Pi Network Sets June 18 Deadline for Protocol 25 Node Upgrade

Pi Network has entered another important phase of its mainnet development. The Pi Core Team announced that all mainnet node operators must complete the upgrade to Protocol 25 by June 18, 2026, or risk losing connection to the network. The update is part of Pi Network’s long-running roadmap that is gradually moving nodes from Protocol 19 through Protocol 26.

In a post on X, the team reminded node operators to plan ahead for the migration. The announcement quickly sparked discussion across the Pi community, with operators preparing for another network-wide transition.

Protocol 25 Marks the Next Step in Pi’s Upgrade Path

The latest upgrade follows the successful rollout of Protocol 24 and continues Pi Network’s sequential migration process. According to the roadmap, nodes must upgrade in order and cannot skip versions. The current path moves from version 24.1 to 25.2, with Protocol 26 expected to follow at a later date.

Unlike some previous migrations, the Protocol 25 upgrade is designed to be relatively quick. Pi Network said most nodes should experience less than five minutes of downtime during the process. However, the team advised operators not to upgrade all nodes simultaneously. Instead, they should redirect traffic to other nodes or use Pi’s mainnet API infrastructure while the migration is underway.

Node Operators Begin Preparing for June 18

The deadline has already caught the attention of the community. Pi advocate PiNetwork DEX said he plans to notify node operators to complete upgrades in batches before June 18 to help ensure a smooth transition across the network.

Questions also surfaced about node participation and network growth. Some community members asked whether the total node count has approached 400,000 and where updated testnet statistics can be viewed. While the Core Team has not commented on those figures, the discussion highlights growing interest in the health and scale of the Pi Network ecosystem.

Upgrade Process Differs by Node Type

For users running Pi Desktop on Windows or macOS, the process is largely automatic. The protocol update will trigger when the node software starts. Linux users operating through the newer Pi Linux Node CLI may not need to take action if auto-updates are enabled. Those without automatic updates must manually run the upgrade command

Meanwhile, operators using legacy self-managed Docker containers will need to update their Docker image and restart services using the latest Protocol 25 release. Pi Network stressed that operators should monitor synchronization status after upgrading to confirm the migration has completed successfully.

What This Means for Developers and Investors

For developers, Protocol 25 is another sign that Pi Network continues to strengthen its infrastructure ahead of future upgrades. Consistent node participation is critical for network stability, scalability and future ecosystem growth. For investors and community members, the upgrade itself is not a direct price catalyst. But it demonstrates that the project is continuing to execute its technical roadmap despite ongoing market volatility.

That progress comes at a time when Pi Network remains under pressure from large token unlocks and weak market sentiment. Many holders are closely watching whether ecosystem development can eventually offset the additional supply entering circulation. As June 18 approaches, the focus now shifts to node operators. Their ability to complete the Protocol 25 migration on time will help determine how smoothly Pi Network advances toward the next stage of its mainnet evolution.