The Pi Network has successfully completed a significant mainnet upgrade, transitioning the blockchain from version 22 to version 23. The Pi Core Team announced the migration on May 20, 2026, marking what they described as the most challenging and fundamentally complex iteration in the project's history.
The upgrade involved a comprehensive backend overhaul. The protocol itself was upgraded, while the underlying server systems were migrated from Ubuntu 20 to Ubuntu 24 to improve long-term support and maintenance. The database layer was shifted from PostgreSQL 12 to PostgreSQL 16, a change that is expected to reduce operational latencies and enhance transaction processing speeds.
In addition to these technical changes, the migration required extensive data rewriting to align block history with the new standards. The team addressed anomalies in historical records and corrected inconsistencies in mapping and identity verification (KYC) processes. The upgrade also eliminated technical compatibility barriers, paving the way for improved security and resistance against logical failures.
Despite the technical progress, the PI token continues to face price weakness. Over 18 million users have been verified, but the token remains in a long downtrend with lower highs. The market reaction has been muted, with trading activity and volume remaining steady but failing to halt the decline.
Looking ahead, the community is already anticipating the next milestone: protocol version 26, which could introduce decentralized governance functions. Preliminary technical assessments for that upgrade are expected to begin around June 22, 2026.
