Pi Network Slashes KYC Times by 50% as Massive 190M Token Unlock Looms

Pi Network just turbocharged its verification pipeline. The mobile mining project announced a 50% reduction in KYC processing times, a strategic move that drops right before a scheduled unlock of 190 million tokens.

The Rush Before the Flood

The timing isn't subtle. Accelerating user onboarding by half directly precedes one of the network's largest planned token releases. It's a classic play: grease the wheels for a potential wave of new participants and liquidity just as a significant portion of the supply hits the market.

Streamlining for Scale

The upgrade targets the notorious Know Your Customer bottleneck. By cutting verification wait times, Pi aims to convert its massive user base from 'miners' to fully functional wallet holders faster than ever. The goal is clear—activate the community and deepen network engagement before the unlock clock hits zero.

A Calculated Gambit

This isn't just a tech upgrade; it's market mechanics in motion. Faster KYC means more users can potentially trade, stake, or sell the newly unlocked tokens. The network is effectively prepping the runway, hoping increased participation will absorb the incoming supply shock and foster organic utility—or at least, that's the optimistic pitch. In crypto, a pre-unlock speed boost often looks less like user empowerment and more like a project frantically building a levee before the dam breaks.

The move sets the stage for a critical liquidity test. Will the accelerated onboarding drive real use, or simply create a faster pipeline to the sell button? The market is about to find out.

Pi Network continues to struggle for momentum even as major cryptocurrencies rebound. While Bitcoin has climbed back above $94,000 and ethereum has moved beyond $3,200 in early December, PI has gone in the opposite direction. The token is down about 12% this week and is trading slightly above $0.22, highlighting weak sentiment in the short term.

But behind the scenes, the Pi team is rolling out one of its most significant upgrades yet—an improvement they believe will finally ease verification delays and help millions MOVE toward Mainnet.

Pi Network AI Upgrade Cuts KYC Delays 

To help users who are stuck in the verification queue, Pi Network has revamped its KYC system with new AI-powered tools. According to the team, these updates have reduced pending manual reviews by 50%, speeding up the process for users trying to become Mainnet-ready.

The upgrade relies on the same automated technology used in Fast Track KYC, introduced in September to help new users set up Mainnet wallets without completing 30 mining sessions. Fast Track is no longer a separate shortcut; it is now fully merged into the Standard KYC process, creating a simpler and more consistent verification flow.

This change comes at a crucial time for the project.

Pi Token Unlock December 

Pi Network is preparing for a December unlock of 190 million tokens—worth more than $40 million at current prices. With millions still waiting for verification, the team is trying to avoid potential congestion during one of its biggest events of the year.

The latest AI upgrades also make the verification system flexible enough for future use. Apps built within the PI ecosystem may eventually rely on Pi’s human-verified identity layer, giving the KYC system broader utility beyond Mainnet migration.

Progress on Validator Rewards and a Growing Ecosystem

The Pi team also announced progress on long-awaited validator rewards, which are expected to go live by the end of Q1 2026. The delay is due to the massive amount of network data collected since 2021 that still needs to be processed.

So far, 17.5 million users have passed KYC and 15.7 million have reached Mainnet. Around 3 million users still need to complete additional steps, and the team is encouraging them to finish soon.

In addition to technical upgrades, Pi Network has recently entered the EU’s MiCA regulatory framework, giving it a stronger foothold in Europe. It has also partnered with CiDi Games to integrate Pi into Web3 gaming experiences, creating more ways for Pioneers to engage with the ecosystem.

Despite the recent price decline, Pi Network is moving through one of its most important growth phases, and the December unlock will test how prepared the project truly is.