As the user base continues to grow, Pi Network is preparing for a new critical milestone. According to community disclosures, Pi Network plans to unlock a large-scale token release in January 2026, expected to release approximately 134 million PI tokens, far exceeding the roughly 8.7 million unlocked at the end of December last year. Meanwhile, the number of pioneer users registered on Pi Network has surpassed 60 million, regarded by the community as an important milestone for network scale and activity.
Many supporters believe that the rapid increase in user numbers helps the ecosystem absorb the new token supply. Community opinions point out that it is precisely the large pioneer user base that has prevented previous token unlocks from causing significant disruptions to network operation or triggering systemic issues, providing confidence for larger-scale unlocks in the future.
The token unlock in December is widely seen as a “stress test.” Community feedback indicates that the ecosystem remained relatively stable after the new supply was introduced. However, since Pi Network is still in a controlled circulation environment, the price discovery mechanism for PI tokens and external liquidity remain limited, making market reactions difficult to fully quantify.
It is worth noting that this unlock occurs during the transition of Pi Network to an open mainnet. This phase is regarded as an important step from closed testing to broader on-chain activity. The development team has repeatedly emphasized steady progress rather than releasing large amounts of liquidity all at once. Analysts point out that whether the token unlock causes pressure depends not only on the quantity but also on actual use cases, trading channels, and user behavior.
The upcoming January unlock, due to its significantly larger scale, has sparked a new round of discussions. Compared to December, the amount of PI tokens released in this unlock has increased substantially. Community managers state that a predictable and transparent issuance rhythm helps reduce uncertainty and allows the ecosystem to gradually adapt to supply changes. However, some observers warn that, in the absence of support from mainstream exchanges and a clear pricing mechanism, large-scale unlocks could still test market confidence.
Regarding the unlock topic, the community is also focusing on ecosystem development. Recently, some users have discovered new test tokens in certain wallets, indicating that Pi applications, DApps, and DEX environments are still under ongoing testing. Although the core team has not yet announced a complete unlock roadmap, multiple sources repeatedly emphasize prioritizing practicality and long-term development. As Pi Network moves into 2026, this token unlock may become an important milestone to assess the maturity of its ecosystem.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Pi Network V23 Upgrade to Launch Smart Contracts, DApp Ecosystem, and DEX Next Month
Pi Network will launch its V23 upgrade next month, featuring smart contracts, a DApp ecosystem, and a decentralized exchange. With over 18 million KYC-verified users, this upgrade moves Pi towards practical applications and utility in its ecosystem.
GateNews5h ago
Pi Network Agreement 23 Targets the Institutional Market, Smart Contracts, and RWA Tokenization to Launch in Early May
Pi Network officially went live with Protocol 23 on May 18, bringing smart contracts, real-world asset tokenization, and the AI App Studio, enabling Pi to transform from a payment token into a programmable blockchain infrastructure. The protocol covers four major functions, similar to Ethereum, and is expected to attract institutional investors. The upgraded node milestones signal market confidence and may affect Pi’s price performance.
MarketWhisper04-15 03:02
Pi Network 18 million users complete KYC, and 26.5 million PI are issued to verifiers
Pi Network distributes 26.5 million PI tokens to more than 1 million community members who have completed KYC verification, to accelerate user identity verification and strengthen the decentralized model. 18 million already-verified users have laid the groundwork for the ecosystem’s development, but the key lies in how to convert these users into active participants. With the protocol upgrade, Pi Network is moving toward the open network phase, and smart contract support signals richer application scenarios.
MarketWhisper04-14 05:07
Pi Network price hits a new 7-week low as a wave of 60 million token unlocks comes in
Pi Network's native token PI fell to $0.165 in April, hitting a 7-week low and leaving market sentiment weak. The unlock peak will release more than 60 million PI, adding downward pressure. Despite the core team recently publishing technical updates, it failed to improve market confidence and instead drew community criticism due to KYC access issues and the ongoing slide in price. Increased future supply could further drive prices lower.
MarketWhisper04-14 02:50
Pi Network Distributes 26.5M PI to 1M KYC Validators
Pi Network has taken another step forward in building its ecosystem. The project recently distributed 26.5 million PI tokens to more than 1 million KYC validators.
These rewards were given to users who helped verify identities on the network. This process is important. Because it ensures that
Coinfomania04-13 13:30
