Pi Network invests a whopping $100 million in AI! Developers refuse to buy in and leave, causing the price to fall into a $0.20 dilemma.

Pi Network Ventures invests $100 million in OpenMind, a project dedicated to building open-source operating systems for collaborative AI machines. Announced on November 3, 2025, this partnership will leverage Pi Network’s network of 350,000 active nodes to run AI models on the platform, transforming idle computing resources into income for node operators.

$100 Million AI Investment Turns Idle Computing Power into Revenue

(Source: OpenMind)

Recent developments show that Pi Network is actively exploring practical applications. The collaboration with OpenMind highlights Pi Network’s evolution from grassroots experimentation to a provider of decentralized infrastructure. By allowing node operators to complete AI-related tasks to earn Pi tokens, the project is establishing what it calls a “productive artificial intelligence energy” model.

The 350,000 active nodes form a vast distributed computing network. Currently, these nodes mainly secure the Pi Network blockchain and validate transactions. The partnership with OpenMind opens new revenue streams for these nodes. Operators can choose to contribute their idle computing power to AI training or inference tasks and earn Pi tokens as rewards.

This model is similar to distributed computing projects like Folding@home (protein folding research) or SETI@home (searching for extraterrestrial intelligence). The difference is that Pi Network offers economic incentives, not just volunteer contributions. This could increase demand for Pi, as developers and users are attracted to networks capable of providing tangible economic benefits.

From a technical perspective, several key challenges need to be addressed. First, task allocation fairness and efficiency—how to ensure AI tasks are reasonably distributed among 350,000 nodes? Second, result verification—how to prevent malicious nodes from submitting incorrect results? Third, incentive balance—how to set rewards that attract participation without causing inflation?

ISO 20022 Compliance Aims at Cross-Border Payment Market

Meanwhile, Pi Network is working toward compliance with ISO 20022, a global banking protocol that facilitates international payments and attracts institutional investors. This move aligns Pi Network with established blockchain projects like Stellar and Ripple, which have adopted similar standards.

ISO 20022 is an international standard for financial message exchange, designed to unify global financial communication. Adopting this standard means Pi Network’s transaction data formats will be compatible with traditional banking systems, making it easier for banks and financial institutions to integrate Pi as a cross-border payment solution.

With over 70 million active users and 25 million who have completed KYC verification, Pi Network’s growing community fuels speculation that its token could become a widely used utility asset. Such a large user base makes Pi one of the largest crypto projects by scale. If these users actively adopt Pi for cross-border payments, Pi could become a significant player in the global remittance market.

Three Pillars of Pi Network’s Compliance Strategy

ISO 20022 Standard: Compatible with global banking systems, lowering institutional entry barriers

25 Million KYC Verified Users: Meeting AML and KYC requirements, enhancing regulatory compliance

Cross-Border Payment Focus: Targeting international remittance markets similar to Stellar and Ripple

However, compliance alone doesn’t guarantee success. Ripple and Stellar have adopted ISO 20022 and partnered with multiple banks, yet their token prices and market acceptance face challenges. Pi Network must demonstrate that it not only meets technical standards but also offers superior value in practical applications compared to existing solutions.

WorkforcePool Sale Exposes Developer Ecosystem Risks

There are still hurdles. Reports indicate that WorkforcePool—Pi Hackathon winner and a decentralized freelance platform—was recently acquired, raising concerns about the long-term health of the developer community. The exit highlights operational challenges such as rising domain, server, and user acquisition costs, which could hinder new developers from joining the Pi ecosystem.

The sale of WorkforcePool is a warning sign. As the winner of Pi Hackathon, WorkforcePool was a flagship project within the ecosystem. Its departure suggests that even successful projects face sustainability issues. Building applications within Pi’s ecosystem involves costs: domain registration and renewal, server hosting, user acquisition and marketing, ongoing maintenance, and updates.

More critically, Pi’s closed mainnet means developers cannot monetize via token sales or transaction fees until the open mainnet launches. They must rely on their own funds or external investments to sustain operations until then. This long-term funding pressure is a major challenge for early-stage teams.

Community members also criticize the core team for delaying the launch of the open mainnet, which is essential for achieving full decentralization. The open mainnet will allow Pi tokens to be freely traded, providing monetization avenues for developers and injecting real economic activity into the ecosystem. Yet, this milestone has been repeatedly delayed with no clear launch date.

1 Billion Downloads vs. $0.20 Price: A Contradiction

Market indicators show mixed signals. Despite surpassing 100 million app downloads—more than mainstream crypto apps like Coinbase and OKX—Pi’s token price has been volatile. After briefly reaching $0.30 in October, it retreated to a range of $0.20–$0.22.

Reaching 100 million downloads is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating Pi’s success in attracting users. However, downloads don’t equate to active engagement or value. Many users may have downloaded the app out of curiosity or for a quick try, without actively using Pi or deriving real value. Moreover, since Pi tokens are not freely tradable yet, these users cannot convert their holdings into real wealth.

On-chain data shows an increase in available tokens on exchanges, indicating selling activity. This is a warning sign. Even though the mainnet isn’t live, some exchanges are trading Pi IOUs or futures contracts. The rising supply of available tokens suggests holders are selling, reflecting waning market confidence.

Experts warn that without regulatory clarity or widespread real-world use cases, any price increases are likely speculative. Currently, Pi’s price is driven mainly by speculation rather than utility. Only when Pi tokens are broadly used in cross-border payments, AI tasks, or other practical scenarios can their value be truly supported.