After what seemed like a long and unbearably slow period, Pi coin is making noise again – and how. There are a few pieces of updates that take credit for this one
According to a viral narrative that hit X (formerly Twitter) in the second half of October 2025, Pi Network has supposedly joined the ISO 20022 standard, which is the messaging upgrade used by global banks. It could possibly put Pi into the same conversation as Stellar and XRP, both of which are tied to regulated cross-border payments.
A particularly positive piece of news was that a recently released system process that conducted additional checks for tentative KYC cases allowed more than 3.36 million additional Pioneers (a user and active participant of Pi Network) besides the original lot, to fully pass KYC. Plus, 4.76 million such Pioneers also became eligible for full KYC completion.
However, what put Pi Network squarely back in limelight was the release of the DeFi (decentralised finance) testnet, which integrated an AMM (automated market maker) and a DEX (decentralised exchange) into the Pi Wallet. It allows Pioneers to simulate liquidity provision and asset swapping without using real Pi coins, focusing on feedback and education.
So, what kind of a long-term impact will all these pieces of news have on the volatile but popular cryptocurrency?
The Pi team has been quite active this year, growing its ecosystem and adding new features. We’re delving straight into one of the most exciting possibilities to happen to Pi Network, which is the ISO 20022 integration. ISO 20022 is the global standard for electronic financial messaging that institutes a common language for businesses and banks to exchange and communicate data efficiently. The structured language improves security, automation, and accuracy in transactions like asset exchanges and payments.
Moreover, it allows for more details in every message, such as invoice numbers, which simplifies processes like payment reconciliation. Not only could it allow Pi to compete with long-standing crypto projects such as Stellar and Ripple, but it could also help Pi Network’s image and attract more trust, especially since it has a laundry list of critics. Visible progress with stronger partnerships and clearer direction might even help Pi hold its value over time more consistently.
Pi Network has been continuously making efforts to strengthen network integrity and enhance user verification. To that end, it’s rolled out a new automated system process that aims to clear tentative KYC backlogs, allowing millions of Pioneers to reach full verification and subsequently, Mainnet migration. This large-scale system process includes analysing large data sets from KYC application data and liveness checks and complex mechanisms using advanced AI (artificial intelligence) models.
It’s designed to analyse tentative KYC cases to verify both that every applicant is a real, living person and that their application passes all additional checks which are needed to pass KYC fully. Together, they prevent cheating accounts from passing KYC, maintain Pi’s policy of one account per person, and uphold the overall integrity of the network.
The last step in Pi Network’s innovation ladder – well, at least currently – is the launch of its DeFi testnet. Basically, a testnet mimics the Mainnet and is a testing environment for blockchain networks, allowing developers to test and experiment new features, applications, and smart contracts without the risks. In this major upgrade, Pi Network has introduced AMM and DEX functionalities in the Pi Wallet, marking a major step in expanding its ecosystem.
It allows Pioneers to simulate and experience DeFi tools, create liquidity pools, and swap assets firsthand in a safe, testnet environment. Pioneers can not only experiment freely but also provide feedback and gain experience before the features go live on the Mainnet. This rollout is a major step toward Pi Network’s utility, Web3 readiness, and the complete Mainnet launch of what aims to be a community-driven financial ecosystem.
This move only places Pi Network in league with other leading blockchain ecosystems but also reflects its shift from theoretical plans toward practical adoption.
Clearly, Pi Network has a lot going on. Completing liveness checks are crucial for the system to finalise KYC approvals and move users closer to Mainnet migration, according to the Pi team. They’re also encouraging active participation and ongoing engagement within the app, which could trigger the automated processes that could help accelerate both migration and KYC completion.
Moreover, the launch of Pi’s DeFi testnet underscores its readiness for broader adoption, growing maturity, and access to liquidity. It also signals that the network is preparing for a full scale Web3 experience of the future, where Pioneers are more than just users, but rather active builders of the financial ecosystem. Finally, the possibility of the ISO 20022 integration is exciting as it could enable more transparent, safer, and faster financial transactions. In fact, rumour has it that Pi Network plans this full alignment by November 22nd, 2025.
Until then, we need to wait and watch what other surprises Pi Network has in store for us.
Malavika Madgula is a writer and coffee lover from Mumbai, India, with a post-graduate degree in finance and an interest in the world. She can usually be found reading dystopian fiction cover to cover. Currently, she works as a travel content writer and hopes to write her own dystopian novel one day.
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