- Pi Network is a step closer to Protocol 23 launch, as a majority of mainnet nodes have upgraded.
- Pi coin gains access in the U.S. following a new listing on the OKX crypto exchange.
The Pi Network is recording one of its most successful weeks. The network has confirmed it is closer to the launch of the Protocol 23 upgrade, and its native token has gained new access to the U.S. market.
Protocol 23 is part of a series of scheduled upgrades that began earlier this year. It’s designed to make transactions more efficient and to bring the network closer to smart contracts compatibility. Beyond smart contracts, the team will expand into RWA tokenization, Web3 identity tools, and dApp support.
The development team has offered a crucial update on its progress, saying most major nodes have now been upgraded, and the protocol is expected to move to v23 soon.
It further notes that this has been one of its most challenging upgrades, involving multiple subsystem upgrades and optimizations that required reprocessing internal data. Transition includes OS shift from Ubuntu 20 to 24 and PostgreSQL 12 to 16.
Big kudos to Mainnet Node operators for upgrading to v23.
Most major Nodes have now been upgraded, and the protocol is expected to move to v23 soon.
This was one of the most challenging upgrades to date, as it involved multiple subsystem upgrades and optimizations that…
— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) May 20, 2026
Pi Network’s Token Available to Millions in The U.S.
The team’s focus on network development has seemingly been rewarded after confirmation that the Pi token is available to millions of people in the US.
The U.S. is one of the most coveted markets for crypto, consisting of millions of tech-savvy and affluent investors. Crypto tokens available to the market tend to perform exceptionally well.
This is the second listing in the U.S. market after Kraken announced support for the coin earlier this year. At the time, this was part of a series of catalysts that led the coin to post a 34% surge, as ETHNews reported.
With the addition of OKX, this sees the token expand its reach and possibly strengthen its influence in the US, as it has in the Asian market.
At the time of writing, Pi is trading at $0.1532 after a 3% rally in the past 24 hours. However, the coin remains deep in the red on the weekly chart. On-chain data paints a bearish picture, with PiScan data showing that 1.23 million PI tokens were deposited on centralized exchanges over the last 24 hours. This suggests that these holders are getting ready to sell, which could dampen prices.
However, market sentiment in crypto can quickly change, and progress around the coin suggests there are better days ahead for holders. As ETHNews reported, the Pi Network expanded its AI app ecosystem earlier this week. Creators can now use AI-assisted coding tools such as Codex, Claude Code, Replit, Cursor, and Lovable to bring their AI-created apps to Pi’s real distribution network.
