Pi Network Keeps PI Central as Stablecoin Plans Evolve

| crypto.news
Pi Network says PI will remain the network’s primary cryptocurrency as it explores stablecoin payments and rewards with Open Standard, the company behind OUSD. Stablecoins could support commerce, payments, accounting and settlement where predictable prices matter. However, no OUSD Mainnet launch date, reward details or eligibility rules have been confirmed, and the team says any integration will be cautious and consider compliance. The plans remain exploratory, not a launch announcement. Separately, Protocol 28 is scheduled to activate on Mainnet on October 16, 2026. Node operators must install version 28.0 by October 13. The upgrade aims to improve transaction-data handling and smart-contract maintenance; it is not part of the proposed stablecoin integration. PI traded near $0.0812 on October 9, down about 10% over seven days, with a market capitalisation of roughly $914 million. It had earlier fallen to $0.078, a three-month low, before recovering above $0.081 amid a wider crypto market correction. Technical indicators remained weak, with traders watching support near $0.080 and resistance around $0.090. A break below support could bring $0.075 and $0.070 into focus, while a sustained move above resistance could reopen the path to $0.10. The stablecoin plans may eventually expand Pi Network utility, but their impact on PI remains uncertain without confirmed implementation details.
Neutral
The news is neutral for PI because the stablecoin work is exploratory, with no confirmed OUSD launch date, rewards programme or eligibility details. That leaves no immediate, measurable catalyst for demand. The possibility that stablecoins could support payments and settlement may strengthen Pi Network’s utility over the longer term, but traders are likely to wait for concrete integration and adoption details before pricing in that potential. Protocol 28 is a separate network upgrade and does not itself confirm a new use case for PI. In the short term, PI’s roughly 10% weekly decline, weak technical indicators and position near the $0.080 support level point to continued sensitivity to market sentiment. A break below support could add pressure, while a sustained move above $0.090 may improve near-term momentum. The previous drop to $0.078 and rebound above $0.081 show volatility but do not establish a lasting reversal. Overall, the unconfirmed utility plans are balanced by weak price action and no near-term launch catalyst.