Pi Network Announces Upgrade To Protocol 21, Sets April 6 Node Deadline

Pi Network confirmed a Mainnet upgrade to Protocol 21 through an X post, setting April 6 as the deadline. The update requires all node operators to act before losing network access. According to Pi Network, the move ensures system stability ahead of the scheduled v23.0 release on May 18.

Pi Mainnet Upgrade Requirement 

In an X post, the Pi Network stated clearly that node operators must complete the Protocol 21 upgrade before April 6. The directive appeared alongside a detailed upgrade guide. The network warned that non-compliant nodes will lose connection to the Mainnet.

This requirement applies to all active Mainnet nodes without exception. As a result, operators must follow outlined steps to remain synchronized with the network. Missing the deadline does not cause delays but leads to immediate disconnection.

The announcement emphasized that the upgrade forms part of a controlled rollout strategy toward the next major release. As a result, each upgrade stage builds toward broader system readiness.

Node Function and Consensus Model

This protocol 21 comes after a series of upgrades, with protocol 20 being the most recent. It is worth noting that Pi nodes operate on desktops and laptops, forming a core part of the ecosystem. They validate transactions, maintain consensus, and support network reliability. Therefore, remaining updated is essential for uninterrupted participation.

Unlike systems such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, Pi uses a different consensus method. Specifically, it relies on the Stellar Consensus Protocol for transaction validation. This approach allows nodes to form trusted groups known as quorum slices.

Through these groups, nodes only approve transactions agreed upon by trusted participants. Meanwhile, Pi mobile users contribute through security circles, which expand into a global trust graph. This structure determines which nodes can validate transactions.

Additionally, Pi Network designed node participation for accessibility. Users can install a desktop application and activate or deactivate node operations easily. As a result, the system does not require advanced technical expertise.

Upgrade Timeline and Pi Price Movement

The Protocol 21 rollout is a step toward the v23.0 upgrade scheduled for May 18. Each update prepares the network incrementally, ensuring compatibility across nodes. Therefore, timely compliance is critical for maintaining consensus alignment.

Following the announcement, the Pi price recorded a slight price increase. At the time of writing, Pi was trading at $0.1775, which is a 1.14% daily gain. However, the token is still down 7% over the past week.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Additionally, Pi has a market cap of $1.77 billion, with a 24-hour volume of $16.89 million. The volume-to-market cap ratio is at 0.9543%, indicating moderate activity. In addition, the fully diluted valuation reached $17.76 billion, while circulating supply approached 9.96 billion PI. 

Price movements show support between $0.1700 and $0.1750. Meanwhile, resistance is between $0.1800 and $0.1900. These levels show a short-term downward trend despite the recent price reaction to the upgrade news.