At Consensus 2026, Pi Network co-founders Chengdiao Fan and Nicolas Kokkalis presented the project’s next major priorities: integrating artificial intelligence with secure digital identity to support broader ecosystem development. Speaking before more than 20,000 attendees, the team used the event to position Pi Network as a platform aiming to build practical applications on top of a large verified user base.
50 Million KYC-Verified Users Highlighted
Fan said Pi Network now has 50 million KYC-verified users, a figure she framed as a key advantage for the development of AI-based applications. In contrast to networks that focus mainly on wallet counts or on-chain activity, Pi’s emphasis on verified users suggests a strategy centered on real-user utility and application-layer adoption.
Secure Identity With Privacy Protection
Kokkalis focused on the role of secure digital identity, stressing that identity systems should enable ecosystem growth while also preserving user privacy. The message signals that Pi Network sees identity infrastructure as a core component for future services, especially in environments where trust, verification, and privacy must coexist.
Mainnet Progress and Protocol 23
Since launching its mainnet in February 2025, Pi Network has activated more than 10 billion PI tokens. The project also expects to introduce smart contracts through Protocol 23, a move intended to expand real-world application support and strengthen ecosystem growth. Taken together, the announcements at Consensus 2026 show Pi Network focusing on verified user infrastructure, AI integration, and post-mainnet functionality as it works to evolve beyond community scale into a more application-driven network.