Pi Network price outlook amid Protocol 22 upgrade, ahead of the May Protocol 23 upgrade - CoinJournal

• Protocol 22 has boosted the scalability of Pi Network ahead of smart contracts in May.
• Pi must break $0.190 to target $0.2045 and $0.220.
• Key support at $0.1832 remains crucial for bullish momentum.

Pi Network (PI) token traded near $0.1893 on April 28 after gaining roughly 5.8% in 24 hours and more than 10% over the past week, reflecting stronger market interest as the network moves through a critical development phase.

The recent recovery is notable considering the asset’s all-time low of $0.1312 in February 2026, while still sitting far below its February 2025 peak of $2.99.

Protocol 22 mainnet upgrade

Notably, the price surge comes as Pi Network completed its Protocol 22 mainnet upgrade on April 27, a major infrastructure update designed to improve scalability, transaction throughput, and overall network readiness for decentralised applications.

Protocol 22 is widely seen as a foundational step before the expected Protocol 23 rollout in May, which is projected to introduce smart contracts and expand Pi Network’s ecosystem with broader decentralised finance (DeFi) and cross-chain functionality.

More than 10 billion PI tokens have already migrated to Mainnet, with approximately 6 billion remaining locked.

This large locked supply continues to limit immediate sell pressure while also supporting market attention around future utility expansion.

For many traders, the upcoming Protocol 23 release is even more important since smart contract functionality could significantly expand PI’s practical use cases beyond peer-to-peer transfers by allowing developers to build decentralised applications directly on the network.

Technical indicators show improving momentum

Current technical analysis suggests Pi is attempting to form a double-bottom breakout pattern, with the neckline sitting near $0.190.

A confirmed move above this level could push the price toward $0.2045, while a stronger continuation may open the path toward $0.220.

According to aggregated market indicators, a majority of technical indicators signal that the short-term momentum is leaning positive.

Moving averages are especially supportive, with PI currently above its 10-day, 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day exponential moving averages, reinforcing short-term strength.

However, the token still trades below its 200-day EMA, which suggests broader macro resistance remains in place.

The 14-day Relative Strength Index stands at 63.96, placing PI coin in neutral territory without signalling immediate overbought conditions.

On the weekly timeframe, RSI is closer to 36.01, which indicates that PI may still be recovering from previously oversold conditions.

Pi Network price forecast

Looking at the price targets that traders should consider moving forward, the immediate support sits at $0.1832.

A drop below this level may weaken short-term bullish momentum and expose Pi Network (PI) to downside pressure toward $0.1670, with deeper losses potentially reaching $0.1322.

On the upside, the first major resistance is $0.1884. A breakout above this level would strengthen breakout potential and could send PI coin toward $0.1926.

If bulls successfully clear the broader $0.190 neckline, the next major target becomes $0.2045. A sustained breakout above that level may extend gains toward $0.220.

Looking further ahead, broader 2026 projections place PI’s possible trading range between $0.1121 and $0.5246, depending largely on successful ecosystem expansion, smart contract adoption, and broader crypto market conditions.

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