Pi Network News: Launchpad Explorer, Protocol 28, and Price Today Pi Network news today points to a real infrastructure milestone. The official Pi BlockExplorer has added a dedicated "Launchp
Pi Network news today points to a real infrastructure milestone. The official Pi BlockExplorer has added a dedicated "Launchpad Tokens" section, and it now lives directly on the Mainnet side of the explorer.
No tokens populate that section yet, but building the tracking layer before the coins arrive is exactly how core Pi blockchain infrastructure gets rolled out.
The Pi launchpad section is visible on the live Mainnet explorer interface, which is about as concrete a confirmation as infrastructure updates get. Right now it shows zero listed tokens on Mainnet, with a note directing users to Testnet for working examples.
That gap between "built" and "populated" is normal for a network staging a new system, and it puts Pi in a position to activate real ecosystem coins without needing to build the tracking tools from scratch later.
New feature: dedicated "Launchpad Tokens" section, live now
Current Mainnet-listings: none yet
Testnet listings shown as reference: IRRA and SLICE
Significance: tracking infrastructure built ahead of actual token activity, not after
Pi Launchpad itself is the official system for issuing ecosystem tokens tied to working apps rather than pure fundraising. All Pi committed during a launch flows directly into a liquidity pool paired with the new token, which builds real liquidity from the first transaction instead of routing funds to a project team.
The two reference tokens already carry real testing data, even while confined to Testnet.
IRRA: LP price of 2.4983 Test-Pi, market cap of 51.21M
SLICE: LP price of 2.4902 Test-Pi, market cap of 51.05M
IRRA launched around Pi Day 2026 and pulled in hundreds of thousands of participants during its first run. SLICE followed in June 2026, tied to the "Slice of Pi" game, and refined how commitment sizing and engagement bonuses work.
Both stay Testnet-only by design and will not move to Mainnet themselves. However, the mechanics they tested are exactly what the new BlockExplorer section is built to track once real tokens launch.
This explorer change lands alongside a separate but related infrastructure push. Pi Testnet has already moved to Protocol 28, following Protocol 27's completion on Mainnet.
Node upgrade deadline: October 13, 2026
Mainnet switch date: October 16, 2026
Core improvements: smoother handling of delayed transaction data, batch smart-contract upgrades, and safer stored-data migrations for developers
Source: X Official
None of this changes the mining app directly, but it strengthens the exact groundwork that Launchpad and DEX activity depend on.
These changes also sit on top of a fast Pi upgrade sequence throughout 2026. Protocol 27 was described at the time as the "final planned" upgrade in that intensive catch-up cycle, yet Protocol 28 was already listed on the official node path before 27 even finished rolling out.
Pi network price today shows a strong recovery as the broader crypto market cools. Market activity has picked up alongside the infrastructure news.
Source: CoinMarketCap Official
PI price: $0.0910, up 5.52% over 24 hours
Market cap: $1.02 billion
24-hour volume: $10.4 million, up 7.8%
24-hour range: $0.08692 low to $0.09224 high
All-time high: $2.98, set February 26, 2025
All-time low: $0.07072, set July 14, 2026
For broader context, Bitcoin price is slightly down today but remains up nearly 3.64% over the past week. BTC currently trades near $84,213. PI's 24-hour gain stands out as a project-specific move tied to the explorer update rather than a market-wide rally.
Two threads now run in parallel toward the same outcome. The BlockExplorer already has a home ready for real ecosystem tokens, and Protocol 28 strengthens the exact contract and consensus layer those tokens will run on once live.
Neither piece has an announced date for the first actual Mainnet token, and no detailed public roadmap for the Protocol 28 afterward has surfaced yet. The most likely near-term markers are the October 16 Mainnet switch confirming v28 as planned, followed by continued testing on Launchpad mechanics before any token graduates off Testnet.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Crypto markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.
