Pi Network version 21 released; mainnet RPC and smart contract acceleration are advancing

Pi Network released blockchain version 21 on April 9, marking a key milestone in its move toward a fully functional Web3 ecosystem. The core highlights of this update include the official launch of testnet RPC (remote procedure call), enabling developers to test smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) in a safe and controlled environment. According to the Pi Network roadmap, smart contracts are expected to go live within the next two months.

Version 21 Core Updates: Testnet RPC Is Ready, Developer Ecosystem Accelerates

The rollout of testnet RPC is the most important infrastructure update in version 21. As the communication layer between the blockchain network and external applications, the RPC servers allow developers to query blockchain data in real time, submit transactions, and test contract execution logic. By providing this testing infrastructure, Pi Network ensures that various applications have completed sufficient reliability validation and compatibility checks before migrating to the mainnet.

Version 21 also advances the KYC migration. By accelerating the identity verification process, it allows more users to formally participate in the ecosystem, laying a compliant foundation for broader use cases and higher transaction volumes. Pi Network states that the KYC migration is crucial for building user trust and ensuring long-term compliance.

Roadmap Breakdown: Layered Progression of Smart Contracts, Mainnet RPC, and Protocol 23

Pi Network’s recent technical roadmap shows three nodes that build progressively on one another, each highly dependent on the others.

Pi Network Recent Technical Roadmap: Key Nodes

Testnet RPC (version 21 completed): Provides a secure environment for smart contract testing and DApp building for developers, ensuring applications have full reliability before deployment on the mainnet

Smart contract launch (expected within two months): Enables automatically executed protocols and mediatorless DApps; PiCoin transitions from a community token into a functional digital asset

Mainnet RPC (next major milestone): Once deployed, DApps can directly interact with real-time blockchains, delivering real-time functionality and greatly expanding the scope of platform services

Protocol 23 (later stage of the roadmap): Introduces smart contract automatic execution, operating in coordination with mainnet RPC, and supports complex decentralized automation workflows

The Practical Use Case Shift of Pi: From Community Token to DeFi Functional Asset

The introduction of smart contracts has structural significance for Pi’s positioning. After smart contracts go live, Pi will be able to support decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, tokenized asset trading, and automated business workflows, directly strengthening the market demand foundation for it as a functional digital asset.

Node operators also play a core role at this development stage: running nodes that interact with RPC servers to ensure network decentralization, enhance security, and maintain consistent transaction validation—serving as the underlying backbone for the mainnet RPC deployment and smart contract execution that are coming. Pi Network says that the contribution of node operators will directly affect the ecosystem’s stability, scalability, and resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important update in Pi Network version 21?

The most important update in version 21 is the official launch of testnet RPC, which provides developers with secure infrastructure for testing smart contracts and building DApps, serving as a key technical prerequisite for Pi Network’s transition to a fully functional Web3 ecosystem. The synchronized KYC migration also ensures that the network remains compliant as it grows.

When will Pi Network smart contracts go live?

According to the Pi Network roadmap, smart contracts are expected to launch within two months after the release of version 21. The exact timing depends on the progress of testnet validation and the state of technical readiness. The official side has not yet announced a specific launch date.

What practical significance does smart contract launch have for Pi coin holders?

The introduction of smart contracts will shift Pi from a community-driven token to a functional digital asset with real application scenarios, supporting DeFi applications, tokenized assets, and automated business workflows. In theory, this will increase Pi’s market demand foundation and the network’s active usage.