Pi Network Mainnet Migration Guide 2025

Last Updated: July 2025

If you have Pi coins and are concerned about the mainnet migration deadline, your balance has not been lost yet. This guide covers exactly what you need to do, step by step, to protect your Pi and complete the migration process.

Pi Network mainnet migration is the process of moving your mined Pi coins from Pi's internal record-keeping system to the live, publicly accessible Pi blockchain. Think of it like officially registering a bank account so your balance becomes real and spendable. A mainnet (short for main network) is the live, fully operational version of a blockchain where transactions carry actual value, as opposed to a testnet, which is a practice environment. Before migration, your Pi balance existed only as an internal ledger entry. After migration, your coins exist as verified blockchain tokens.

DEADLINE ALERT

Pi Network has set a migration deadline for existing miners. The current official deadline is published at the official Pi Network website and within your Pi app. Verify the current date in your app before taking any action, as Pi Core Team has updated this deadline in the past and the date shown at time of publication may differ from the current deadline.

What happens if you miss the deadline: Per Pi Core Team's official policy, unmigrated Pi balances may be returned to the ecosystem reserve. Always verify the current policy at minepi.com, as terms can change.

Past deadlines have been extended, but you should not count on a future extension. Act before the current deadline.

This guide walks you through every part of the Pi Network mainnet migration: what Pi Network is, how its phases differ, whether it is legitimate, the complete four-step migration process, what to do after migration, and how to fix the most common problems.

Jump to a section:

• What Is Pi Network?
• Pi Network's Development Phases
• Is Pi Network Legitimate?
• Step-by-Step Migration Guide
• What Happens After Migration
• Troubleshooting Migration Problems
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Migration Checklist

What Is Pi Network? A Quick Overview

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project, not to be confused with the mathematical constant π or Raspberry Pi computers. It was founded in 2019 by Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, a Stanford University PhD in computer science, and Dr. Chengdiao Fan, a Stanford-trained computational anthropologist. Users mine Pi coins by tapping a button in the free smartphone app once every 24 hours. Unlike Bitcoin, Pi mining requires no energy-intensive computing hardware. The network reported over 35 million users at the time of its mainnet launch.

Pi Coin (ticker: PI) is the native cryptocurrency token of the Pi Network blockchain. Coins accumulated through daily tapping existed only as internal ledger entries until migration to the mainnet. After migration, those coins become real blockchain tokens.

Pi Network uses a consensus method called the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), developed by the Stellar Development Foundation, which allows transactions to be verified by a trusted network of computers rather than through the energy-intensive proof-of-work process Bitcoin uses. Pi Network runs SCP on its own independent blockchain, maintained by validator nodes and supernodes (higher-tier network participants that help route and validate larger transaction volumes). Pi Network is not a Stellar token or fork.

Pi Network's technical design and token economics are documented in Pi Network's official white paper, accessible through the Pi app and the official Pi Network website. Before launching its mainnet, Pi Network operated a testnet (a practice blockchain environment) that allowed developers to test the network without using real Pi coins.

Pi Network's Development Phases: From Pre-Mainnet to Open Mainnet

Pi Network has gone through three distinct phases, and which phase applies to your migration determines what steps you need to take now.

Token migrations are a standard event in the cryptocurrency industry. Cardano and Binance Coin both went through similar transitions from preliminary ledgers to fully operational blockchains. Pi Network's migration follows the same pattern, which means the process is not unusual or suspicious by industry standards.

Pi launched its testnet phase before December 2021, then moved to its enclosed mainnet on December 28, 2021. The open mainnet launched in February 2025.

Pi Network launched its open mainnet in February 2025. From that point forward, Pi's blockchain became accessible to external parties, including cryptocurrency exchanges, third-party wallets, and outside applications. This is the phase that made Pi coins tradable on external markets and triggered the migration deadline and urgency that brought you here.

Already migrated during the enclosed mainnet phase (before February 2025)? Open your Pi app and check the Mainnet section for any additional steps required for open mainnet compatibility. Some users who completed enclosed mainnet migration need to take further action for full open mainnet access.

Is Pi Network Legitimate? Addressing the Skepticism Directly

Pi Network has attracted significant skepticism since its 2019 launch, and that skepticism deserves a factual answer before you submit identity documents or set up a wallet.

