The Pi Network launched PiRC1, a new token issuance framework launched under Protocol 22 on April 22, which prevents projects from issuing tokens without first demonstrating a working application with real user demand, a direct effort to filter out hypothetical startups driven by the ecosystem.
Summary
- The Pi Network launched PiRC1 on April 22 under Protocol V22, which requires any project that wants to issue ecosystem tokens to demonstrate a real, functional application with real user demand before launch.
- Token money under PiRC1 is directed to permanent spending pools rather than directly to project teams, adding structural protection against misuse of funds raised.
- The draft comes alongside an April 27 deadline for the development of Protocol 22, with full implementation of the smart contract expected to follow under Protocol 23 in May.
Pi Network launched PiRC1, its Token Design Framework, on April 22 as part of the development of Protocol V22. As HOKNEWS.COM reported, the main goal of PiRC1 is straightforward: only applications that demonstrate real use cases and concrete user needs within the Pi ecosystem will be eligible to participate in token issuance. The framework is designed to address one of the crypto industry’s ongoing problems, the proliferation of low-value tokens created primarily as speculative tools rather than functional parts of the real digital economy.
Pi Network PiRC1 Token Issuance Framework Sets New Standard for Ecosystem Designs
Under PiRC1, no project can launch a token without having an active application. The token funds do not go directly to the project teams but instead to permanent money pools, which are anchored in Pi Coin as the base currency of the ecosystem. This project separates fundraising from direct project management, introducing structural protections that prevent groups from withdrawing funds after launch, a pattern that has caused widespread losses throughout Web3. Pi’s network of KYC verified users adds an additional layer of accountability, as developers and users work under verified identities instead of anonymity. As crypto.news reported, PiRC1 was released along with a new PiRC2 document that opens up the subscription smart contract model to technical review and public feedback. PI traded around $0.1687 since April 23, with a market cap of $1.73 billion and a 24-hour volume of $11.17 million.
How PiRC1 Fits into the Broader Development Roadmap
PiRC1 was introduced under Protocol V22 as a direct follow-up to the V21 and V21.2 network improvements that strengthened the Pi infrastructure and made it smart contract ready. Protocol 22 also has an urgent node deadline: as crypto.news tracked, Mainnet node operators must upgrade to Protocol 22 by April 27 to stay connected to the network. The next milestone is Protocol 23, expected in May 2026, which will introduce full smart contract functionality to developers. Together, the PiRC1 token framework and Protocol 23 smart contract tools represent what the Pi Network is doing as a transition from a mining-centric network to a Web3-based ecosystem capable of supporting real commercial applications.
What PiRC1 Means for PI Market Position
Pi founder Chengdiao Fan first presented PiRC1 as a proposal in late February, emphasizing that tokens should serve as tools within applications rather than standalone financial instruments. An open review period for the framework on GitHub and Google Forms gave the developer community a chance to shape the final design before it was launched. As crypto.news has written, PI’s market trajectory in 2026 is highly dependent on whether network technology developments translate into actual on-chain implementation. Each of the previous street releases has been largely treated as a news selling event by the market. Whether PiRC1 changes that dynamic will depend on how many developers build functional applications under the framework and how quickly user interactions in those applications scale.
Pi Network said it plans to continue expanding the PiRC1 framework with feedback from its developer community, and flagged support for the Protocol 23 smart contract as the next technology delivery expected in May.
