Pi Network’s core team confirms that the mandatory deadline for the Protocol 25 upgrade is June 18. All node operators must complete the software update before this date, otherwise they will be completely disconnected from the mainnet. Protocol 25 is built directly on Protocol 24, which was approved in early June.
Mandatory Protocol 25 Deadline: Action Checklist Before June 18
According to the Pi core team announcement, the standard process for node updates includes three steps: download the latest node software package, verify the installation, and restart the software. The core team confirms this update is a mandatory requirement, not an optional update.
Confirmation items to complete before June 18:
Node operators: Download and install the latest node software package, complete verification, and restart the node
Users who have not completed KYC: Complete identity verification and mainnet migration through the Pi Browser app
Deadline: June 18, 2026 (confirmed by the Pi core team)
Technical change confirmation: Soroban integration and alignment with Stellar Core V20
Based on the Pi core team’s confirmed Protocol 25 technical specifications：
Stellar Core V20 Consistency: This upgrade keeps Pi Network aligned with the Stellar Core V20 standard, and introduces a compatibility layer to make Pi’s infrastructure easier for external verifiers and exchanges to identify.
Soroban Smart Contract Integration: Protocol 25 integrates Stellar’s smart contract platform Soroban. Before this upgrade, Pi’s blockchain did not support programmable logic. With Soroban’s introduction, developers can for the first time write and deploy smart contracts on Pi, supporting use cases such as DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and tokenized assets.
Transaction Performance Optimization: This upgrade improves block finality and reduces consensus latency; actual performance depends on how quickly node operators adopt it.
Non-compliance Consequences: Network Disconnection and Stopped Rewards
According to the Pi core team announcement, nodes that do not complete the Protocol 25 upgrade before June 18 will face the following confirmed consequences：
· Incompatible with the upgraded consensus mechanism, unable to verify any transactions
· Removed from the network, stopping rewards
· If a large number of nodes fail to upgrade in time, there is a technical risk that could cause a network fork
In the announcement, the Pi core team stated that upgrade compatibility has a direct impact on how exchanges and institutional partners evaluate Pi’s technical reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the relationship between the Protocol 25 upgrade and Protocol 24, and what has each one completed?
The Pi core team confirmed that Protocol 24 was approved in early June 2026, laying the groundwork for subsequent advanced network functionalities. Protocol 25 is built directly on the results of Protocol 24; it integrates Soroban smart contracts and completes alignment with the Stellar Core V20 standard, making it one of the next technical steps toward an open mainnet.
If node operators update only after June 18, is there any remediation pathway?
The Pi core team announcement confirms that overdue nodes will be disconnected from the mainnet, unable to verify transactions or receive rewards. The announcement does not explain whether there is a mechanism for延期申請, nor does it describe any remediation procedure after the deadline.
What does the Soroban integration specifically mean for Pi Network developers?
Soroban is Stellar’s smart contract platform. Protocol 25 integrates it into Pi Network, allowing developers for the first time to write and deploy programmable smart contracts on the Pi chain. Before this upgrade, Pi’s blockchain supported only ledger-recording functions and did not have native programmable logic capabilities.