Is Pi Network a Scam?

Pi Network is a real project with a live blockchain, a published technical white paper, and an exchange-listed token. It has also faced legitimate questions worth examining honestly.

Evidence that supports legitimacy:

• Founded by Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis and Dr. Chengdiao Fan, both Stanford-credentialed researchers with verifiable academic backgrounds
• A published technical white paper accessible at minepi.com/white-paper, documenting the network's architecture and token economics
• A live blockchain with a verifiable transaction history, launched December 2021 and opened externally in February 2025
• PI coin listed on multiple cryptocurrency exchanges following the open mainnet launch, confirming migration results in real, tradable tokens
• A growing ecosystem of third-party apps where Pi coins are accepted as payment (Pi Network has hosted developer hackathons to encourage ecosystem development on its mainnet)

Legitimate reasons some people remain skeptical:

• An unusually long pre-mainnet period spanning from 2019 to 2025 before coins became externally tradable
• A referral-based growth model that some observers compare to multi-level marketing structures
• No guaranteed utility or long-term value for the token

Pi Network has launched a live blockchain and an exchange-listed token. Whether it represents long-term value is a question only time and the market can answer. What the facts confirm is that the migration process is conducted through official channels and results in real, verifiable blockchain tokens.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Is Pi Network Migration Safe?

The migration process itself, when completed through the official Pi Network app, is technically safe. The two primary risks are phishing scams that impersonate the migration process on external websites, and user error during seed phrase backup. The security checklist in the step-by-step guide below addresses both risks before you take any action. Two rules cover safe migration: only use the official Pi app, and never share your seed phrase with anyone.

How to Complete Pi Network Mainnet Migration: Step-by-Step Guide

To migrate your Pi to the mainnet, complete these four steps in order: KYC verification, Pi Wallet setup, migration initiation, and migration confirmation.

DEADLINE REMINDER

The current Pi Network migration deadline is published at the official Pi Network website and in your Pi app. Verify the current date before proceeding. Do not assume past deadline extensions will repeat.

Before You Begin: Security Checklist

SECURITY WARNING: Read before taking any action

• ALL migration steps happen within the official Pi Network app only. No external website, email link, SMS message, or social media link is part of the legitimate migration process.
• The official Pi Network app is published by Pi Community Company. Verify this publisher name before downloading or updating: Pi Network on the Apple App Store and Pi Network on Google Play.
• Pi Core Team will NEVER ask for your seed phrase, password, or payment information via email, SMS, social media, or phone.
• Phishing scams impersonating Pi Network migration include fake websites mimicking minepi.com, fake social media accounts posing as Pi Core Team, and SMS messages claiming your migration is expiring. If you received a link claiming to be a migration portal, do not click it. Open the Pi app directly.
• If you believe you have encountered a scam, contact Pi Support through the official in-app support channel and document the incident.

All migration steps are completed within the official Pi Network app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. No external website or third-party tool is required or legitimate.

Step 1: Complete KYC Verification

KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is a required prerequisite for Pi mainnet migration. You cannot initiate the wallet migration step until your KYC status shows as Approved in the app. KYC is the process where you prove your real identity by submitting a government-issued ID and a selfie. Pi requires this to prevent one person from running multiple accounts and to ensure each migrated Pi balance belongs to a unique, verified person.

Navigation: In the Pi app, tap Profile → KYC.

KYC steps:

1. Select your country of registration
2. Choose an accepted ID document type
3. Photograph the front and back of your document in good lighting, ensuring all four edges are visible and no glare obscures the text
4. Take a selfie as directed by the app's verification system
5. Submit and wait for approval

Accepted document types (vary by country; check your app for what is accepted in your region):

• Passport
• National ID card
• Driver's license

KYC timeline: Processing takes from a few hours to several weeks depending on verification queue volume, document quality, and your country of registration. Submit KYC as early as possible to allow processing time before the deadline.

Document quality matters. Blurry, incomplete, or obstructed document photos are the most common reason for KYC rejection. Photograph on a flat surface in bright, diffuse light.

KYC is completed only within the official Pi app. Any external website offering Pi KYC services is a phishing operation.

