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Pi Network’s PI token rose 6.66% to $0.0822 after the Core Team started Protocol 26 and set an August 11 deadline for node operators. The token outpaced the broader crypto market’s 0.71% daily rise and reclaimed the $0.08 level. Meanwhile, Bitcoin held near $64,000 after the Federal Reserve kept rates at 3.50% to 3.75%.
The Pi Core Team announced the rollout on Wednesday and directed operators to its node page. Operators must complete the update by August 11 to maintain their Mainnet connection. The team said the migration should take less than five minutes under normal conditions. It also advised operators against updating every node simultaneously.
In rare cases, restarts may take longer. Therefore, the team instructed operators to allow each restart to finish before taking further action. Protocol 26 marks Pi Network’s ninth protocol upgrade in recent months. Protocol 27 will close the current sequence of Mainnet updates. Together, the two releases will bring the Mainnet in line with the network’s latest protocol features and functions.
PI extended its rise post the upgrade announcement and moved above $0.08. The token had also gained over 3.5% in mid-July following the redesign of the mining app. Despite the latest advance, the recovery remains limited across longer periods. PI fell 11.7% over seven days and 29% over 30 days.
Earlier upgrades produced similar market reactions. Pi Network activated Protocol 25 on July 22, while PI briefly reached $0.103 before losing the $0.10 level. Can the August 11 deadline produce more than another brief PI rebound?
Supply may continue to limit upward movement. PiScan data showed about 4.25 million PI unlocking each day. Meanwhile, PiScan’s schedule places roughly 1.71 billion PI into circulation over 12 months. The added supply could shape price action around the next upgrade deadline.
Bitcoin traded just below $64,000 after sharp moves surrounding the Federal Reserve decision. The central bank kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%. BTC climbed toward $64,600 and later slipped near $63,200 during the event. It then settled between those levels as volatility eased.
Previously, Bitcoin rallied from below $64,000 to a monthly peak of $67,000. Sellers rejected that move before the asset fell below $62,800 ahead of the meeting. Bitcoin’s market value stood near $1.280 trillion. At the same time, its share of the wider crypto market slipped to 56.3%.
Also Read: Pi Network Price Falls as Whale Holdings and Token Unlocks Loom
Most large-cap altcoins posted small losses. HYPE fell 3% below $54, while DOGE declined more than 1%. ETH, XRP, SOL, and RAIN slipped by as much as 1%. In contrast, UNI and BEAT gained between 4% and 5%.
Talus rose 20% in one day and 600% over one month. Consequently, the token entered the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market value.
Pi Network’s Protocol 26 rollout lifted PI above $0.08, but weekly and monthly losses remain substantial. The August 11 node deadline creates the next event to watch, while scheduled token unlocks and earlier short-lived rebounds continue to shape the market backdrop.
