Pi Network is back in the spotlight of the crypto community. After completing the Protocol 27 upgrade, Pi Network is now preparing for its next major step with Protocol 28 scheduled to launch on Mainnet on October 16, 2026.

According to information published by Pi Network, this latest update is part of its continuous development of blockchain infrastructure and its ecosystem.

Protocol 28 Scheduled for October

Protocol 28 has now entered the Testnet phase. Pi Network said the upgrade is designed to improve transaction data management and to allow developers to upgrade multiple groups of smart contracts at the same time.

Mainnet is scheduled to receive Protocol 28 on *October 16, 2026*. Before that, all Node operators are required to update their software by *October 13, 2026*.

For the Pi community, this schedule is one of the most important agendas to watch as we enter October.

Major Partnership with Open Standard and OUSD

On September 30, 2026, Pi Network announced a formal partnership with Open Standard, the company behind the newly launched stablecoin Open USD (OUSD).

OUSD went live on September 30, backed by more than 200 partners including Visa, Google, Stripe, Mastercard, and BlackRock, with reserves held at BlackRock, Lead Bank, and BNY. The stablecoin is live on Base, Ethereum, Solana, and Tempo.

Pi Network stated it will explore Pioneer reward programs and broader OUSD utility within the Pi ecosystem.

KYC and Mainnet Migration Remains a Key Focus

In addition to protocol development, Pi Network continues to improve its KYC and Mainnet migration process.

In its official update on September 17, 2026, Pi Network said it had implemented technical fixes for cases that previously blocked KYC submissions and Mainnet migration. More than 417,000 users flagged as possible duplicates were cleared to resume KYC, while approximately 497,000 Fast-Track wallets that had issues claiming migrated PI due to lack of gas funds were fixed.

This shows Pi’s development is not only focused on blockchain technology, but also on user onboarding and asset migration.

Developers Get More Capabilities

Pi Network is also expanding tools for developers. In September 2026, Pi announced new capabilities for developers and additional documentation to help build apps inside the Pi ecosystem.

On September 9, Pi also introduced the SoloHost update via Pi Desktop version 0.6.3, which brought improvements to app discovery, reliability, and developer tools.

This is important because the utility value of a blockchain network is not only determined by token price, but also by applications, services, transactions, and real user activity running inside its ecosystem.

What About PI Price?

On the market side, PI price remains volatile. Recent reports place PI around $0.09, with the $0.10 level being closely watched by technical analysts. As of early October, PI is trading between $0.085 and $0.0945.

However, price movement is not the same as fundamental network development. Upgrade launches, app growth, KYC improvements, user activity, and real use of PI in transactions are separate factors that need to be assessed independently.

Therefore, the community should not only look at daily price movements when evaluating Pi Network’s progress.

October Could Be a Crucial Month for Pi Network

With Protocol 28 scheduled for October 16, October will be one of the most interesting periods to follow Pi Network’s development.

If the schedule goes as planned, users and Node operators will enter a new phase after the completion of Protocol 27. At the same time, KYC, Mainnet migration, Pi apps, and ecosystem utility will remain critical factors that will determine the network’s future.

For Pioneers, the next developments are worth monitoring not only from the price side of PI, but also from the side of technology and real-world utility of the Pi Network ecosystem.