Step 2: Set Up Your Pi Wallet

Your Pi Wallet is your personal account on the Pi blockchain, comparable to a bank account that only you control, with no institution able to access or recover it on your behalf. The Pi Wallet is not a separate download. It is built into the official Pi Network app.

Navigation: In the Pi app, tap Wallet → Create Wallet or Mainnet → Create Wallet.

Wallet creation steps:

1. The app generates a passphrase (also called a seed phrase): a series of 12 to 24 random words that acts as the master key to your wallet
2. Write down every word of the passphrase exactly as shown, in the exact order displayed
3. Store the written passphrase in a physically secure location, such as a locked drawer or fireproof safe
4. Confirm the passphrase in the app by entering it when prompted
5. Your wallet address is generated and displayed; save it for reference

CRITICAL: Save Your Passphrase Before Proceeding

Your passphrase is the only key to your Pi Wallet. If you lose it, your wallet and all coins in it are permanently inaccessible. Not even Pi Core Team can recover a lost passphrase.

• Never store your passphrase digitally. No photos, no notes apps, no email, no cloud storage.
• Never share your passphrase with anyone, under any circumstances.
• Pi Core Team will NEVER ask for your passphrase. Anyone who asks for it is attempting to steal your coins.

Write it on paper. Store that paper somewhere physically secure.

For more on how seed phrase wallets differ from other wallet types, see Differences Between Seed Phrase Wallet, Keyless Wallet, and Cloud Wallet.

Step 3: Initiate Your Mainnet Migration

Once your KYC is approved and your wallet is set up, you are ready to begin the transfer of your Pi coins to the blockchain.

Navigation: In the Pi app, tap Mainnet → Migrate to Mainnet.

What happens during migration initiation:

1. The app displays your current Pi balance eligible for migration
2. Review the optional lockup settings (see the post-migration section below for a neutral explanation of what lockup means before you decide)
3. Confirm your wallet address is correct

DEADLINE REMINDER

The migration deadline is listed in your Pi app and at minepi.com. Complete this step before that date. Do not wait until close to the deadline, as queue volumes increase significantly near the cutoff.

4. Tap the confirmation button to submit your migration request
5. Your migration status displays as "Pending," which is normal

A pending migration is in the processing queue and requires no further action from you. Do not restart the migration process while status shows Pending. Processing typically takes from a few hours to several days.

Step 4: Confirm Migration Completion

Your migration is complete when the status in the Pi app changes from "Pending" to "Completed" or "Migrated" and your Pi balance appears in the Mainnet section of your wallet.

Signs that migration is complete:

1. Migration status shows "Completed" or "Migrated" in the Mainnet section of your app
2. Your Pi balance appears in your Pi Wallet under the Mainnet view
3. The transaction is visible on Pi's blockchain explorer

Your Pi is now on the mainnet. The next section covers your options from this point, including whether to lock up coins, where to trade them, and what else you can do with migrated Pi.

Note for users who migrated during the enclosed mainnet phase (before February 2025): If you completed migration before the open mainnet launched, check your Pi app for any additional steps required for full open mainnet compatibility.

What Happens After Pi Network Migration: Your Next Steps

After your Pi migration completes, your coins appear in your Pi Wallet as a verifiable blockchain balance. From there, you have three options: lock up your Pi for a mining bonus, transfer it to an exchange for trading, or spend it within Pi Network's ecosystem apps.

What Does Your Pi Balance Look Like After Migration?

After migration, your Pi balance appears in the Mainnet section of your Pi Wallet. Your coins are now recorded on Pi's public blockchain and can be verified by any blockchain explorer. If you chose a lockup period during migration, a portion of your balance displays as "locked" until that period expires. The remaining unlocked balance is available for transfer or trading.

Can You Sell or Trade Pi Coins After Migration?

Yes. Migrated Pi coins that are not in a lockup period can be traded on cryptocurrency exchanges that list PI. Following the open mainnet launch in February 2025, PI began appearing on cryptocurrency exchanges. Note that some exchanges previously listed unofficial IOU tokens or synthetic Pi tokens before the mainnet launched. Only official PI tokens from migrated wallets are the legitimate tradable asset.

For a current list of exchanges where PI is listed, visit the CoinMarketCap PI listing or CoinGecko. Exchange listings change, so verify at the time you intend to trade.

