Pi Network’s Mainnet Goes Live – Should You Sell or Hold Your Pi?

After years of operating in a closed system, Pi Network has officially launched its open mainnet, allowing users to trade their PI tokens freely for the first time. This long-awaited move means Pi holders, known as “pioneers,” can finally use their tokens outside the network.

Developers have also been active, with over 100 applications already built on Pi’s blockchain, covering areas like decentralized finance (DeFi) and gaming.

Pi Network vs. Bitcoin: What Makes It Unique?

Unlike Bitcoin, which requires powerful computers for mining, Pi Network allows users to mine tokens directly from their mobile phones. This easy access has helped Pi gain millions of users, even before the mainnet launch.

However, despite the excitement, Pi’s market debut didn’t see a strong price performance. Here’s how the market reacted.

Pi’s Price Swings Wildly on Day One

As soon as Pi became tradable, its price saw extreme ups and downs.

• In the first hour, it surged 36.8% to hit $1.97 but quickly dropped.
• On OKX, it fell to $1.80.
• On Bitget, it touched $1.78.
• Bybit saw Pi fall below $1 in no time.
• On Bitget, the token briefly spiked to $3.40 before crashing again.

Currently, Pi is trading at around $1.33, close to its launch price, after losing 24% in the past hour.

Interestingly, before trading was live, IOU markets (where traders speculate on prices before the token is officially available) had valued Pi between $61 and $70. Now, with real trading in place, it’s clear those estimates were far too high.

Exchanges Rush to List Pi—But Binance Stays Cautious

With Pi’s open mainnet finally live, several major crypto exchanges quickly listed the token, including OKX, HTX, Bybit, MEXC, Gate.io, BitMart, and Bitget.

However, Binance—the world’s largest crypto exchange—is still undecided. Instead of listing Pi immediately, Binance launched a poll asking users if they wanted the token added. The poll runs until February 27, but even if users vote “yes,” there’s no guarantee Binance will list it. Meanwhile, Coinbase, Kraken, and Upbit have yet to comment on Pi’s listing.

Will Pi’s Price Recover?

While the open mainnet launch is a big step for Pi, the token’s price remains highly unpredictable. Many early miners have held their Pi for years, and if they start selling in large numbers, prices could drop further. On the other hand, if Binance and other top exchanges decide to list Pi, demand could rise, pushing prices higher.

Right now, Pi is riding a wave of excitement, but whether it stabilizes or stays volatile remains to be seen.

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