The highly anticipated Open Mainnet launch of Pi Network on February 20 was met with extreme volatility, leading to a drastic drop in the token’s value. Within the first two days of trading, Pi Network’s market capitalization plummeted by $6 billion. The token, which initially opened at $1.84, saw a dramatic decline to $0.64, sparking concerns among investors regarding its long-term viability and stability.
Several factors contributed to the sharp decline in Pi Network’s price. Below are four major reasons that fueled the downward trend:
One of the primary reasons behind the crash was criticism from Bybit’s CEO, Ben Zhou, who accused Pi Network of being a scam. Zhou pointed to a Chinese report alleging that Pi Network primarily targeted the elderly in a misleading scheme. While Pi Network has vehemently denied these accusations, maintaining that it is a legitimate blockchain project under development for the past six years, the CEO’s remarks raised red flags among investors.
The timing of Zhou’s statement was also significant, as it coincided with a $1.4 billion hack on Bybit. The security breach further shook investor confidence, contributing to the market instability surrounding Pi Network.
Another key factor behind the Pi Network price drop was a large-scale sell-off by early adopters. Historically, many token holders cash out their holdings immediately after a mainnet launch to mitigate losses. In Pi Network’s case, many investors had seen similar projects—such as Notcoin and Hamster Kombat—crash post-launch and feared a repeat scenario. This panic-driven sell-off exerted additional downward pressure on the token’s price.
The overall weakness in the cryptocurrency market also played a role in Pi Network’s sharp decline. Bitcoin’s price correction, which saw a 10% drop from its all-time high, negatively impacted the broader crypto ecosystem. Major altcoins like Ethereum, Cardano, and Algorand also suffered significant declines, contributing to reduced investor confidence.
Liquidity issues further exacerbated Pi Network’s instability. Despite being listed on major exchanges such as OKX, Bitget, and MEXC, the token faced low market depth, making it highly susceptible to volatility. Analysts noted that even a $100,000 trade could trigger significant price swings, suggesting a lack of strong demand.
Pi Network’s collapse follows a broader trend of newly launched tokens struggling to maintain their value. Several high-profile tokens, including Wormhole and ZKsync, initially experienced price surges but later saw substantial declines. Even established projects like EigenLayer witnessed a sharp drop from $5.6 to $2. Similarly, meme coins associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump have plunged by over 80% from their peak values.
The future of Pi Network remains uncertain, with its price currently in a discovery phase. The token’s rebound will largely depend on increased demand from investors and further development within its ecosystem. At the time of its mainnet launch, Pi Network had approximately 100 decentralized applications (dApps) on its network. If these applications gain traction, they could serve as a catalyst for price recovery.
A potential listing on top-tier exchanges such as Binance or Coinbase could also provide the much-needed liquidity and legitimacy that Pi Network currently lacks. Binance has initiated a community vote to decide whether to list Pi Network, with the results expected on February 27.
Pi Network’s mainnet launch was expected to be a milestone event, but instead, it has highlighted significant challenges, including liquidity constraints, centralization concerns, and accusations of fraud. While the project boasts a massive user base, it must address these issues to regain investor trust and stabilize its market position.
For now, the future of the Pi Network remains in flux. If the project successfully builds a robust ecosystem and secures listings on major exchanges, it could regain momentum. However, if liquidity issues and skepticism persist, Pi Network may join the ranks of many failed crypto projects that struggled post-launch.