3-Phase Pi Network Migration Plan Frustrates Pioneers

Key Points

• Pi Network releases roadmap without clear dates or targets
• Three-phase migration outlined, but lacks transparency
• Missing rewards and unclear criteria spark backlash
• KYC delays and no audit process raise user concerns

The Pi Network Migration roadmap is finally here—but instead of resolving questions, it’s raising more concerns.

On April 18, Pi Network published a three-phase strategy designed to move millions of users, called Pioneers, to the Open Mainnet. The roadmap also promises to distribute long-awaited mining rewards, referral bonuses, and node incentives.

But here’s the twist: there are no actual dates, no schedules, and zero clarity.

A Mainnet migration roadmap based on the network’s priorities is now available. https://t.co/fFqpZcgA8M

The roadmap outlines how first migrations, second migrations with referral bonuses, and ongoing migrations on a regular basis will be prioritized in that order. The blog also…

— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) April 18, 2025

After more than six years of mining, community-building, and promise-filled updates, early adopters expected a launch timeline. What they got instead was a vague step-by-step sequence, filled with “to be determined” clauses.

In a space where blockchain projects are now delivering faster and with clearer vision—like Base’s Q2 roadmap featuring 200ms block times—Pi’s ambiguity feels outdated.

⚡️ 🚀 BREAKING PI NEWS : The Pi Network Mainnet Migration Roadmap is Now Live! ⬇️https://t.co/p1uCnnKkSB 👈

✨ It details the priority order: first migrations, second migrations with referral bonuses, then regular ongoing migrations. The blog also breaks down Pi’s… pic.twitter.com/h6NqdHnkot

— Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis (@drnicolas_) April 19, 2025

Three Phases, No Dates, and Too Many Questions

The roadmap outlines the migration as a three-stage journey:

Phase 1: Initial Migrations

This covers verified Pioneers who have completed KYC and are in the migration queue. Rewards include base mining income, Security Circle bonuses, lockup commitments, and confirmed Node rewards.

However, the roadmap doesn’t clarify how these rewards are verified or what makes a Node reward “confirmed.”

Phase 2: Referral Bonuses

Next comes the release of referral mining bonuses—but only for users who invited others and have KYC-verified teams. These will be processed after Phase 1 ends, but again, no dates are offered.

Phase 3: Ongoing Migrations

After completing the backlog, Pi Network will begin monthly or quarterly migrations. The document states, “cadence is to be determined,” offering no indication of how many users can expect to be onboarded in a given month.

Compare this to Ripple’s recent push for regulatory clarity with FINRA approval, and the contrast in transparency becomes glaringly obvious.

User Frustration Grows Over Missing Rewards and Lack of Trust

As expected, the roadmap has ignited a storm of criticism in the Pi community.

Many Pioneers claim they’ve been clicking the “claim” button daily for months—yet still haven’t received basic rewards. Others report incomplete data or discrepancies between expected and visible balances.

Missing Audit Systems

Even more worrying: there’s no audit trail for users to review their full mining history or appeal any inconsistencies.

With six years of data and various reward types, errors are inevitable. But the roadmap gives no path for resolution. Compare this to Binance’s regular audits of its Bitcoin reserves, and it’s clear Pi is lagging in operational trust.

UI Discrepancies

The “Transferable Balance” section in the Pi app shows less than what users actually mined. This, the team claims, is to reduce backend stress. But this decision is already shaking user trust, especially when transparency is the backbone of any blockchain.

KYC Bottlenecks

Even worse, every migration hinges on KYC, yet the team has not provided any figures on how fast KYC verifications are being processed or how many users are in the queue. This lack of clarity could stall the entire network indefinitely.

In the past, projects like Arizona’s proposed state crypto reserve bill showcased how forward-thinking governance can build trust in blockchain ecosystems. Pi Network’s lack of accountability could be its Achilles’ heel.

Foundational Doubts and Falling Token Value

Some users are even questioning the very foundations of Pi Network.

Pi recently stated that “all tokens were minted at genesis”, contradicting years of mining activity by the community. If tokens were already created, then what were Pioneers actually doing?

One user wrote:

🚨If you’ve ever used the ” $PI network ” It’s not an actual blockchain:🚨

Okay, The Pi Core Team is finally starting to address the concerns of the community. Kind of.

pi key highlights:

“The actual first migration for everyone already contains their verified base mining… https://t.co/YJT8JOXvo1

— Trastew (@TrastewETH) April 18, 2025

This sentiment echoes the uncertainty felt by many in the community, especially as the token’s price continues to decline. In contrast, other tokens experiencing dips—like RFC which fell 40% recently—are still supported by clear project plans and active updates.

Price Drop and Token Unlock Concerns

Over the past 30 days, PI’s price has dropped over 45%. Add to that the upcoming unlock of 108.9 million PI tokens this month, and fears of sell pressure are very real.

PI Monthly Price Chart. Source: TradingView – Techtoken

Yet the migration roadmap makes no mention of how these major token unlocks align with reward distributions or user onboarding.

Without proactive communication and a commitment to transparency, Pi Network risks losing credibility—and its long-time Pioneers with it.

What Pi Network Needs to Fix Immediately

To regain momentum and community trust, Pi Network needs to:

• Release a clear migration timeline with measurable goals

• Disclose how many users are pending migration

• Open an audit and dispute resolution portal

• Improve transparency around KYC capacity and progress

• Align token unlocks with migration flows and reward payouts

Until these are addressed, the project will struggle to transition from hype to legitimacy, especially in a market where users now demand clarity over promises.