Pi Network (PI) vs Ice Blockchain (ICE): Mobile Mining Powerhouses

Recently, two platforms have emerged as top players in the world of mobile-accessible cryptocurrencies. Pi Network and Ice Open Network (ION) have both continued to thrive due to their unique offerings, making crypto available to the masses with less hassle. With the aim to democratize access to digital systems, the two protocols have leveraged the use of mobile devices to onboard a large number of users in the blockchain industry. 

Although they share similarities, their technical foundations, approaches, and recent developments reveal diverse paths toward actualizing their vision. As with every comparative analysis, this content is a deep dive into both ecosystems, observing key areas and comparing both protocols. Let us dive deep into their background, features, adoption, technical infrastructure, and more. 

The Origins of Pi Network and Ice Open Network

By now, the story of Pi Network should be like a nursery rhyme. The protocol, initiated by a team of Stanford graduates in 2019, focused on making crypto accessible to many users by allowing them to mine with their smartphones. Part of the ways by which the protocol grows its user base significantly is through its referral-based model. Recently, on February 20, 2025,  Pi celebrated a remarkable milestone, transitioning from an enclosed mainnet to an Open Network after many years of development. This move marked a significant shift toward offering real-world utility. 

On the other hand, ION  is a relatively new player, having entered the space in 2023. The protocol positions itself as a Layer-1 blockchain designed to bring the internet onchain, emphasizing user control over data, digital interactions, and identity. The team is focused on creating a decentralized economy, offering a scalable and high-performance infrastructure for users and developers. The protocol’s mainnet also went live early this year, on January 29, 2025. 

From a comparative perspective, Ice Open Network is a newer protocol that is more focused on blockchain infrastructure, while Pi Network is more channeled to the idea of mobile mining and community expansion. ION’s quick launch compared to Pi’s gradual process reflects different strategic priorities. 

Key Features 

Here is a quick overview of both platform’s key features: 

Ice Open Network:

ION is built for scalability and speed. The protocol boasts the ability to handle 1.2M Transactions Per Second (TPS). Here are the key features of the platform:

• Scalability: ION is a Layer-1 blockchain with horizontal scaling to handle growing user demand in the blockchain industry. 
• dApp Ecosystem: The platform offers a plug-and-play toolkit for developers, allowing them to build Decentralized Applications (dApp). This toolkit also supports digital identity, social platforms, and secures storage with privacy and censorship resistance. 
• Model: ION is praised for its Open-Source model, which offers transparency. The blockchain platform’s codebase is accessible, fostering trust and developer confidence to collaborate and build utility-focused applications and services. 
• Native Asset: ION is backed by ICE coin, which powers transactions, staking, and governance, with a circulating supply of 6.6 billion and a total supply of 21.15 billion. 

Pi Network:

Pi Network is a mining-focused blockchain infrastructure, allowing users to mine its native PI coin with their mobile with little or no battery drain and without external hardware. Here’s a quick look at the protocol’s key features:

• Scalability: The blockchain is built on the Stellar Consensus Protocol, offering a lightweight mining process meant for mobile devices. 
• dApp Ecosystem: The platform emphasizes a social peer-to-peer ecosystem, as outlined in the recent Pi Day celebration on March 15. Pi Network wants to foster a growing app marketplace where users can collaborate and make transactions using PI. 
• Model: Unlike ION, Pi Network’s codebase is closed. 
• Native Asset: Pi is backed by the PI coin users have mined over the years. Its total supply is 100 billion, and circulation depends on the dynamics post mainnet. As of writing, the circulating supply is 6.8 billion. 

Comparing both platform’s key features, we believe ION stands out in terms of technical performance and developer tools. On the other hand, Pi offers simplicity for users through its mobile mining interface. The central talking point, however, is the model, which has sparked debate between developers and crypto enthusiasts. Many believe the Open-source model offers trust and transparency for every blockchain infrastructure. 

User Base, Adoption, and Recent Developments

Pi Network is superior when it comes to the user base and adoption. According to recent findings, the mobile mining blockchain has recorded over 60 million engaged users. In contrast, ION highlighted on its official website that it has recorded over 40 million—both protocols achieved this landmark due to the referral system put in place. 

Regarding adoption, the two protocols have leveraged similar events to boost user participation. For instance, Pi Network bolstered its adoption through events like PiFest, encouraging local businesses to integrate PI into transactions. ION also launched strategic partnerships, including a milestone listing on Kucoin, an exchange that is yet to list PI. This established ICE’s market presence in the industry. 

Both platforms have been making significant moves in terms of recent developments. As stated earlier, they have both launched mainnet to the public, and established strategic partnerships and events. As of writing, brand ambassadors have started launching community social applications on ION, representing key progress in its adoption. Like Pi Network, the protocol took to X to announce its progress on March 15. 

Community Sentiment and Transparency

This is the most important metric for comparing both protocols. According to Certik Skynet's score, PI has a B, recording 62.88. In contrast, ION boasts a score of 92, indicating top marks in its infrastructure's operational, code security, governance, and fundamental aspects. This raises eyebrows in Pi Network’s development with ION getting a standout with its open-source model.

In the meantime, ION is praised for its transparency and technical prowess, while PI has lingering trust issues within its ecosystem, even with its more extensive community. 

What's Your Pick?

ION and Pi Network, while having similar beliefs, are two sides of the same coin. ION, with its scalable infrastructure, open-source model, and rapid market integration, offers a strong appeal for users looking for a robust Web3 platform. Even with the skepticism within the community due to transparency issues, PI Network offers simplicity, targeting inclusivity via its mobile mining infrastructure. 

ION is focused on developer-driven growth, while PI is focused on empowering the community to drive adoption. Choosing the right platform ultimately depends on transparency, accessibility, and community scaling. The truth, however, remains that both platforms are pushing boundaries and shaping the future of decentralized technology.