Pi Network in 2025: Will It Outshine Ripple and Stellar as an ISO 20022 Powerhouse?

Move over, legacy players—Pi Network's gunning for the ISO 20022 throne.

The Underdog Play

While Ripple and Stellar dominate cross-border payments, Pi’s mobile-first approach could rewrite the rulebook. No mining rigs, no institutional baggage—just 35 million 'engaged users' (their words) tapping screens for crypto.

Regulation Roulette

ISO 20022 compliance isn’t optional anymore. Pi’s team claims they’re 'aligned'—but so did Terra before the algorithm imploded. The real test? Getting actual banks to nod along.

The Cynic’s Corner

Let’s be real: every altcoin promises to 'disrupt finance' until their tokenomics faceplant. Pi’s got hype, but can it survive contact with SWIFT’s 11,000-bank gravity well?

Reports have surfaced that Pi Network is joining the ISO 20022 standardization race, a move that could position it alongside blockchain payment leaders Ripple (XRP) and stellar (XLM). With the global ISO 20022 cutover deadline set for November 22, 2025, Pi Network now faces both opportunity and pressure to meet compliance standards shared by the world’s largest financial institutions.

What ISO 20022 Means for Blockchain Payments

ISO 20022 is a unified standard for financial messaging that allows banks and payment systems to exchange richer, faster, and more structured data. It replaces the older SWIFT MT system and is already supported by over 11,000 institutions worldwide. 

Once the November 2025 deadline arrives, only ISO 20022-compliant messages will be accepted through the SWIFT network, marking a permanent shift in how cross-border payments are processed.

Ripple and Stellar have already aligned their networks with this standard, gaining a head start in real-world payment integration. For Pi Network, aligning with ISO 20022 could open the door to becoming a bridge between digital assets and traditional banking.

The Pi Network Challenge and Opportunity

Pi Network’s vision extends beyond just payments. The project aims to merge decentralized computing, mobile-first finance, and AI integration under one ecosystem. This unique “three-in-one” approach, as a payment network, computing platform, and financial gateway, offers potential that even Ripple and Stellar have not fully explored.

If successful, Pi Network could demonstrate how a community-driven project transitions from mobile mining to a compliant, globally recognized payment infrastructure. However, achieving ISO 20022 compatibility will require meeting stringent data and messaging standards that traditional finance depends on.

Can Pi Network Compete with Industry Leaders?

The question remains whether Pi’s massive user base can translate into institutional-level adoption. Its strength lies in a loyal global community that actively supports ecosystem development,  from the OpenMind AI project to decentralized finance experiments. But success under ISO 20022 will depend on whether PI can build the technical and compliance framework required to match Ripple and Stellar.

As financial institutions prepare for the November 2025 cutover, the spotlight is now on Pi Network. The coming year will determine whether it can evolve from a community experiment into a recognized player in global finance.