.

Therefore, many Pi community members are closely watching Stellar’s upgrade. Although Pi will not directly incorporate BN254 and Poseidon technologies, Stellar’s progress provides reference for Pi’s future development. If privacy protection becomes a core user demand, Pi may consider integrating similar technologies in future upgrades.

Protocol v23 Upgrade and Mainnet Migration Milestone

Pi Protocol v23 integrates Stellar Core to improve transaction speed. This technical upgrade is a significant step toward Pi’s full mainnet deployment. Stellar Core is the core software of Stellar blockchain, proven through years of practical use, with high reliability and performance. By integrating Stellar Core, Pi can inherit these technical advantages and enhance its network’s transaction processing capacity.

Over 15.8 million pioneer users have successfully migrated to the mainnet. This migration milestone marks a major progress in Pi’s transition from a closed testnet to an open mainnet. Since its launch in 2019, Pi has been in a closed mainnet phase, where users could mine and hold Pi within applications but could not transfer or trade externally. The mainnet migration means these Pi are now becoming truly circulating digital assets.

However, it’s worth noting that Pi’s mainnet migration adopts a gradual approach. Not all mined Pi are immediately unlocked; users must complete KYC verification and meet lock-up conditions. This design aims to prevent a sudden influx of supply causing a price crash but has also raised some community concerns about liquidity restrictions.

Pi’s 2026 Strategy: Practicality Over Price Speculation

Although Pi’s price will still fluctuate with the overall crypto market, the team clearly prioritizes practicality. Their philosophy is simple: develop first, price later. This strategic positioning contrasts sharply with many projects that hype prices first and seek applications later.

The new SDK and upcoming governance vote together indicate that Pi is rapidly developing in 2026. Developers now have more powerful tools, users have greater voice, and the ecosystem is preparing for more practical use cases. The focus is no longer just on mining but on payments, applications, privacy, and community control. For Pi, 2026 is expected to be a year of truly realizing practical value.