Pi Network Expands Ecosystem With Testnet DEX and AMM Integration, Ends Domain Auction Initiative

The Pi Network, a project often surrounded by both enthusiasm and skepticism, has announced new strides in expanding its ecosystem. At the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore, co-founder Dr. Chengdiao Fan unveiled decentralized exchange (DEX) and automated market maker (AMM) features, marking a key step toward enabling the community to experiment with decentralized finance (DeFi) tools directly within the Pi blockchain environment.

The announcement signals Pi Network’s ambition to broaden its ecosystem beyond mobile mining and basic wallet functions. With DEX and AMM functionality now available on Testnet, developers and users—known within the project as “Pioneers”—will be able to explore token swaps, liquidity pools, and other decentralized trading features. The move is designed not only to expand utility but also to provide educational opportunities for users new to DeFi.

Still in the Testing Phase

During her presentation, Dr. Fan clarified that while these features are currently active on Testnet, access to Mainnet remains restricted. However, the Pi Wallet interface will begin displaying options for token swaps and liquidity pools, linking users directly to the Testnet environment.

“Mainnet restricts this functionality for now, but the interface in the Pi Wallet will display these options and link users to the Testnet environment,” Fan explained. “These features are innate on the protocol level of the Pi blockchain and allow the community to build their own DEX and AMM interfaces.”

The decision reflects Pi Network’s cautious approach in deploying potentially disruptive features. By limiting access to Testnet, the project ensures that developers and Pioneers can explore functionalities, test integrations, and identify potential vulnerabilities without risking real assets. Once the testing period concludes and results prove satisfactory, the features are expected to roll out to Mainnet, enabling real PI token transactions.

Education Through Experimentation

For Pi Network, the integration of a DEX and AMM on Testnet is not only about advancing technical capabilities but also about user education. Fan emphasized that the rollout is intended to help Pioneers understand the basics of DeFi before diving into the higher-stakes environment of Mainnet trading.

By simulating token creation, liquidity provision, and swaps, users can gain first-hand experience in how decentralized markets function. Developers will be able to mint coins on the Testnet blockchain, experiment with liquidity pools, and create mock trading pairs. Importantly, this will give the community insight into how decentralized trading differs from centralized exchanges, where a third-party entity controls order books and custody.

Documentation to guide developers and users through this process is expected in the coming weeks. The Pi Network team has also stressed that token creation on Mainnet remains restricted, underscoring their phased and risk-managed approach.

Building the Foundations of a DeFi Ecosystem

The integration of DEX and AMM functionalities suggests that Pi Network is moving beyond its initial identity as a mobile-first mining app. Over the years, the project has faced criticism for its long-running development phase and limited real-world use cases. The new features, however, show a determination to build the infrastructure necessary for Pi to compete with established DeFi ecosystems on blockchains such as Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Solana.

The success of Pi Network’s DEX and AMM could also determine how well the project can position itself in the broader DeFi market. Token swaps and liquidity pools are the building blocks of decentralized finance, enabling lending, borrowing, staking, and other advanced financial products. By embedding these at the protocol level, Pi Network could offer its users more than just speculative asset holding—it could provide real tools for financial innovation.

The End of the .pi Domains Auction

Alongside its technical upgrades, Pi Network also closed a community initiative that sought to strengthen user identity and ecosystem engagement. The .pi Domains Auction, which launched in mid-June, officially concluded on September 30.

The auction allowed Pioneers to bid for unique domain names that could replace long, complex blockchain wallet addresses composed of strings of letters and numbers. The initiative was intended to simplify transactions and enhance personalization within the Pi ecosystem.

The auction followed a rolling extension mechanism: if a bid was placed within the last 24 hours, the auction for that domain automatically extended for another 24 hours. This system ensured fairness and prevented last-minute bidding wars from disadvantaging participants.

At the conclusion of the auction, winning bidders secured the rights to their chosen domains. The Pi Network team has confirmed that a data review phase will now take place over approximately two months, after which eligible users can begin claiming their domains.

Why Domains Matter for Blockchain Usability

The .pi Domains Auction highlights Pi Network’s attention to user experience. In the blockchain world, usability remains a significant barrier to mainstream adoption. Wallet addresses, often lengthy and prone to errors when copied, can discourage new users from participating in transactions. By allowing Pioneers to adopt human-readable domain names, Pi Network is aligning with a trend already seen in other ecosystems, such as Ethereum Name Service (ENS) on Ethereum.

This move could make sending and receiving PI tokens more intuitive, helping Pi appeal to a wider demographic beyond early crypto enthusiasts. Combined with upcoming DEX and AMM features, the initiative suggests that Pi is aiming to create a comprehensive ecosystem that merges accessibility with innovation.

A Project in Transition

The dual announcements of Testnet DeFi tools and the conclusion of the domains auction reflect Pi Network’s broader strategy: to position itself as a serious blockchain ecosystem rather than just a social mining app. With more than 35 million users globally, Pi Network has one of the largest communities in crypto, but its long roadmap has tested patience.

Still, Pi’s leadership argues that its careful, phased approach is precisely what will enable it to transition successfully into Mainnet operations without compromising security or user trust. The combination of technical rollouts and community-driven initiatives could help the project prove its critics wrong.

Looking Ahead

The next few months will be crucial for Pi Network. Developers will continue experimenting with DEX and AMM features on Testnet, while the broader community waits for Mainnet deployment. At the same time, the two-month review of the .pi Domains Auction will determine how quickly new user identities can be integrated into the ecosystem.

If successful, these initiatives could help Pi Network move closer to becoming a functional blockchain ecosystem with both utility and scalability. However, challenges remain. The team must prove that its DeFi tools can compete with mature ecosystems and ensure regulatory compliance, particularly as governments increase scrutiny on tokenized assets and decentralized trading platforms.

For Pioneers, the opportunity to experiment on Testnet could be transformative. Learning how to use liquidity pools, token swaps, and DeFi tools without financial risk provides a foundation that may empower users once Mainnet access becomes available.

As the crypto industry continues to evolve, Pi Network’s approach of balancing education, experimentation, and ecosystem expansion could position it uniquely among blockchain projects seeking mainstream adoption.

Source: cmcnews

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