Pi Network Confirmed as Block Sponsor at Consensus 2025, Founder to Speak

Pi Network has been confirmed as a block sponsor for Consensus 2025, one of the leading Web3 and cryptocurrency conferences worldwide. The network's co-founder, Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, will also address attendees as a featured speaker at the event scheduled for May 14-16, 2025, in Toronto, Canada.

This sponsorship represents a significant milestone for Pi Network, a mobile-first blockchain platform, as it gains recognition among established industry leaders. The prestigious conference offers Pi an opportunity to showcase its vision for accessible cryptocurrency to a global audience of investors, developers, and industry experts.

Pi Network: Making Cryptocurrency Accessible Since 2019

Pi Network launched on March 14, 2019, founded by Stanford PhDs Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis and Dr. Chengdiao Fan. The platform operates as a Layer 1 blockchain with a specific focus on making cryptocurrency mining accessible to everyday users.

Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that require specialized hardware and significant energy consumption, Pi enables mining through a mobile application with minimal power usage. The network utilizes a modified Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), allowing users—referred to as "Pioneers"—to mine Pi tokens by simply checking in daily through the app.

The network reportedly includes over 70 million users worldwide, with millions having completed Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. This large user base forms a decentralized ecosystem supporting peer-to-peer transactions without centralized control.

In February 2025, Pi Network reached a pivotal milestone with its Open Network phase. While Pi's Mainnet launched in an enclosed phase in December 2021, restricting transactions to its ecosystem, the Open Network removed these barriers, enabling external blockchain connectivity and real-world use cases, like buying goods and services. Many Pioneers view this as the "true" Mainnet launch, as it unlocks Pi's full potential, aligning perfectly with its Consensus 2025 spotlight.

Core Mission

Pi Network's fundamental mission remains democratizing cryptocurrency by making it inclusive and accessible for everyday people rather than limiting it to technical experts or those with expensive mining equipment.

Consensus 2025: A Global Stage for Blockchain Innovation

Consensus 2025, hosted by CoinDesk, stands as the flagship conference for Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency technologies. This year's event in Toronto is expected to draw more than 20,000 attendees from over 100 countries.

The conference will feature hundreds of speakers and generate an estimated 500+ million media impressions. Its focus areas include decentralized finance (DeFi), Web3 innovation, and the integration of artificial intelligence with blockchain technology.

Notable Participants

Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis will represent Pi Network as a speaker, joining other prominent figures such as Eric Trump, Kevin O'Leary, Charles Hoskinson, and representatives from established blockchain projects, including Chainlink, Coinbase, and Stellar. The full list of speakers can be found here.

Once described by Forbes as the "The Super Bowl and World Cup in the blockchain field and the Cannes Film Festival in the Web3 space." Consensus serves as a hub for partnership formation and increased visibility in the blockchain space. Pi's block sponsorship ensures prominent placement throughout the event.

Overcoming Challenges: Pi Network's Journey to Recognition

Since its 2019 launch, Pi Network has faced considerable skepticism from critics. Detractors questioned several aspects of the project, including:

• The delayed launch of its mainnet
• Its referral-based growth model
• The ad-supported mobile application
• Claims that the model was unsustainable

Despite these challenges, Pi Network prioritized security through rigorous KYC verification processes, maintained transparency with its community, and built a robust ecosystem over six years of development.

Key Achievements

Pi's accomplishments include:

• Growing to more than 70 million users globally
• Successfully launching their open network in 2025
• Developing a node network capable of handling over 100,000 transactions per second, according to testnet data shared in X posts

The loyal community of Pioneers has fueled grassroots adoption, demonstrating the viability of Pi's unique approach despite doubts from critics. The Consensus 2025 block sponsorship positions Pi alongside established projects like NEO, Stacks, and Securitize, validating its legitimacy in the blockchain space.

Strategic Importance of the Consensus Sponsorship

The block sponsorship at Consensus 2025 will expose Pi Network to thousands of investors, developers, and regulators, significantly expanding its global presence.

The timing is particularly advantageous, coming after the Open Network launch, as Pi can now demonstrate real utility that aligns with Consensus's focus on practical blockchain applications.

Historical data suggests that conference sponsors typically see up to 8.3 times return on investment (ROI) in terms of visibility. This increased exposure positions Pi for potential growth in adoption and possible exchange listings.

For the millions of Pioneers who have supported the project, this sponsorship represents a validation of their faith in Pi's vision for inclusive cryptocurrency access.

Moving Forward: From Underdog to Web3 Contender

Pi Network's block sponsorship and Dr. Kokkalis's speaking engagement at Consensus 2025 mark a milestone that showcases Pi's evolution from an underdog project to a serious contender in the Web3 space.

As Pi takes the stage at this prestigious event, it is positioned to contribute to the future of decentralized finance by maintaining its focus on accessibility and real-world utility.

The blockchain industry continues to watch Pi Network's progress as it demonstrates how cryptocurrency can become truly accessible to mainstream users worldwide.