Pi Core Team Confirms Successful Protocol v19.6 Upgrade Across the Network

• Pi Network’s migration to Protocol v19.6 has been completed; nodes must upgrade to avoid network incompatibilities.
• Protocol v19.9 upgrade is required by February 27, and the roadmap targets Protocol v23 by Q2 2026 for planned scalability steps.

Protocol v19.6 is now active across Pi Network’s nodes. The upgrade cycle that supported the February 15 requirement has ended, and nodes running the required software remain connected to the network. Node operators are expected to stay on the current release path, because skipping versions can cause a node to fall out of sync and lose connectivity.

Previously, CNF reported that Pi Network set a mandatory 2026 upgrade path for mainnet node operators, requiring v19.6 to maintain protocol compatibility.

The v19.6 update concentrated on node performance and reliability. It improved synchronization behavior between nodes and tightened stability during routine operation. This step keeps the network aligned ahead of later protocol work that requires consistent node timing and steady uptime. No user-facing feature set was tied to this upgrade, since the focus stayed on the node layer.

The protocol schedule now moves to v19.9. February 27, 2026, is the deadline for node operators to complete that transition. The update is the final required step before v20. Operators are expected to monitor official distribution channels for packages and instructions, and then confirm correct operation after installation.

Pi Network’s Roadmap Advances Toward v20 and v23

Pi Network’s 2026 plan uses staged protocol releases rather than a single large change. After v19.9, the network advances to v20 and then to v20.2, with v23 scheduled for completion by Q2 2026.

The protocol design is built on the Stellar Consensus Protocol model. That approach relies on broad node participation and consistent configuration across operators. For that reason, each step is mandatory for node operators who want to stay connected. The sequence also reduces the risk of fragmentation during periods of rapid development.

Mainnet migration remains active alongside the protocol work. Recent community figures place the number of KYC-verified users migrated to the mainnet above 16 million. Migration throughput has been supported by recent KYC process fixes, which reduced a portion of pending cases. 

Most recently, we covered that Pi Network’s KYC validator rewards distribution system has moved into testing following the completion of the design and implementation work. The testing focuses on accuracy and performance and expects to launch next month.

Pi App Studio continues to support the creation of payment-enabled apps within the ecosystem. The protocol milestone arrives close to one year after the Open Mainnet launched in February last year. 

At the time of reporting, PI was down 5.6% in 24 hours, trading at $0.1765, with a 24-hour volume of $21.25 million.