To transfer Pi to an exchange, you need the exchange's PI deposit address. Initiate a withdrawal from your Pi Wallet to that address. Only transfer unlocked Pi coins to an exchange.

Pi coin's current market price can be found on the CoinMarketCap PI listing or CoinGecko. No specific price is stated here because any figure would be outdated within hours.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Exchange availability and trading conditions vary. Always research exchange fees, security practices, and regulatory status before trading.

What Is the Pi Lockup Option and Should You Use It?

The lockup option lets you voluntarily commit a portion of your Pi coins to your wallet for a fixed period in exchange for a higher mining rate bonus. Lockup periods range from 2 weeks to 3 years. A longer lockup period earns a higher bonus on your mining rate. Locked Pi cannot be traded or transferred until the lockup period expires.

Lockup is entirely voluntary. You can complete migration without locking up any Pi. The lockup bonus applies to your mining rate, not to a guaranteed return on the locked coins themselves. This is not an interest product.

The decision depends on your own situation. Whether you value the mining rate bonus more than near-term trading flexibility is a personal choice based on your individual circumstances.

This is not financial advice. Lockup mechanics affect mining rate. Consult your own financial judgment before making any decision.

What Else Can You Do With Migrated Pi?

Pi Network actively encourages developers to build on its platform, and a growing number of third-party apps now accept Pi as payment for goods and services. These apps, including decentralized applications (dApps, which run on a blockchain rather than a central server), are accessible through the Pi app's built-in browser. For current ecosystem app options, open the Pi app and check the official ecosystem browser.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Troubleshooting Common Pi Network Migration Problems

The five most common Pi Network migration problems all have specific causes and specific fixes. Check your situation against each scenario below.

Pi Network Migration Is Not Working: What Should I Do?

The most common reason migration appears to not be working is that your KYC verification has not yet been approved. Check the following causes in order:

1. KYC not yet approved. Migration cannot begin until your KYC status shows "Approved" in the app. Check status by tapping Profile → KYC. If pending, wait for approval before attempting migration.
2. App not updated to the latest version. Older app versions may not support the current migration flow. Update the Pi app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and retry.
3. Internet connectivity issue. A poor connection can cause the migration flow to stall. Switch to a stronger Wi-Fi connection and retry.
4. Server-side delays. High migration volume near the deadline can cause app slowness. Try again during off-peak hours.

Do not attempt to restart a migration that already shows "Pending" status. See the pending status section below.

My Pi Network KYC Failed: What Do I Do?

KYC failures fall into five categories, each with a specific fix.

1. Poor document photo quality. Blurry, dark, or glare-obscured images cause automatic rejection. Retake the photo in bright, diffuse light with no glare on the document surface.
2. Document not fully visible in the frame. Edges cut off or hands blocking the document will fail verification. Lay the document flat and photograph from directly above, ensuring all four edges are visible.
3. Name mismatch. The name on your Pi app account must match your government ID exactly, including middle names if present. Update your account name to match your legal ID name before resubmitting.
4. Document type not accepted for your country. Some ID types are not accepted in certain regions. Try a different accepted document type. Passports are accepted in most regions.
5. Repeated failures after correcting the above. Contact Pi Support through the official in-app support channel. Do not contact third-party "KYC support" services that charge fees. These services are not affiliated with Pi Network and are common scam operations.

For additional context on why identity verification fails and how to resolve it, see Common Reasons and Solutions for KYC Verification Failures.

My Pi Wallet Setup Failed or I Lost My Passphrase: What Now?

If your wallet setup completed successfully but you have lost the passphrase, the wallet and all coins in it are permanently inaccessible. Pi Core Team cannot recover a lost passphrase. This is not a fixable error.

Two scenarios apply here:

Scenario 1: Wallet setup not yet completed. If no wallet has been created yet, start wallet creation again from the beginning in Wallet → Create Wallet. The new wallet will generate a new passphrase. Write it down on paper before tapping to proceed. Do not skip this step.

Scenario 2: Wallet created but passphrase lost. No recovery is possible for a wallet whose passphrase is lost. If no Pi coins have been migrated to that wallet yet, you may be able to create a new wallet and direct migration to the new wallet address. Verify the current process for this scenario within your Pi app or through the official in-app support channel, as the exact steps depend on the current app version.

