Is Pi Networkthe Next Cryptocurrency Revolution or Another Hype Train? Can You Really Cash Out?
Key Takeaways:
- How do you sell Pi asusers face multiple roadblocks?
- Pi cannot be accessed globally; thus, it cannot realizeits value yet, making sales limited;
- So, tread carefully around projects with high upside and little work to be done whenit comes to value uncertainty.
What Is Pi Network? Unveiling The Promise
Pi Network recently entered the crypto world in 2019 promising to be acryptocurrency for all, one that could be mined instantly on your mobile. Forget costly mining rigs, all you needed was the Pi Network app and a daily tap ofyour phone to mine Pi. This free mining model quickly brought in millions of users, lured by theprospect of effortless crypto profits.
Yet years later, that central question still remains: Canusers really sell the Pi theyve so painstakingly mined? Listings on recent exchanges had peopleall excited, but does that really mean profit or just a nice form of marketing? Lets dig deeper.
Why an Exchange Listing Doesnt (andShouldnt) Add Value to Pi Network
Pi was listed on a number of exchanges in early 2025, including OKX, HTX (formerly known as Huobi), andBitMart. The PiNetwork community rejoiced, feeling confident that they could cash out after years of mining a process in which users download an app and press a button once a day.
Pi is listed on OKX exchange
But heres the catch,and its a big one:
- The Pi on the exchange is probably not the same Pi thatusers have in the Pi Network app. It isimportant to understand this. Its like havinga coupon for a product that hasnt hit shelves yet.
- Trading is typically restricted tocertain accounts, preventing most users from moving Pi to the exchanges and selling it off. You can think of it almost like a sale thatsonly open to VIPs everyone can see, but only some can buy.
- Withdrawals and conversion intoother assets are highly restricted, if permitted at all. And that means that evenif you can trade, extracting your money can often be a bureaucratic disaster ramped up to 11.
This raises afundamental question: Is the Pi token listed on exchanges the same as the Pi coin that millions of users are holding? If the Pi that exchanges are trading isnt the same Pi aseveryone elses Pi, then whats the point? Is it a mirage of value? APi proxy, as it were, that puts a market completely separate from the actual reality of user-held Pi, back into play on crypto exchanges.
TheParadox Of Supply And Demand: Who Is Buying Pi?
Supply and demand arebasic tenets of finance. When there are more sellers thanbuyers, the price of an asset crashes. But the question remains,who is really purchasing Pi at these exchanges?
- FOMO Investors: Some investors buy speculativelydriven with the fear of missing out and therefore believe that the value of Pi will soar in the future. Which is often filled with hype andinadequate details.
- Trading Bots and Market Makers: This is another trick exchanges use; they createfake liquidity with bots, making the Pi market seem a lot more active and stable when in reality it is not. This can be misleading.
- The Pi Network Team Itself?: One often-cited theory is that the PiNetwork developers are, in fact, intentionally controlling the market buying and selling to drive up the price. This raises serious ethicalissues.
I remember when Dogecoin was surging, says crypto enthusiast Alex Thompson. Everyone jumped in, hoping to get rich quick. But it was all based on hype. Many got burned when the price crashed. This mirrors the potentialrisks around Pi.
Pi holders, as said, are not extra hopeful and areaiming to take some profits. There islittle need for tons of Pi for some real world use case in commerce. This asymmetry puts downward pressure on the value of Pi and creates ahuge challenge for Pi to grow sustainably.
When It Comes toSelling Your Pi, A Minefield of Problems
However, evenwith exchange listings, most users cannot sell their Pi to the hurdles:
KYC Nightmares
The Know Your Customer (KYC) verification is a must for trading,and many users are awaiting their KYC process. Without it,you have a locked Pi.
- With some users waiting for up to three yearsfor KYC approval, the KYC process is extraordinarily slow.
- Without clarity, accountsare frequently denied and users may feel frustrated and uncertain.
