Don’t Miss Out on Pi Network’s Epic 2022 End of Year Updates: Here’s What You Need to Know

The Pi Network Core Team has made major strides in creating the necessary infrastructure and components for Mainnet migration, mass KYC, ecosystem development, and preparing for the next phase of Mainnet since Pi2Day on June 28, 2022.

At this important stage in the development of Enclosed Mainnet, Pi Network is prioritizing two key areas: mass KYC and ecosystem utilities-building. These are essential steps towards building a viable ecosystem in preparation for Open Mainnet.

This update focuses on the work that is most relevant and interesting to Pioneers, and may not cover all the numerous efforts and deployments related to interfaces, backend, compliance, community success, and bug fixes.

Project Improvements in Detail

Transitioning to the Mainnet

Since Pi2Day on June 28th, the process of mass Mainnet migration has been underway. Pioneers who have fully migrated are now using Pi on the Pi Mainnet blockchain and within the Pi ecosystem according to the guidelines of the Enclosed Network (you can read more about this in the Whitepaper chapters here). Those who have completed the Mainnet Checklist can transfer their Transferable Balance from the mobile app to their wallet address on the Mainnet blockchain.

The work for Mainnet Migration was divided into three parts

1. Using synchronized data from sources like mobile mining, KYC, Mainnet Checklist, compliance, etc. to enable and scale mass migration
2. Ensuring the accuracy and correctness of the migration in all areas, including (but not limited to) balances, compliance, and policy violations. Reverting if necessary due to the migration’s early stage; addressing migration issues and recovering and resuming from pauses.
3. Improving the user experience of the migration by ensuring that each essential component is seamlessly integrated, such as the Checklist, Wallet, Mainnet blockchain, etc

Below are a few details on the work

Improving validation checks after migration during the pending migration period

1. Ensuring that Pioneers’ Pi Transferable Balances are accurate
2. After verification, balances can be successfully migrated onto the Mainnet blockchain
3. For those who need additional verifications before their full transfer, further verification features can also roll back the migration

Making changes to the Wallet to facilitate Mainnet Migration

1. Making it possible to claim Pi after the pending migration period
2. Making it possible for Pi Network’s Pioneers to access and manage the Mainnet Migration process
3. The Wallet user interface has been completely updated

Making improvements to the Mainnet Checklist user experience and fixing bugs to ensure a smooth transition to Mainnet

A variety of Mainnet Checklist user-interface features and bug fixes, including improvements to the Mainnet Balance dashboard, data synchronization in the backend and display, adding and amending steps in the Checklist, etc.

The development of post-migration lockups has been completed and will be released in the near future

Making it possible to lock up Pi that has been migrated.

Solution for the KYC

The primary focus of the work on KYC as a prerequisite step to the Mainnet migration for each Pioneer has been: 

1. enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of the KYC app, 
2. expanding KYC to a growing number of Pioneers, and 
3. analyzing and working on solutions for real Pioneers who have applied but have not yet received KYC results. 

Please refer to a recent detailed update on KYC here for progress and next steps.

Pi Network Platform, Ecosystem, and Community Development

To encourage Pi ecosystem growth and bring more utilities and use cases to the Pi experience, Pi Network core team have made significant efforts (one of the two major goals of the Enclosed Network). In addition to deploying or developing multiple new infrastructure features, the Core Team is fostering ecosystem-building among the community and new developers through Hackathons, community development support, external business partnerships, and internal Core Team-created apps.

For this purpose, specific tech and product work included

• Enhance the capabilities of the Pi SDK by enabling it to connect to the Pi Mainnet and providing additional features that will enable developers to create more comprehensive and user-friendly applications on the Pi Mainnet.
• Promote developer engagement and enhance the developer experience with the Pi Network platform through guidance and education.
• Offer infrastructure and guidance to developers.

Below are some details on key features:

Large hackathons have been held at prestigious universities, and additional hackathons are planned for early January 2023, with additional post-hackathon programs

1. Redesigning hackathon efforts to enhance the utility and usefulness of the Pi Network ecosystem.
2. Additional hackathons are planned to begin on January 9th
3. Create more developer-focused programs to support hackathon developers in their ongoing development.
4. A new API for app-to-pioneers is being developed and is expected to be released either before the end of the year or in early January.

You might be interested to read about: Pi Network’s University hackathon winners

Launch and Improvement of Mainnet Pi SDK

1. Significant update enabling migration of Pi apps to Mainnet
2. Improved and more comprehensive documentation, available on Github
3. Full developer onboarding guide (in progress)

Updates to the Developer Portal

1. Release of a new “Create App Checklist” to guide developers through the app creation process step by step
2. Updated dashboard interface for developers to easily manage their Pi apps
3. Demonstration app deployed to allow developers to quickly set up their own Pi apps
4. Ability for developers to register for Mainnet apps

Deployment of Pi App Engine V2

1. Simplified setup for developers using Pi App Engine to easily run their apps on scalable server infrastructure, allowing them to focus on building their product and frontend features
2. Increased feedback for developers on deployments
3. Overall enhancement of the Pi app development process in the ecosystem, especially for selected teams with limited resources and knowledge about scalable technical infrastructures that contribute to the ecosystem

Release of MVP version of Developer Wallets is imminent

1. Developers will soon be able to create app-specific wallets specifically designed to support the operations of Pi apps, rather than personal wallets linked to an individual pioneer’s account
2. This feature is expected to be available for developers in January.

Infrastructure change for Pi Chats is under development

1. The backend infrastructure for Pi Chats will undergo a significant change to become a more standalone application, enabling faster development and deployment of future features
2. This change will reduce the strain and impact on other services caused by Pi Chats (which have led to usage outages in the past) and 
3. Allow for easier integration of Pi Chats features into the ecosystem in the future.

Additionally, tech & product efforts mentioned above, significant effort has been put into building a supportive community and cultivating a culture of ecosystem development. This includes introducing and educating developers about the Pi Network platform, encouraging and engaging developers to build on Pi Network, and providing support and resources for developers to deploy Pi apps. These efforts are crucial for establishing a functional utility-based ecosystem and preparing for the launch of the Open Network.

Looking to the Future: 2023 and Beyond

The network has experienced significant events and achieved notable progress in 2022, including the launch of mass KYC and Mainnet migration and the foundational work of building an ecosystem. Despite the larger industry turmoil this year, Pi Network has demonstrated the benefits of its unique and non-consensus strategies, with a long-term vision and focus on building substance and utility step by step.

Pi Network has not only weathered the noise of the larger industry environment, but has also made steady progress and growth towards its goal of creating the most inclusive peer-to-peer ecosystem and online experience, powered by Pi, the most widely used cryptocurrency in the world.

Pi Network is eagerly anticipating what the future holds in 2023, another year of progress towards our shared goal of reaching the next stage of Mainnet. Building a decentralized network requires decentralized efforts, including the blockchain, the community, and the ecosystem with a comprehensive infrastructure and various utilities. This effort relies on all Pioneers working together, not just a small group.

In 2023, Pi Network will provide more information and guidance on how Pioneers can collaborate to continue developing and expanding the network, now that the major components of the ecosystem’s infrastructure are in place and aligned for growth. They are excited to see the ecosystem thrive, and they hope all their Pioneers are too.