Pi Network Defies Crypto Slump with 6% Weekly Gain

The past seven days presented significant challenges for the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin briefly tumbling to almost $80,000 and Ethereum crashing to approximately $2,600. Amid this bearish environment, Pi Network’s PI token demonstrated remarkable resilience, managing to withstand much of the negative pressure affecting the broader market. According to CoinGecko data, PI currently trades around $0.23, representing a 6% increase on a weekly scale that contrasts sharply with Bitcoin’s 10% decline over the same period.

This performance places PI among the best-performing top 100 cryptocurrencies during a week when most digital assets faced substantial selling pressure. The token’s ability to maintain positive momentum while major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced significant pullbacks highlights its unique market positioning and investor sentiment dynamics. The divergence in performance between PI and established cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH underscores the varying factors driving different segments of the crypto market.

The primary catalyst behind PI’s recent surge appears to be growing speculation that Pi Network has achieved full compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This regulatory framework represents a significant milestone for cryptocurrency adoption in Europe, and compliance could potentially open doors for broader acceptance across major European markets. X users, including one using the moniker Pi OpenMainnet 2025, have speculated that PI could expand significantly across Europe, with potential support from countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Sweden.

MiCA compliance represents a crucial step for any cryptocurrency seeking legitimacy within the European Union’s financial ecosystem. The regulation aims to create a harmonized framework for crypto assets across EU member states, providing clearer guidelines for issuers and service providers. For Pi Network, achieving compliance could potentially position PI as a global payment option within European markets, though the project’s controversial nature and ongoing developments continue to draw mixed reactions from the crypto community.

Beyond regulatory developments, recent updates to the AI-powered Pi App Studio platform have contributed to positive sentiment around the PI token. The Core Team has introduced improvements aimed at making the app more useful for both technical developers and newcomers to the ecosystem. These enhancements allow users to download their own applications, refine code on local devices, and reupload them for deployment or further modifications.

In a subsequent video highlighting the benefits of these updates, the Core Team provided detailed information on how users can download and upload videos from their respective Pi App Studio accounts. Both options are available in the Settings menu under the “Customize App With Pi AI” tab. These technical improvements represent ongoing efforts to strengthen the Pi Network ecosystem and provide more utility for developers building on the platform, potentially driving increased engagement and long-term value for the PI token.

Despite the recent positive performance, PI faces significant near-term challenges that could exert downward pressure on its price. Data indicates that more than 175 million coins will be released through token unlocks in the next 30 days, potentially increasing selling pressure as newly unlocked tokens enter the market. Token unlocks often lead to increased supply availability, which can negatively impact price if not met with corresponding demand.

Compounding these concerns, the amount of PI tokens stored on cryptocurrency exchanges has surged by approximately 1.6 million in the past 24 hours alone. The total figure has now surpassed 432 million tokens, with more than half situated on the Gate.io exchange. This development signals that investors have been moving their holdings from self-custody to centralized platforms, a move often interpreted as preparation for selling. The combination of upcoming token unlocks and increasing exchange balances creates a challenging environment for PI’s price sustainability in the short term.

The contrast between PI’s recent outperformance and these fundamental headwinds creates a complex investment landscape. While regulatory compliance speculation and platform upgrades have driven positive momentum, the substantial token unlocks and exchange inflows suggest that investors should carefully monitor market dynamics. The coming weeks will reveal whether PI can maintain its resilience against these potential selling pressures or whether the increased supply and exchange movements will trigger a price correction.