Pi Network announced that most of its Mainnet Node operators have successfully upgraded to Protocol 23, bringing the network closer to completing one of its largest technical transitions to date.
In a post shared on May 20, the Pi Core Team thanked node operators for completing the migration and described the upgrade as “one of the most challenging” in the project’s history due to extensive subsystem changes and internal data reprocessing requirements.
The upgrade includes a protocol migration from version 22 to 23, an Ubuntu operating system upgrade from version 20 to 24, and a PostgreSQL database migration from version 12 to 16. According to the team, the network is expected to fully transition to Protocol 23 once the remaining nodes complete the upgrade process.
Upgrade follows earlier Protocol 23 deadline
The latest update follows Pi Network’s earlier announcement setting a May 15 deadline for node operators to upgrade to Protocol 23.
At the time, the Pi Core Team said the upgrade was necessary to prepare the ecosystem for smart contract functionality, improved scalability, and broader Web3 readiness as the network expands its mainnet infrastructure.
The team previously described Protocol 23 as an important step toward strengthening node performance, network reliability, and future decentralized application support.
Expanding AI-powered KYC system
Earlier this month, Pi Network also explained how its AI-powered KYC verification system is supporting the platform’s expanding mainnet migration process.
According to the network, additional verification checks are being used to strengthen security, improve fairness, and confirm real-user authenticity across the ecosystem as migrated users surpassed 16.7 million.
The company said the AI-assisted verification system is designed to help detect fraudulent accounts while improving onboarding efficiency for legitimate users joining the mainnet.
Community reactions
Reactions across the Pi community and broader crypto discussions on X were mixed.
Many supporters praised the technical progress and viewed the migration as a sign of continued ecosystem development. Others questioned the project’s long timeline and lack of broader utility adoption despite years of development.
Several users also speculated about whether the upgrade could impact Pi’s market activity or future ecosystem expansion once the migration is fully completed.
The latest migration reflects Pi Network’s continued focus on backend infrastructure upgrades as blockchain projects increasingly prioritize scalability, validator reliability, and database optimization.
The simultaneous upgrades to the protocol layer, operating system environment, and database architecture suggest the network is preparing for heavier transaction loads and expanded on-chain functionality in future releases.
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