The Pi Network Core Team, which manages the development of the Pi cryptocurrency, is staying busy even as Christmas approaches. They have shared plans to connect more with their community during the holiday season to spread festive cheer.
However, the value of the Pi token has been falling in the market. It is now close to dropping below $0.20, struggling to regain strength after previous poor performance.
Exciting Pi Network Updates and Holiday News
At the end of last week, the Pi Core Team made two important announcements. The first announcement was about updates for the Pi Network’s test version of their decentralized exchange (DEX) and its Automated Market Maker (AMM). An AMM is a system in decentralized finance (DeFi) that allows trading of tokens using smart contracts. Learn more about AMM here.
The main change in this update is that the platform will now focus on pairing Pi tokens directly with other currencies. These are called liquidity pairs, and they help buyers and sellers easily trade assets. This new system places Pi tokens at the center of its test exchange, similar to how other successful DeFi ecosystems operate. More about DeFi ecosystems here.
According to the team, this change will bring the following benefits:
- Lower price volatility: This means the Pi token’s price won’t change dramatically within a short time.
- Reduced slippage: Slippage happens when you expect a trading price but end up buying or selling at a very different rate. With improved liquidity, this issue will be minimized. Find more about slippage here.
- Better price discovery: Price discovery determines the true market price of an asset by studying buyer and seller activity. Read more on price discovery here.
The team has also updated the DEX and AMM interfaces. This should make it easier to use for beginners, reducing confusion and helping new users navigate the platform comfortably.
The second announcement is tied to the Christmas spirit! The Core Team introduced a “Community Commerce Initiative” to support small businesses that use Pi tokens. The aim is to expand real-world uses of the Pi token and help users identify merchants and apps that accept it.
Businesses and app developers can create holiday deals, discounts, or shopping events. They can share details about these activities on the PiFest Fireside Forum channel, a community discussion platform. Once a deal is posted, businesses will manage sales, delivery, and customer orders directly.
For users, this means an exciting chance to explore the Pi ecosystem and discover merchants who accept the token. You can browse the Fireside Forum or other directories, shop with Mainnet commerce apps (Mainnet refers to fully launched blockchain networks; learn about blockchains here), or visit physical stores supporting Pi.
To add some fun, the Pi Network Core Team will reward 100 users with branded T-shirts and hats. These items will be handled by a third-party provider that ships to more than 220 locations worldwide—a great way to celebrate the holidays while supporting Pi businesses!
Pi Token’s Price Struggles
Despite these positive updates, the Pi token has been struggling in the cryptocurrency market. After attempting to reach $0.21 earlier this week, its price has dropped again, nearing $0.20. Recent market events have impacted its performance.
Earlier this year, in October and November, the Pi token managed to resist a market crash and surged up to $0.30. However, that momentum did not last. Looking at the bigger picture, Pi’s price has fallen more than 93% since its highest value in February, when it was close to $3.00.
One factor to watch is the Pi token unlock schedule. This refers to the planned release of a certain number of Pi tokens into the market over time. When tokens are unlocked, they become available for trading. Having too many tokens enter the market can put downward pressure on the price. See the token unlock details below:
- On average, about five million tokens are expected to be unlocked per month soon. On December 25th (Christmas Day), the largest batch of tokens for the month—nearly nine million Pi tokens—will be released.
This increase in token supply could influence Pi’s market value further.
For more information on Pi’s token release schedule, you can visit PiScan, an online tracker.
Stay tuned for more updates as the holiday season unfolds!