Pi Network’s Core Team has clarified that its planned stablecoin integrations will be complementary to PI, not a replacement for the network’s native cryptocurrency. In an October 8 update published in the Pi mining app and shared via official channels on October 9, 2026, the team said stablecoins could support commerce, payments, accounting and settlement where predictable pricing is important. However, PI is expected to remain the primary digital asset across network processes.
The clarification follows Pi Network’s September 30 partnership with Open Standard, the company behind Open USD (OUSD). Open Standard’s consortium includes more than 200 participants across finance, payments, technology and crypto. Through the partnership, Pi Network is exploring reward programs for Pioneers and broader OUSD utility. The Core Team said bringing stablecoin activity inside the ecosystem could reduce reliance on external infrastructure, but implementation will be cautious, with compliance a key consideration.
Despite speculation, the team has not confirmed that OUSD is integrated on Pi Mainnet, and no rollout date or Pioneer reward details have been announced. Pi Network stated that stablecoins require careful design because adding another digital asset does not automatically create useful services or extra economic activity.
Meanwhile, PI has been under selling pressure. After trading above $0.09 earlier in October, PI lost that support on October 7 and slid to a three-month low near $0.078. By October 9 it traded around $0.0812, down about 10% over seven days, with market capitalization near $914 million to $915 million and 24-hour volume near $8.36 million. Immediate support sits at $0.080, while $0.090 is the first important resistance. Technical indicators such as MACD and BBTrend remain negative.
Separately, Pi Network’s Protocol 28 upgrade is scheduled for October 16, 2026. Node operators must install version 28.0 by October 13. The upgrade improves handling of delays in transaction data, allows developers to upgrade groups of smart contracts together, and enables safer modification of stored application information. The Core Team has presented the stablecoin work and Protocol 28 as separate ongoing initiatives.
