On May 14, 2025, Pi Network took a monumental step toward mainstream adoption by announcing the launch of Pi Network Ventures, a $100 million fund designed to support startups and businesses building real-world applications for the Pi cryptocurrency. This bold move represents a clear pivot from pure user growth to sustainable, utility-driven development, aimed at transforming Pi from a speculative token into a functioning digital asset with real economic value.
Pi Network Launches $100 Million Fund to Boost Real-World Pi Coin Utility
The fund—backed by both USD and Pi tokens—will focus on investing in companies that can accelerate the usage of Pi in sectors such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, e-commerce, and social networks. What makes this venture fund particularly unique is its alignment with Pi Network’s long-term mission: to create a decentralized, inclusive ecosystem where everyday users—known as “Pioneers”—can participate in a thriving digital economy.
Unlike traditional crypto projects that rely heavily on centralized funding, Pi Network Ventures is established by the Pi Foundation, a community-centered and ownerless nonprofit dedicated to overseeing the development of the network. The foundation has committed to using part of the 10% Pi token reserve allocated for ecosystem growth to fund this initiative. While the fund is denominated in USD, most of the capital injections will be made using Pi itself, reinforcing the coin’s real-world utility and market value.
The venture fund is not limited to just early-stage ideas. Instead, it will invest across various stages—from seed rounds to Series B and beyond. The primary criteria for investment include a strong and visionary team, the potential for real-world impact, and the ability to integrate Pi into their products or services in a way that adds value to users and the broader ecosystem. The focus is not merely on “crypto-native” projects but also on mainstream businesses willing to incorporate Pi as a payment method or user incentive mechanism.
One major differentiator between Pi Network Ventures and conventional venture capital lies in the massive user base Pi Network brings to the table. With tens of millions of KYC-verified users spread across over 200 countries and regions, startups backed by the fund will gain instant access to a large, engaged market. This access to a pre-existing community provides early-stage ventures with what most startups dream of: a ready pool of users who can adopt, test, and scale their innovations immediately.
Moreover, the fund offers more than just capital. It aims to create long-term partnerships with businesses that are best positioned to bring meaningful utility to the Pi ecosystem. These partnerships may include technical support, marketing assistance, and help with integrating the Pi SDK. Startups that join the program can benefit from a powerful network effect where both Pi and the business grow together symbiotically.
As Pi Network Ventures begins reviewing and selecting candidates for funding, the community will play a vital role in shaping the future. Historically, Pi Network has leveraged decentralized feedback through the Brainstorm app—a platform within the Pi Browser that allows users to submit, evaluate, and vote on potential projects. While it remains unclear whether the fund’s investment process will directly use Brainstorm data, the team behind Pi Network has emphasized its commitment to community input as a core value.
Despite the excitement, the announcement was met with mixed reactions from the Pi community. Some users, expecting a fully operational Pi ecosystem in 2025, were disappointed that the focus is still on development and not on immediate utility. This sentiment led to a temporary decline in Pi’s market sentiment, as reflected on unofficial exchanges. However, many long-term supporters see this fund as a necessary foundation for Pi’s true breakthrough in the next phase of blockchain adoption. Rather than rushing to list Pi on major exchanges, the team appears committed to building real-world use cases first—something that most cryptocurrencies fail to achieve.
According to Pi Network’s core team, the fund is not just about investing for returns, but about creating infrastructure and economic models where Pi can thrive as a medium of exchange. Over time, as more businesses accept Pi for goods and services, and as developers build meaningful dApps (decentralized applications) on the Pi platform, the intrinsic value of the currency is expected to rise organically. This stands in contrast to speculative price pumps based on hype, which are often short-lived.
Adding further credibility to this approach is the fact that Pi’s user base is not speculative by nature. Since the beginning, Pi Network has emphasized mobile mining, education, and accessibility. Most users are ordinary people who joined the network to learn about crypto in a low-risk environment. Now, with a venture fund in place, these users may finally get to see the token they’ve mined for years gain real-world relevance.
In terms of future outlook, the Pi core team has outlined that investments will be rolled out over time, depending on the quality and volume of applicants. They reserve the right to pause or redirect the fund based on ecosystem needs. However, the $100 million figure signals a strong commitment and provides enough capital runway to support a diverse portfolio of projects over the next few years. If even a small percentage of these investments lead to successful integrations, the Pi ecosystem could evolve into one of the most active and utility-driven blockchain networks globally.
To summarize, Pi Network Ventures is a game-changing initiative that brings Pi closer to its vision of becoming a widely used, decentralized digital currency. With $100 million in funding, access to a global user base, and a community-driven selection process, this fund has the potential to transform Pi from a “mined on your phone” curiosity into a fully-fledged economic system. Whether you're a developer, entrepreneur, or longtime Pi Pioneer, this announcement should be seen as a critical milestone—one that could define the network's direction for years to come.