For app crashes during wallet setup: update the app to the latest version and retry. If the app repeatedly crashes during wallet creation, contact Pi Support via the official in-app channel.

For a broader understanding of how seed phrase wallets work, see the FAQ Seed Phrase Wallet guide.

My Pi Migration Status Shows 'Pending': Is That Normal?

Yes. A Pending migration status is normal and expected. It means your migration request is in the processing queue. Processing typically takes from a few hours to several days depending on current network volume. Your Pi coins are not lost while status shows Pending.

Do not restart or cancel the migration process while status is Pending. Doing so may create errors or duplicate requests. If your status has been Pending for an extended period beyond what Pi Core Team's official guidance indicates as normal, contact Pi Support through the official in-app channel.

Why Is My Pi Migration Taking So Long?

Pi migration processing time depends on three factors: your position in the KYC verification queue, the current network processing load, and how close to the deadline you submitted.

During high-volume periods, KYC approval alone can take from several days to a few weeks before migration can even begin. Once KYC is approved, the migration processing itself adds additional time. Migrations submitted close to the deadline experience the highest queue volume and longest wait times.

A wait of several days to a few weeks is within the normal range. Your Pending status confirms your migration is in the queue and processing will complete automatically. The most effective action is to wait. Do not restart the process.

Pi Network Mainnet Migration: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Still Join Pi Network After the Mainnet Launch?

Yes. New users can still download the official Pi Network app and join the network. New users mine Pi at a lower rate than early adopters, reflecting the network's growth over time. The mainnet migration process applies to accumulated mined balances, so new users will need to mine Pi over time, then complete KYC verification and migration to access their coins on the blockchain.

Is It Too Late to Migrate My Pi Coins?

The migration window is currently open as of this writing. The current deadline is published at minepi.com and within your Pi app. Verify the live deadline before taking action, as Pi Core Team updates this date. If the window closes before you complete migration, check minepi.com for any guidance Pi Core Team provides regarding options for users who missed the deadline.

What Is Pi Network's Total Coin Supply? (Tokenomics Overview)

Pi Network's tokenomics documentation, including total supply, mining rate trajectory, and lockup mechanics, is available in Pi Network's official white paper. Total supply, the rate at which new Pi enters circulation through mining, and the proportion of Pi locked up by users all affect circulating supply over time. For the current figures, the white paper is the authoritative source. No price impact speculation is made here.

This is not financial advice.

Is Pi Network Worth Investing In?

Pi Network now has a live blockchain and an exchange-listed token, which are the basic prerequisites for a cryptocurrency to be evaluated as an investment. Whether PI represents a suitable investment for any individual depends on that person's financial circumstances, risk tolerance, and independent research. For current market data, visit the CoinMarketCap PI listing or CoinGecko. For project fundamentals, review Pi Network's official white paper.

This is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk. Always conduct independent research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Summary: Your Pi Network Migration Checklist

Use this checklist to confirm you have completed every step of your Pi Network mainnet migration before the deadline.

• ☐ Pi Network app installed and updated to the latest version
• ☐ KYC verification submitted and approved (Profile → KYC in the app)
• ☐ Pi Wallet created through the official Pi app
• ☐ Seed phrase (passphrase) written down on paper and stored in a secure physical location
• ☐ Wallet address confirmed and saved
• ☐ Mainnet migration initiated (Mainnet → Migrate to Mainnet in the app)
• ☐ Migration status confirmed as "Completed" or "Migrated"
• ☐ Post-migration: lockup decision made (optional)
• ☐ Post-migration: exchange access set up if trading intended

If you ran into a problem at any step, the troubleshooting section above covers the five most common issues with specific fixes. The FAQ section addresses questions about joining Pi Network for the first time, deadline status, and tokenomics.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Pi Network migration requirements and deadlines are subject to change by Pi Core Team. Always verify current information at minepi.com before taking action.

Related reading:

• Differences Between Seed Phrase Wallet, Keyless Wallet, and Cloud Wallet
• FAQ Seed Phrase Wallet
• How To Get Started With Seed Phrase Wallet
• Common Reasons and Solutions for KYC Verification Failures