Pi Network is set to appear at Consensus 2026 in Miami as a sponsor, with co-founders Nicolas Kokkalis and Chengdiao Fan both scheduled to take the stage. The conference comes at a key moment for the project, which is trying to convert its large user base into broader activity across the Pi ecosystem.
Founders will focus on AI, Web3, and online identity
Fan is scheduled to speak on May 6. Her session will look at how Pi’s blockchain infrastructure, verified identity system, and global user network could support products built for the AI and Web3 era. Kokkalis is set to speak on May 7 in a panel centered on proving human identity online while protecting user privacy.
In a post on X, Pi Network said that both founders would appear as speakers at Consensus 2026. The project also said Fan’s presentation would cover Pi’s infrastructure and its verified identity network. That focus matches one of Pi’s core claims: identity verification built into the network. Pi uses a KYC-based model that combines human review with AI-assisted tools to verify users.
The network says it has more than 18 million verified users and that its system has completed hundreds of millions of verification tasks across the community. As AI tools make impersonation online easier, proof-of-personhood systems have drawn more attention from blockchain projects, and Pi is positioning itself in that segment.
Protocol 22 upgrade comes first, Protocol 23 is expected in May
Pi Network’s conference presence also overlaps with a technical transition. Node operators are required to upgrade to Protocol 22 by April 27, or failed nodes may be removed from active network support. The update supports node software and desktop applications. It is also meant to prepare the network for the next protocol release.
According to the project, Protocol 23 is expected in May and is designed to support smart contracts. Pi’s planned PiRC1 token standard points in the same direction, suggesting a broader push to expand the ecosystem. If those upgrades are delivered as outlined, developers could get a clearer path to building more applications on the network.
Price moved higher as attention turned to the event
CoinGecko data cited in the report showed Pi coin rising 5.30% over 24 hours to trade near $0.180. The move came as market attention shifted toward Pi Network’s role at Consensus 2026 and the network changes now on its roadmap. The near-term focus remains on execution: node upgrades, the planned smart contract support, and whether ecosystem development follows.