Pi Network has confirmed that Protocol 23 will go live on May 11, marking the blockchain’s first full smart contract deployment. This upgrade will transform the mobile mining network into a programmable ecosystem supporting decentralized finance applications and asset tokenization.
The launch date was moved forward from the previously announced May 18, aligning with the conclusion of the Consensus 2026 conference in Miami, where co-founders Dr. Chengdiao Fan and Nicolas Kokkalis are scheduled to speak on May 6 and 7. This strategic timing places the technical release shortly after key public appearances.
Protocol 23 builds on the foundation established by Protocol 22, which completed on April 27 and removed non-compliant nodes to ensure network stability. The new protocol allows developers to create and deploy smart contracts on Pi’s Mainnet, enabling decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, automated tools, and tokenization of real-world assets through the Pi Launchpad.
The network currently boasts 421,000 active Mainnet nodes, over 10 billion PI migrated to Mainnet, and a market cap of approximately $1.73 billion as of late April 2026. Pi Network’s move into programmable contracts positions it alongside proof-of-personhood projects like Worldcoin and Humanity Protocol, with the Consensus appearance framing Protocol 23 as part of a broader vision for identity and decentralized finance in the AI era.