Pi Network Requires Mandatory Node Upgrade by February 2026

TLDR

• Upgrade to version 19.6 required by February 15, 2026.
• 16 million Pioneers have migrated to the Mainnet.
• Future upgrades planned for February and March 2026.

Pi Network’s Core Team has announced a mandatory Mainnet node upgrade to version 19.6. All nodes must upgrade by February 15, 2026, to remain connected. This is the first of a series of protocol upgrades designed to enhance stability, security, and scalability using the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP).

The project, founded by Stanford PhD graduates Nicolas Kokkalis and Chengdiao Fan in 2019, aims to allow accessible mobile mining without the energy demands of Proof-of-Work. The announcement was made via the Pi Network’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, highlighting the importance of this upgrade for network continuity.

Requirements for Node Participants

The Pi Core Team is responsible for the upgrade process, emphasizing the need for Mainnet nodes to complete the update by the specified deadline. Nodes that fail to comply risk disconnection from the network. The upgrade will affect Pi Network’s native PI token, a Layer 1 blockchain asset that operates on the SCP consensus.

Node operators must pass Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, maintain 24/7 uptime, and meet specific hardware specifications. These conditions are critical as Core Team selects nodes for transaction validation. There are no governance tokens or DeFi protocols related to the network’s current operation.

Historical Context and Future Upgrades

Previously, a deadline extension from February 12 to February 15 occurred due to network congestion and technical complications. This current upgrade is part of a gradual move towards decentralization before the Open Mainnet phase. Additional upgrades to version 19.9 by February 27, and version 20.2 by March 12, are planned.

These updates focus on improving node connectivity, with reports indicating that 16 million Pioneers have already migrated to the Mainnet. The community is actively sharing upgrade guides to support a smooth transition and improve network stability.

No Reported On-Chain Metrics Shift

As of now, there have been no reports on specific on-chain metrics such as Total Value Locked (TVL) changes, liquidity shifts, or staking flows related to these upgrades. The focus remains on ensuring that nodes adhere to the connectivity requirements set forth by the Core Team.

Current information indicates no institutional or regulatory updates from bodies like the SEC or CFTC affecting Pi Network. It remains isolated from other cryptocurrencies, with no impacts noted on ETH, BTC, or other altcoins.

For more insights, you can check out CryptoRank_io and other sources.

Community sentiment reflects the importance of a coordinated upgrade process. However, there is limited information on GitHub activity or detailed roadmaps. No significant discussions were found on platforms such as Reddit, Discord, or Telegram regarding these updates.