Pi Network's European compliance breakthrough: from rejection to approval turning point

Pi Network publicly released its MiCA compliance technical document on January 21, marking a key step for its entry into the European market. At the same time, the AI KYC upgrade and the robust Stellar technology foundation are helping this previously regulated-excluded project complete its transformation from mobile mining to a compliant ecosystem. Interestingly, when these good news were announced, the Pi coin price was under pressure—reflecting differing market opinions on the progress of compliance.

MiCA Compliance: From Being Trapped to Breaking Through

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) is the EU’s strictest crypto regulatory framework. Previously, due to restrictions under this regulation, Pi had difficulty operating in most European countries, directly impacting its market coverage.

Now, the situation is changing. According to the latest news, Pi has completed the key compliance requirements for MiCA and published the technical document on its official website. What does this mean?

More importantly, the Valour Pi ETP has been listed on regulated markets in Sweden, seen as the first step for Pi to enter the European financial system. Once full MiCA compliance is achieved, more European exchanges and financial institutions will no longer face legal barriers, which is a significant boost for Pi’s market liquidity and recognition.

Why is this critical

According to related information, over 15 million KYC-verified users have migrated to the mainnet. Opening up the European market means these users and potential new users can legally trade and use Pi in more regions. This directly expands Pi’s available market.

AI KYC Upgrade: Accelerating User Migration

In addition to compliance progress, Pi is also advancing an AI-driven KYC upgrade. This upgrade may seem like a technical detail, but it is actually very important.

The new AI verification system can review user identities more efficiently, reducing manual intervention and significantly shortening verification cycles. This means:

• Faster user migration
• More real users can unlock and use Pi assets
• Increased network activity and on-chain transaction volume

According to recent updates, many users have already completed migration to the mainnet through this system, and the second phase of migration is ongoing. This process accelerates and directly boosts network ecosystem activity.

Infrastructure Foundation in Place

A detail often overlooked is the underlying architecture. According to the latest findings, Pi nodes based on Stellar technology are processing ledgers and transactions in real-time on Linux servers, indicating that Pi Network now has enterprise-level operational capability.

This is not just a technical showcase but real infrastructure support—higher throughput, more stable long-term operation. It provides a foundation for Pi’s transition from an early-stage project to a mature ecosystem.

Price Under Pressure but Strategic Progress Continues

Here’s an interesting comparison. While Pi announced these major developments, its price was under pressure:

From the peak of $3 to the current $0.18, Pi has experienced a significant price correction. Over 4 million PI were withdrawn from exchanges within 24 hours, reflecting a divided market sentiment—some are accumulating with long-term prospects, while others are disappointed with the short-term price.

Personal opinion

This contrast reflects a phenomenon: good news does not necessarily immediately push prices higher. Possible reasons include:

• Market has partially digested expectations of compliance progress
• Short-term issues like KYC backlog still unresolved
• Macro market sentiment remains weak, affecting overall performance
• The price has fallen sharply from the high point, and the market needs time to absorb this

Summary

Pi Network is completing its transition from adversity to opportunity. MiCA compliance opens the door to the European market, AI KYC upgrades accelerate user migration, and Stellar technology ensures system stability. These are strategic long-term developments.

In the short term, price pressure is a fact, but considering the project’s development stage, 2026 could indeed become a pivotal year for Pi’s shift from a “controversial mining project” to a “compliant ecosystem.”

Key points to watch are: specific progress in the European market, completion of KYC migration, and the onboarding of more mainstream exchanges. These are the real indicators that will determine Pi’s future trajectory.