Pi Network Gives Node Operators Until April 27 to Upgrade or Risk Disconnection, But There’s A Twist

A routine node upgrade deadline has been released by the Pi Network team. On April 17, the Pi Core Team confirmed that the Pi Mainnet is upgrading to Protocol 22, with a hard deadline set for April 27. The main goal is that the node operators must update in time to stay connected, or risk being dropped from the network.

This is part of Pi’s ongoing rollout of its node system, where users can run Pi Nodes directly from their desktops to help validate transactions and support the blockchain. The latest version (0.5.4) is already live across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Unlike systems like Bitcoin or Ethereum, Pi uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), allowing nodes to reach agreement through trusted groups instead of heavy mining. 

What Node Operators Must Do

Node operators running on Pi’s mainnet must update to Protocol 22 before the April 27 deadline. Those who miss the cutoff risk being disconnected from the network entirely. The core team described the upgrade as necessary to keep the network healthy and all participants aligned on the same protocol version.

Pi nodes run on laptops and desktops rather than mobile phones and are responsible for validating transactions on the network’s distributed ledger. The network uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol, where nodes form trusted groups and agree only on transactions that their trusted peers also approve.

There are three levels of node participation on Pi Network — Computer App users, Nodes, and SuperNodes. SuperNodes form the backbone of the blockchain and are required to stay connected around the clock. All mainnet node operators, regardless of level, are subject to the April 27 deadline.

But the Community Is Already Three Steps Ahead

While Protocol 22 is the official announcement, community analysts drealFx and FireSide Pi are reporting something the core team hasn’t officially confirmed yet. 

Pi might be possibly rushing toward Protocol 26 before Pi2Day, the community’s most anticipated event of the year.

Both analysts are urging node operators to monitor the upgrade schedule closely and warning developers to ensure their applications are compatible with smart contract changes arriving with the newer protocol versions.