Pi Network said at the 2026 Consensus conference in Miami that it now has more than 1 million verified users on its platform, while also launching a new AI-powered Launchpad. Co-founder Dr. Chengdiao Fan used the event to criticize a pattern she sees across crypto: value is often driven less by product building or ecosystem expansion and more by speculation and sharp market swings.
Fan said the value created in crypto is often only loosely tied to ventures that deliver real-world benefits. She also argued that the push for fast funding can weaken product development instead of encouraging it. In her view, many tokens are built mainly for quick trading or short-term returns rather than clear use cases.
Pi puts verified participation at the center
Pi Network framed its own model as a contrast, saying its token approach is built around user engagement and ecosystem growth. The team reported that the platform continues to remove fake and inactive accounts through its identity verification system, which is why it says its 1 million-user figure should not be read the same way as similar numbers elsewhere in crypto.
According to the team, these users are real individuals who have passed verification and remain active on the platform. The identity system is designed to confirm that users are actual people, limiting fake profiles and multiple-account behavior.
Launchpad adds AI to product rollout and testing
The newly introduced Launchpad is being positioned as a utility layer inside the Pi ecosystem. Project owners can use it to connect directly with verified users, while participants can test tokens inside different in-app products, submit feedback, and interact with tokens in practical settings. The emphasis is on use inside products, not just on issuance or trading.
Pi Network also said artificial intelligence has been built into the Launchpad system. The stated goal is to simplify app development and speed up the release of high-quality products. In that setup, the main bottleneck for developers shifts away from building and toward distribution and user acquisition.
How Pi distinguishes its model
In the comparison presented by Pi Network, the platform stands out in three areas: verified identity checks, token utility tied to in-app participation, and AI embedded directly into the Launchpad. By contrast, traditional crypto projects described in the report often lack strong user verification, while token activity is centered more on trading and fundraising.
Pi Network said this structure is intended to reduce the familiar pattern of crypto communities surging quickly and then fading just as fast, replacing short bursts of attention with longer product-based participation across the ecosystem.