At the KYC stage, there is something of asore spot: a centralized entity gate-keeping access to a decentralized cryptocurrency.
Limitations on Transfer of Pi toExchanges
The pi cannot be transferred to exchanges even for those who have gonethrough KYC successfully because:
- The Pi ecosystem isnt yetfully realized. The Pi wallet is typically unable toconnect directly to exchanges.
- Even more newsat this moment in time, the Pi Network developers put limits on the transferability of user Pi.
Its basically a winning lottery ticket that you getbut cannot redeem.
Haunting Uswith Long-Term Locking
It is very much rumored that Pi could be locked up until 2026 or 2028 (or later) so that no one can eitheruse and trade it for years. It canbe a way to keep users as they delay the consequences of liquidity problems.
Status In queue: Need to wait before transfer Pi on to exchange,but do not know how long
There is an elementof uncertainty in the delay. How much longer will users have to wait to access their Pi?
The Dangers of Technical Glitchesand Policy Changes
- If toomany people attempt to sell at once, the system could face technical difficulties or need some maintenance.
- Policies mightbe updated unexpectedly, with further difficulty in withdrawing Pi.
- There are unexplained errors which might makeusers lose Pi.
This uncertainty has led to growing distrust toward the network and its long-term stability.
Is Pi Network A Scam? Its Intent and Outcome Have Been Questioned
Given the current situation we can speculate: Pi Networkis a project where the target is to:
- Free of chargeget potential users in millions
- Keep them for years,making ever more promises of future value.
- Monetization potential ofthe user engagement itself (ad revenue, data collection, etc.)
- Manage money-making and determine liquidity for the benefit of a handful of people whostand behind the project.
Well, some believe Pi will eventually have value given theecosystem it builds. But the truth is theres no guarantee that anyusers will be able to sell their Pi at all.
More News: How to Know if Its a Cryptocurrency Scam
The Verdict: Is Pi SellingIn Reality?
The real-life answer is NO (or at least, veryhard):
- This means that the vast majority of usersstill are unable to transfer their Pi to exchanges.
- There are too many obstacles given the KYC system and the guidelines of thePi Network.
- It isimpossible to create value for Pi, since supply far exceeds demand.
- There exists a high risk of the developers manipulating themarket.
So will anyone whohas been mining Pi for years ever receive fair compensation? Or is that a pipe dream that will never come tofruition?
Note: This specific project has gotten warnings by Vietnams Ministry of Public Security forpotential pyramid schemes These warnings should be takenseriously by investors.
Or as Maria Jones, a US-based Pi holder said; If everyone is waiting for Pi to be listed to sell and make a profit, who is going to buy? Such a simple questionthat summarizes the biggest problem that Pi Network has.
And so the big question you, as a Pi holder, should be askingyourself is: If Im never going to be able to sell my Pi, does my Pi have any value whatsoever?
Get-rich-quick schemes have been around as long as people have been investing, so before you invest your time and/or money in anyproject, do your research and be cautious. Also do notlet this excitement mislead you. Always do your owndue diligence before getting involved in a project.
Is Pi Network MakingHistory (In A Good Way)?
Still, some outlets are declaring Pi Network has already become the most valuable airdrop incrypto history. As evidence, theycite the launch of the Mainnet, and the listing of the token at exchanges. But those claims should be treatedwith caution.
The reports of Pi Networks airdrop surpassing Uniswaps in value should be taken with caution due to the restrictions noted in this article. Its limited background and centralized design make it hard to believe that Pi Networks airdrop holds real value.
Claimsmade about Pi Networks success should be approached with skepticism.
Recent PriceVolatility: A Whirlwind Tour
Pis price volatilityfollowing the launch of the Open Network (The initial listing had it priced at $2 per Pi, then it dropped below $1 before bouncing backand forth thereafter.)
This hasled to many users feeling disappointed with the price, noting a gap of expectations vs reality. The speculation surroundingPis value and the risks involved in trading it are further underscored by this volatility.
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