— meaning widely used for everyday transactions, accepted by merchants, integrated into apps/services, and recognized beyond crypto enthusiasts — but it's still in a transitional phase as of February 2026. The project launched its Open Network period of Mainnet in February 2025, which enabled real peer-to-peer transfers and external connectivity, but adoption has been slow and the price has dropped sharply (over 90% from early 2025 highs in many reports, trading around $0.13–$0.37 recently depending on sources).
Here are the realistic paths and key requirements for Pi to achieve true mainstream status:
1. Deliver real, everyday utility (the most critical factor)
Mainstream success requires Pi being used for practical things people do daily: buying coffee, paying bills, in-app purchases, remittances, local commerce, etc.
- Current progress: Pi Payments are going live/expanding in the Open Network era, with easier integration for developers (e.g., Pi App Studio updates in 2026 allow quick payment features in apps). Partnerships like with CiDi Games (Pi as in-game currency, testing Q1 2026) show early steps.
- Needed next: A surge in dApps, merchant adoption (especially in developing markets where mobile mining started strong), and organic peer-to-peer volume that isn't just speculation.
2. Complete and scale user migration + KYC
Tens of millions signed up, but only ~15–17 million KYC-verified users migrated to Mainnet by late 2025/early 2026. Bottlenecks in migration, KYC (now using palm print + AI), and node upgrades (mandatory versions like v19.6, v20+ in 2026) slow things down.
→ Faster onboarding of the remaining Pioneers and making wallets usable for non-tech people is essential.
3. Smart contracts and ecosystem growth (2026 upgrades)
The shift to Stellar protocol version 23 (smart contracts) is expected to unlock DeFi, NFTs, more complex apps, etc. This could dramatically expand use cases if developers build actively.
Open-sourcing parts of the node/blockchain in 2026 increases transparency and could attract more builders.
4. Broader exchange listings + liquidity
Pi is on some platforms, but major ones (Binance, Coinbase, etc.) would bring visibility, easier on/off-ramps, and institutional interest. Some speculation exists about future listings, but nothing confirmed yet.
Without deep liquidity, volatility stays high and mainstream users stay away.
5. Regulatory clarity and merchant/institutional buy-in
Compliance (AML, etc.) and clear rules in major markets would help. If Pi positions as a payment/utility token rather than pure speculation, it could gain traction in regions with high mobile penetration but low banking access.
Realistic outlook for mainstream in the near term
- 2026 is make-or-break: Many analysts call it a pivotal year — smart contract rollout + big token unlocks (~1.2B PI) + utility build-out will decide if it rebounds or fades. Price forecasts range from staying low ($0.2–$0.5) to optimistic jumps if adoption kicks in.
- Massive community (tens of millions) is a huge advantage over most projects, but converting miners → active users has been the weak link so far.
- True mainstream (think Venmo/PayPal level or even stablecoin-like usage) likely requires years of consistent execution, not months.
In short: Pi can go mainstream if it shifts from "mobile mining hype" to "usable payment + app ecosystem" — the infrastructure is maturing in 2026, but real traction depends on developers, merchants, and users actually choosing Pi over existing options (USDT, local apps, cards). The foundation exists; execution will decide. Stay updated via official Pi channels for the latest on migrations, upgrades, and app growth.