PI (Pi) decreased by 1.49% in the last 24 hours

Gate News Bot Message, January 8th, according to CoinMarketCap data, as of press time, PI (Pi) is currently trading at $0.21, down 1.49% in the past 24 hours, with a high of $0.22 and a low of $0.20. The 24-hour trading volume reached $8.47 million. The current market capitalization is approximately $1.748 billion.

PI is the first digital currency that can be mined on mobile phones, utilizing groundbreaking technology to enable mobile mining without draining the battery. Pi Network features decentralization, security, tamper-proofing, and interoperability, while also emphasizing a mobile-first and user-friendly design philosophy. It aims to lower the barriers to cryptocurrency mining, allowing more users to participate in the crypto ecosystem.

Important recent news about PI:

1️⃣ Testnet 25 upgrades advance mainnet development, with infrastructure for smart contracts and DEX gradually improving

Pi Network has officially activated the Testnet 25 upgrade and plans to fully launch it at 21:00 UTC. This testnet update focuses on system-level optimization, emphasizing the stability and security of the underlying architecture to support smart contracts, security tools, and more on-chain applications. Meanwhile, the mainnet upgrade voting has been scheduled for 17:00 UTC on January 22, where Pi members will vote on whether to implement the proposed changes on the mainnet. This decentralized governance mechanism is seen by the market as an important signal of the mainnet’s further openness. The v23 protocol upgrade has been deployed within the ecosystem, introducing support for Rust smart contracts for the first time, laying the groundwork for the DEX launch in Q1 2026. The developer community generally considers this version as a crucial infrastructure upgrade for Pi’s ecosystem to evolve toward more complex application forms.

2️⃣ Market sentiment fluctuations and divergent price forecasts highlight risk factors

Discussions about the future price of Pi Coin have recently intensified, with Grok modifying the chart sparking widespread debate about the 2026 price forecast. The modified chart visually amplifies trading volume and candlestick bodies, making the trend appear more bullish. Some investors see this as a “bullish signal” indicating a potential price reversal, but there are also rational voices pointing out that such chart changes are more emotional than based on fundamentals. Based on current data, Pi Coin’s price in early 2026 is expected to fluctuate mainly between $0.20 and $0.22. Most comprehensive models remain conservative about Pi Network’s mid-term outlook, with an estimated average price range of about $0.17 to $0.22 for the year. A price reaching $0.50 would represent over a 140% increase, which would require a market-wide crypto rally and substantial breakthroughs within the Pi Network ecosystem, including significantly increased exchange liquidity, real-world application deployment, and sustained user demand. Currently, market expectations vary greatly; $0.50 seems more like an emotional target rather than a certain outcome.

3️⃣ Ecosystem applications and business scenario expansion provide substantial fundamental support

During the holiday period, Pi Network promoted large-scale merchant participation, with over 220 global merchants involved in festive trading scenarios and more than 125,000 merchants participating in holiday business plans. Over 215 applications have been launched within the ecosystem, covering areas such as privacy social networking, merchant loyalty programs, gaming and entertainment, privacy social, services, and community interaction. The first Open Network Hackathon received 215 mainnet application submissions. The system has unlocked over 1.2 million previously restricted users, allowing approximately 250,000 users to resubmit KYC applications. These practical use cases and the enrichment of ecosystem applications provide fundamental support for the project, marking Pi Network’s transition from community-driven to application-driven development, providing substantial conditions for mid-term growth.

This message is not investment advice; please be aware of market volatility risks.