The Pi Network, the decentralized project famous for its mobile-first mining approach, just dropped a seismic announcement: Pi Network invests $100m into startups building blockchain applications. Revealed today, May 15, 2025, the Pi Foundation—the ownerless entity steering the network—is channeling 10% of its reserved Pi tokens into a venture fund aimed at turbocharging ecosystem growth. This move marks a pivotal shift from theoretical decentralization to actionable support for real-world utility.
According to Pi Network’s X post, the fund will target high-quality startups across sectors, from DeFi and NFTs to supply chain solutions and AI-driven dApps. Unlike traditional VC models, the foundation plans to distribute grants, equity investments, and strategic Pi token allocations to projects demonstrating scalability and alignment with Pi’s vision. Startups will undergo rigorous vetting by a council of developers, community leaders, and external advisors, ensuring funds flow to innovators poised to integrate Pi Coin into their ecosystems.
Price drama: buy the rumor, sell the news?
Traders are torn. The 24-hour nosedive suggests profit-taking after the week’s rally. The Pi Network’s bombshell $100 million startup investment, announced yesterday (May 14, 2025), sent shockwaves through crypto, but the market’s reaction has been anything but straightforward. While Pi’s price surged 42.66% over the past week in anticipation of the news, the 24 hours post-announcement saw a brutal 27.87% drop to $0.88, leaving traders scratching their heads.
Pi’s 31.28% monthly gain hints at optimism for the fund’s potential to boost utility, but the 47.95% quarterly crash (from $1.70 to $0.88) screams skepticism. Critics argue that unlocking 10% of Pi’s reserves risks inflating its 7.1 billion token supply, though the team’s five-year vesting plan aims to curb panic selling. Pi’s $6.3B market cap now hinges on whether these funded projects can turn the token into a must-have for apps. If they deliver real-world use cases, Pi could flip this bearish narrative.
Short-term, it’s chaos. Long-term? Pi’s betting $100M that startups can morph its token from “that thing you mined on your phone” into blockchain’s next utility champ.
Ripple effects across crypto
Pi Network’s $100m play isn’t just about Pi. It’s a challenge to the crypto status quo. By prioritizing ecosystem building over speculative hype, Pi is pioneering a blueprint for sustainable growth. Competitors like Solana and Polygon have launched similar funds, but Pi’s “ownerless” structure adds intrigue. Decisions are community-influenced, blending DAO-like governance with expert oversight, a hybrid model that could redefine how blockchain projects scale.
For newcomers, Pi’s move demystifies crypto’s real-world potential. Imagine a farmer in Kenya using a Pi-backed agri-dApp to track crops or a gamer earning Pi through NFT trades. This isn’t just an investment; it’s onboarding the next million users.
The bottom line
Pi Network invests $100 million not just in startups but in its own future. While short-term price swings are inevitable, the long-term vision is clear: transform Pi Coin from a mined asset into the lifeblood of a thriving digital economy. As the fund’s first beneficiaries emerge, one question lingers: Will Pi’s gamble turn it into the next Ethereum or serve as a cautionary tale? For now, the crypto world is watching and trading with bated breath.
