Pi Network is moving toward its next network upgrade, with September 15, 2026, set as the target date for Protocol 27 to reach Mainnet. Testing has started on Pi Testnet 1 after the completion of Protocol 26 on Mainnet. At the same time, Pi has moved back above the $1 billion market-cap mark as the wider crypto market recovers.
Protocol 27 Testing Begins
Pi Network started deploying Protocol 27 on Testnet 1 on August 21, allowing developers and node operators to test the new version before its planned Mainnet rollout.
Following the successful completion of the Protocol 26 upgrade on Pi Mainnet, Pi Testnet is upgrading to Protocol 27!
Protocol 27 introduces more flexible and secure smart contract authentication capabilities, enabling more advanced ways for accounts and applications to… pic.twitter.com/Qb5Id092Ln
— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) August 21, 2026
The upgrade introduces more flexible and secure smart-contract authentication, giving accounts and applications additional ways to authorize transactions.
Protocol 27 is also expected to prepare network infrastructure for RPC servers, decentralized exchange functions and automated market maker (AMM) liquidity pools. These components support network connections, trading activity and liquidity.
The planned rollout is Testnet 1, Testnet 2, Mainnet, with September 15 currently listed as the target date.
The Core Team has described Protocol 27 as the final planned upgrade in the current sequence, after which development can focus more on providing a stable base for applications.
App Studio Changes and Ecosystem Growth
Pi App Studio is also changing its pricing structure from August 24. The previous subsidized fee of 0.25 PI for creating and 0.25 PI for editing an application will end for most creators.
New pricing will better reflect actual service and AI costs. Applications showing real utility and user activity can continue receiving subsidized pricing, while apps created only for testing, experimentation or spam will no longer qualify.
Around 82 Mainnet applications were reportedly live by mid-August, bringing the ecosystem closer to the 100-app mark.
What happens next?
September 15: Target for Pi’s Protocol 27 Mainnet upgrade, subject to successful testing. The same day is linked to a planned U.S. Senate CLARITY Act vote, but there is no confirmed connection.
September 24: Pi-focused analysts and accounts are speculating about a possible Global Open Mainnet-related announcement. The Core Team has not confirmed this date.
October 7–8: Token2049, where Pi Network is expected to participate. Any Pi-related announcement could influence market sentiment.
Pi Moves Back Above $1B Market Cap
Meanwhile, Pi network has returned above the $1 billion market-cap level and ranks around No. 56 in the global crypto market.
Pi is making a second attempt to break above the key $0.10 level after being rejected there in July, when the price fell to around $0.07. With the four-hour Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 67.97, buyers remain active. A strong break above $0.10 could open the door to $0.13 as per the chart analysis.
This makes the price reaction around $0.10 important as Pi moves toward the planned Protocol 27 upgrade.
FAQs
When is Protocol 27 expected on Mainnet?
September 15, 2026, is the current target date.
Is Protocol 27 already on the Mainnet?
No. Testing is underway on Testnet 1, followed by Testnet 2 before the planned Mainnet rollout.
What does Protocol 27 add?
It brings improved smart-contract authentication and prepares infrastructure for RPC servers, DEX functions and AMM liquidity pools.
What is Pi’s current price?
Pi (PI) is trading at $0.1045, up 13.19% in 24 hours, with a market cap of about $1.16 billion.
Has Pi returned above a $1 billion market cap?
Yes. Its market cap has moved back above $1 billion, with Pi currently ranked around No. 56.
