Pi Network’s May 15 Deadline: Upgrade or Lose Mainnet Connection!

by

Pi Network Sets May 15 Deadline for Protocol 23 Node Upgrade

Show AI Summary
Technical limitations of prior protocols necessitated the mandatory mainnet upgrade to Protocol 23.
Inadequate node updates could lead to lost mainnet connections, prompting the May 15 deadline for node operators.
Pi Network’s consensus design, based on the Stellar Consensus Protocol, relies on trusted quorums to validate transactions.

Pi Network is requiring node operators to update their systems by May 15th to ensure the blockchain remains stable as more people join. The Pi Core Team announced the network is switching to a new version, Protocol 23, and that nodes which aren’t updated by the deadline may be disconnected from the network.

The team noted this update could take longer than previous ones, so they recommend operators start the process early. To prevent any issues, node operators should back up their data and begin the update well in advance.

The Pi Mainnet is getting an important upgrade to Protocol 23, and you need to complete it by May 15th. All Mainnet nodes must be updated by this date to stay connected to the network. This upgrade will take some time, so please start it soon. You can find more details here:

— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) May 2, 2026

Node system and consensus design

Nodes help confirm transactions and keep the network’s information current and correct. Unlike Bitcoin, which uses energy-intensive mining to verify transactions, Pi Network uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol, allowing nodes to agree on transaction details without requiring as much energy.

This system works by having each participant rely on small, trusted groups – called ‘quorum slices’ – to confirm transactions. A participant will only accept information if these trusted groups agree, allowing the system to reach consensus without needing a lot of computing power.

People using mobile devices also help keep things secure by creating “security circles.” These are basically connections between users that establish a larger network. As more connections are made, a stronger system of trust develops.

The network lets people easily participate by running nodes on their home computers. A simple desktop app controls these nodes, making it much easier for anyone to join, even without technical expertise.

Upgrade timeline and network growth

The recent Protocol 23 upgrade follows a series of improvements to the network. Previous updates, like Protocol 22, went smoothly without causing any problems with transactions. The team is now focused on Protocol 26, which should be released in the next few months.

Pi Network is still expanding! More than 10 billion Pi tokens have now been moved to the mainnet. Currently, over 421,000 nodes are actively running the network, supported by more than one million CPUs processing data.

The platform is becoming more active with real-world use. Transactions are now being processed, and developers are exploring new applications like decentralized AI services built on the blockchain.

Read More

2026-05-02 10:48