Pi Network: The Latest Real-World Use Cases For Pi Coin In 2025

Since its mainnet launch, Pi Coin has shown notable progress in integrating with different merchants and digital platforms. However, lack of transparency, scam allegations, and regulatory warnings continue to impact its market performance.

Since Pi Network’s mainnet launch on 20 February 2025, Pi Coin has been one of the most searched cryptocurrencies around the world. PI quickly surged to $2.99 within a week of launch, but it gradually crashed by nearly 80% throughout March.

Despite being listed by several Tier-1 exchanges, big names like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken have yet to add the altcoin. Some crypto leaders are still calling it a scam, while others are defending it.

So, while Pi coin is facing notable scrutiny, its team has introduced some real-world use cases of the token. Here are some of the current use cases of PI that were highlighted in the latest PiFest.

PiFest 2025: Highlighting local commerce

PiFest 2025, held from 14 to 21 March, demonstrated Pi’s practical applications. This global event attracted substantial participation, with over 58,000 active merchant participants transacting with approximately 1.8 million Pi users, known as Pioneers.

The event prominently featured everyday businesses, including local cafés, fashion boutiques, and auto repair shops. Freelance professionals such as graphic designers and consultants also accepted PI, signaling broader professional service adoption.

Merchants found Pi attractive due to its ease of transaction, eliminating traditional banking fees. This advantage was particularly significant for small businesses, enabling them to expand their customer base without additional transaction costs. PiFest successfully illustrated Pi’s growing acceptance in real-world commerce, especially in retail and service sectors.

Regional merchant adoption trends

Merchant adoption of Pi showed significant regional variation. Southeast Asia, notably Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, exhibited strong adoption rates. Numerous local businesses, including restaurants, small retailers, and online vendors, actively accepted Pi payments.

Potential for larger-scale applications

Pi Coin’s potential also attracted attention from larger companies considering Pi integration. A notable example was Vietnam’s VinFast, an electric vehicle manufacturer that indicated interest in accepting Pi payments.

Although the company awaited regulatory clarity and stable market conditions, this potential integration highlighted Pi’s possible expansion into larger-scale commercial transactions. If successful, accepting Pi payments for vehicles would significantly elevate Pi’s credibility and demonstrate its suitability for substantial, high-value purchases.

Pi Coin in e-commerce and digital marketplaces

Several online platforms enabled Pi transactions, demonstrating robust e-commerce applications:

• Barter Mall: A platform facilitating direct user-to-user exchanges of goods and services using Pi. It simplified peer-to-peer commerce, especially beneficial for exchanging second-hand items or personal services.
• 1Pi Mall: An exclusive online marketplace selling diverse products, ranging from electronics to handcrafted items, using Pi exclusively. It connected global buyers and sellers within the Pi ecosystem.

Other platforms like Daabia Mall and Global Pi Market facilitated vendor-based marketplaces and international trade agreements, further broadening Pi’s digital commerce applications. These platforms collectively demonstrated the viability of Pi for diverse online transactions, from everyday consumer purchases to complex international business deals.

Pi extended its practicality to the travel industry through platforms like PitoGo Travel Services. Users could directly book travel arrangements, including hotels and tours, using Pi. This use case eliminated the need for conventional currency conversions, simplifying transactions for global travelers.

Community-driven and financial service applications

Community-focused platforms further supported local adoption:

• MyFestMap: Integrated Pi transactions into local community events and business activities.
• Watugot: Enabled local classifieds, allowing users to trade goods and services locally using Pi, promoting everyday use within communities.

Additionally, Zypto, a fintech startup, integrated Pi Coin into broader financial services, offering users practical options such as bill payments, digital goods purchases, and gift card acquisitions using Pi.

Regulators continue to crack down on PI

Pi Network faced varied regulatory responses globally, influencing its practical usage significantly.

Vietnam presented the most explicit regulatory stance, with authorities issuing warnings that clearly stated crypto payments, including Pi, were illegal. The Vietnamese government warned of penalties, including substantial fines, for individuals engaging in Pi-based transactions. This explicit prohibition significantly impacted local merchant adoption, limiting Pi’s potential within Vietnam despite high user interest.

In China, strict crypto regulations caused Pi Network to proactively limit access for Chinese users. This decision reflected Pi’s cautious approach, aiming to avoid conflicts with local regulatory authorities. Chinese Pi users faced restricted access, limiting local adoption and commerce within China.

Conversely, the regulatory stance in the United States and European Union remained undefined. No specific regulatory frameworks targeted Pi directly, leaving users in a state of cautious optimism.

Users in these regions proceeded with transactions carefully, aware of potential future regulatory clarifications. Pi’s unusual distribution model — earning rather than purchasing tokens — raised questions regarding its classification as a security. This uncertainty prompted some cryptocurrency exchanges, including major platforms, to delay listing Pi, further complicating market liquidity and integration efforts.

In Africa, where regulatory environments varied significantly by country, Pi maintained active informal usage, especially in Nigeria and Ghana.

While countries like Morocco and Egypt imposed strict crypto transaction bans, others, including Nigeria, developed regulatory frameworks to supervise rather than prohibit crypto use. Pi’s adoption in these regions relied heavily on informal peer-to-peer exchanges, reflecting the practical, albeit unofficial, use of Pi despite regulatory uncertainty.

The security concerns of Pi Network

While Pi Network’s real-world use cases are expanding, it’s critical to approach these developments with an awareness of specific concerns and limitations. Businesses and users must consider various risks tied to security, decentralization, regulatory acceptance, and financial stability.

Pi Network currently relies on the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a model emphasizing trust circles and federated node agreements. However, the network has yet to achieve full decentralization.

Early analysis reveals most transactions depend on a small group of nodes, primarily managed or influenced by the Pi core team. This approach carries inherent centralization risks, as genuine decentralized governance is lacking.

Further complicating matters, Pi Network’s codebase remains partly proprietary, limiting independent security audits. While no major security incidents have emerged, the lack of transparent scrutiny leaves unknown vulnerabilities unchecked.

Users must understand they operate within a semi-centralized and largely opaque system, a factor that can undermine confidence.

1. 01.

   Is Pi Network safe?

   

   Pi Network incorporates standard blockchain security measures, including private key encryption, user-controlled wallets, and mandatory identity verification through KYC. However, questions remain about its level of decentralization. Most validation is still handled by a limited number of nodes, many of which are connected to the core team. The project’s codebase has not been fully open-sourced, making independent security reviews difficult.

2. 02.

   Who are the creators of Pi Network?

   

   Pi Network was created by a team of Stanford University graduates. Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, a computer scientist, leads the technology development. Dr. Chengdiao Fan focuses on product design and social computing. Both remain actively involved in the project. Vincent McPhillip, who initially led community growth, departed the team in 2021. The project has since continued under the leadership of Kokkalis and Fan, who oversee its technical and ecosystem development.

3. 03.

   Are there practical use cases of Pi Coin in 2025?

   

   Pi Coin has begun seeing some practical use in 2025, particularly following the launch of its open mainnet in February. Events like PiFest 2025 showcased global participation, with thousands of merchants accepting Pi for goods and services. Platforms such as Barter Mall, 1Pi Mall, and Daabia Mall enable users to trade, shop, and offer services directly in Pi. However, most use cases are community-driven and small in scale.