Pi Network has temporarily suspended its mainnet migration process just days before the one-year anniversary of its open mainnet launch. Community leaders have described the move as a "strategic adjustment" aimed at reducing potential selling pressure and stabilizing the market. The decision coincides with Pi Network approaching the one-year mark since the launch of its open mainnet phase.
The migration process, which allows users to transfer their Pi balances to the live blockchain, typically increases the circulating supply. By pausing this process, Pi Network can temporarily limit the number of new tokens entering the market. Supporters argue this helps prevent sudden sell-offs and reduces pressure during a sensitive period, as anniversaries often attract attention and volatility. However, the Pi Core Team has not yet issued a detailed technical announcement explaining the suspension, with most information currently coming from community figures sharing updates online.
Concurrently, the network has deployed a new blockchain upgrade to version 19.6, with community leaders indicating version 19.9 could be activated soon. These upgrades are said to improve network stability and prepare for more complex smart contract capabilities. To date, Pi Network has primarily focused on payments and ecosystem applications. The new versions aim to expand functionality, potentially allowing developers to build more advanced decentralized tools on the network.
The timing is particularly notable, as Pi (PI) has reportedly surged over 40% in the past week, outperforming the broader market ahead of the anniversary. Community accounts highlight the strong momentum and point to a base of over 16 million Pioneers who have completed migration. Some voices also defend the token distribution model, arguing its design—which keeps 84% of accounts in a lower "Microbes" tier—prevents large early holders from dominating supply and mitigates the risk of large-scale "whale dumps."
This anniversary milestone marks a critical juncture for Pi Network. One year after the mainnet launch, the project faces pressure to prove real utility value. While pausing migrations may help manage short-term risks, long-term success is seen as dependent on adoption and the growth of its application ecosystem. The coming weeks are likely to shape market sentiment around the project.
