Pi Network launches WordPi Beta game and Stellar Protocol v25 upgrade in major January update

In late January 2026, the team behind pi network rolled out a major protocol upgrade and a new game as part of its ongoing ecosystem push.

WordPi Beta brings a daily game to Pi Browser

The new WordPi Beta is now live inside the Pi Browser, adding a simple daily word challenge to the ecosystem. It works as a five letter word puzzle, where players must guess the hidden word in six attempts. Moreover, every day unlocks a fresh challenge.

Beyond the core puzzle, the pi browser puzzle features basic social and feedback tools. Users can rate the app, submit comments and stake inside the app to help improve its ranking within the Pi ecosystem. This staking based ranking model aims to reward useful applications and guide future development priorities.

Pi Network is encouraging its more than 15.8 million Pioneers already on mainnet to test the beta version and share ideas. The team says the goal is to build better apps through community input. That said, WordPi is only one element in a wider plan to create real utility and daily engagement within the network, rather than focusing solely on speculative dynamics.

Stellar Protocol v25 upgrade goes live on mainnet

Alongside the game launch, Pi Network has completed the rollout of the Stellar Protocol v25 upgrade on its mainnet. The new version focuses on improving privacy and long term security, while also preparing the blockchain for advanced Zero Knowledge proof technology. These tools are designed to protect user data but still allow the system to verify activity.

The team explained that v25 strengthens the base layer of Pi’s blockchain. It improves efficiency and sets the stage for more powerful applications to run smoothly in the future. Moreover, developers now gain access to a stronger toolset and tighter protections, which could support more complex decentralized services over time.

This core upgrade went live as roughly 134 million PI tokens unlocked in January, a key pi token unlock event for the ecosystem. Instead of concentrating on supply changes alone, project leaders say they are responding with greater utility and infrastructure. They argue that more robust technology is essential to sustain long term growth and to support future zk proof integration on the chain.

Community governance vote highlights network scale

The v25 rollout was paired with a large scale pioneer governance vote on the protocol upgrade. Millions of Pi users were able to participate directly in the decision, turning the implementation into a live test of community governance. During the vote, some users reported application slowdowns and intermittent errors.

However, Pi supporters argued these issues did not represent a server crash, but rather a meaningful stress test of the network’s capacity. More than 15.8 million Pioneers ultimately took part in the vote, underlining the size of the community and the level of user engagement across the ecosystem.

Many participants said the event showed Pi’s progress toward real decentralization and user driven governance. Combined with apps like WordPi, the ongoing stellar protocol upgrade path and the recent pi network protocol changes, the project is trying to align growth, security and everyday usability. Moreover, the team states that the next phase of 2026 will focus on practical applications, enhanced privacy and strengthening community control over the network’s evolution.

Outlook for Pi’s ecosystem in 2026

Looking ahead, Pi Network plans to expand its catalogue of simple tools, games and services that encourage daily interaction. WordPi Beta serves as an example of how light entertainment can sit alongside core infrastructure upgrades. That said, the project’s long term success will likely depend on whether developers can use the upgraded base layer to launch applications that attract sustained real world use.

As 2026 progresses, the combination of protocol improvements, community votes and new apps suggests a strategy focused on building a usable, privacy aware blockchain environment. With millions of Pioneers already active on mainnet and more token unlock events scheduled, Pi Network aims to prove that an engaged community and steady technical upgrades can underpin its next growth phase.