In a world where Bitcoin mining requires warehouses of hardware and consumes more electricity than some countries, Pi Network has taken a radically different path. Designed to bring cryptocurrency to the masses, Pi Network lets everyday users mine coins directly from their smartphones — no specialized equipment or deep technical knowledge required.

But what exactly is Pi Network, and is it the future of crypto or just another hype project? Let’s explore.

What is Pi Network?

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project launched in 2019 by a team of Stanford PhDs: Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, Dr. Chengdiao Fan, and Vincent McPhillip. Their mission is simple yet ambitious: make cryptocurrency accessible to everyone. Instead of using energy-intensive Proof-of-Work like Bitcoin, Pi uses a mobile-first consensus mechanism based on Stellar’s Federated Byzantine Agreement (FBA).

This makes it light enough to run on a phone without draining battery or data.

How Does Pi Mining Work?

Mining on Pi doesn’t mean solving complex puzzles like Bitcoin does. Instead, it relies on your trust circle — a group of people you vouch for within the app. The more trustworthy your network, the more Pi you earn.

Here’s the breakdown of Pi roles:

• Pioneer: Daily users who tap the “mine” button once every 24 hours.

• Contributor: Users who build a security circle of trusted individuals.

• Ambassador: Users who invite others and grow the network.

• Node: Users who run the actual consensus software (optional, PC-based).

The best part? Mining Pi doesn’t use up your phone’s CPU or battery. It's based on social consensus, not computational effort.

Pi Network's Growth

As of early 2025, Pi Network boasts over 47 million users globally and is active in more than 200 countries. It’s especially popular in regions with limited access to traditional banking, offering an entry point into the crypto world for people who were previously excluded.

Pi Network has also launched a Testnet, developed a Pi Browser, and is pushing forward with its Mainnet deployment. On Mainnet, real utility is beginning to take shape: marketplaces, dApps, and even a few token exchanges have started integrating Pi (although not all are officially endorsed).