Pi Network has unveiled its comprehensive multi-layer verification system that actively verifies individual users through Know Your Customer (KYC), businesses through Know Your Business (KYB), and governments through Know Your Government (KYG) protocols. This approach positions Pi as a compliance-first blockchain ecosystem where all participants must submit applications and receive approval before gaining access to the network.
The project's structure places every participant under Pi's on-chain governance framework, which the network claims strengthens trust and accountability across the entire ecosystem. Unlike most blockchain ecosystems that typically verify only users or platforms, Pi Network has added institutional and governmental levels of involvement to its system.
The project already maintains a publicly available list of KYB-approved businesses and markets KYG as a future avenue for country or regional integration. Proponents of this tiered system argue that it helps decrease fraud, enhance legitimacy, and prepares Pi to conduct commerce at scale in the real world.
Identity verification has been a critical focus area for Pi Network since its inception in 2019 as a mobile-first cryptocurrency. The project currently boasts a KYC-verified user base of over 20 million "pioneers", representing years of gradual user onboarding during the enclosed mainnet phase. Through stringent entry criteria, Pi prioritizes regulatory congruence and controlled ecosystem development over permissionless expansion.
The community's optimism about this compliance-focused model contrasts with market skepticism. Pi supporters see the KYC-KYB-KYG approach as a long-term advantage that could attract businesses and governments interested in compliant blockchain infrastructure. However, critics note that other ecosystems, particularly those based on Ethereum, already incorporate KYC and KYB without requiring approval layers. The clear trade-off identified in this debate is that while Pi Network positions itself as having strong governance and compliance credentials, this comes at the expense of greater openness and decentralization.
