Price Crash Becomes a Warning to Investors

Altcoins

The price of the cryptocurrency Pi Network (PI) has recently faced a significant downturn, with its value plummeting by over 80% from its all-time high.

This crash has left millions of users, who had been “mining” the coin on their phones for years, questioning its future and serves as a major warning to investors about the speculative nature of such assets.

What Is Pi Network?

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency and developer platform that aims to make crypto mining accessible to a wider audience. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which require powerful, energy-intensive computers, Pi is “mined” by users simply tapping a button on a mobile app once every 24 hours. The project’s appeal lies in its low barrier to entry and the promise of a future digital currency that is easy to earn. The Pi Network boasts a massive community with tens of millions of users, known as “Pioneers.”

The Price Crash and Key Factors

After years of being an “enclosed” mainnet with no external trading, Pi Network finally launched its Open Mainnet on February 20, 2025. This was a pivotal moment for the project, as it enabled external trading and gave the PI token a public market price for the first time. However, the market’s reaction has been brutal.

Launch Day Volatility

The PI token opened at around $1.47 on its launch day, reaching a peak of over $2.10 before correcting significantly to end the day at $1.01.

Sustained Decline

The initial excitement quickly faded. As of mid-August 2025, the price has collapsed to around $0.37, representing a drop of over 87% from its all-time high of approximately $3.00, which was an IOU (I Owe You) price set on some exchanges before the mainnet launch.

Reasons for the Plunge

Several factors have contributed to this crash, including:

Massive Selling Pressure: The long-awaited mainnet launch allowed millions of Pioneers to finally sell the coins they had been mining, creating a flood of supply that overwhelmed market demand.
Lack of Utility: Despite the large user base, the Pi ecosystem still lacks a robust and compelling set of decentralized applications (dApps) or widespread real-world use cases. This limited utility makes the token’s value highly speculative.
Bearish Market Sentiment: The broader cryptocurrency market has been experiencing a downturn, and investor sentiment toward Pi has hit a four-month low. This lack of “bullish conviction” has made it difficult for the token to hold key support levels.

A Warning to Investors

The Pi Network price crash is a stark reminder of the risks associated with highly speculative assets and the importance of due diligence.

Risk vs. Reward: While Pi Network didn’t require Pioneers to invest money directly, it did require their time and personal data. Many are now realizing that the promised reward may not materialize, as their accumulated coins are worth far less than they had hoped.
Centralization Concerns: The Pi Core Team reportedly holds a vast majority of the tokens, leading to fears of market manipulation and a conflict with the core decentralized finance (DeFi) principles that many investors value.
Pyramid Scheme Allegations: The project’s referral-driven growth model, which gives users more coins for inviting new users, has drawn comparisons to multi-level marketing (MLM) and pyramid schemes from critics, including some authorities in China.

While the project’s academic credentials and large community are often cited as signs of legitimacy, the recent price action and ongoing concerns highlight that a massive user base doesn’t guarantee a successful or valuable cryptocurrency. Investors should exercise extreme caution and base their decisions on thorough research rather than on hype or the allure of “free” money.

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com does not endorse or recommend any specific investment strategy or cryptocurrency. Always conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Author

Alexander Zdravkov is a person who always looks for the logic behind things. He is fluent in German and has more than 3 years of experience in the crypto space, where he skillfully identifies new trends in the world of digital currencies. Whether providing in-depth analysis or daily reports on all topics, his deep understanding and enthusiasm for what he does make him a valuable member of the team.