Pi Network Strengthens Trust With Founder Confirmation and DEX Shift

Pi Network moved to shut down long-running rumors this week after fresh confirmation from its founder and CTO, Nicolas Kokkalis. A widely shared safety notice reaffirmed that Kokkalis operates only one official Pi account and works only on Pi Network. He also teaches one class a year at Stanford. Nothing more. No side projects, no token promotions and no outside advisory roles.

Nicolas Kokkalis has faced repeated attempts by third parties to link his name to unrelated crypto projects. This latest confirmation draws a hard line under that noise. The message is simple. If it does not come from Pi Network, it does not involve him. For many Pioneers, this direct stance brings relief. The project has grown into a global community and with that size comes misinformation. This update trims the confusion and strengthens trust at a sensitive stage of Pi’s roadmap.

Pi DEX Interface Shifts Toward Real Trading

At the same time, Pi wallet swap interface quietly changed. The update looks minor at first glance. But the signals tell a bigger story. The swap flow now mirrors standard decentralized exchanges. It follows a clear Sell-to-Buy path. The interface now shows slippage and direct transaction fees. It also uses automated market maker logic.

More importantly, users are no longer seeing test-only behavior. Instead, the flow now looks like real Pi DEX execution. This suggests Pi Network is moving from simulated test swaps toward production-grade trading mechanics. The next logical step appears to be liquidity pools and a deeper mainnet connection. While Pi has not released an official timeline, the shift in user interface usually comes late in the build cycle. That is why many in the community view this as a technical countdown rather than a visual redesign.

Mining Rate Sees Its Strongest Jump in Two Years

Alongside the product shifts, Pi Network also adjusted its mining economics. The base mining rate rose 13.59% this month, which marks its strongest increase in nearly two years. The change ties directly to network adjustments as Pi moves closer to a more mature open economy model. Higher mining output does not mean uncontrolled supply. 

Instead, it reflects changes in contribution weight, security checks, and KYC expansion. Pi recently crossed 3.36 million successful KYC validations, with reported progress nearing 98%. That level of verification reshapes how the system allocates rewards. In simple terms, Pi Network is now rewarding verified participation more directly. The days of loose test-era distribution are tapering off.

Trust and Utility Rise Together

These three signals work in sync. Founder clarity strengthens public trust. The Pi DEX shift pushes real utility forward. The mining update realigns incentives toward committed users. None of these elements alone would change Pi’s trajectory. Together, they form a reinforcement cycle. Trust matters most before full open network conditions. Once external liquidity arrives, misinformation moves fast. By settling identity and authority now, Pi Network reduces future reputational risk. 

Meanwhile, the Pi DEX interface shift hints that Pi wants its economy to function before it speculates. That is a sharp contrast to many networks that prioritize market hype first and infrastructure later. Pi Network still moves slower than aggressive Layer 1 rivals. But its current moves show coordination, not chaos. The founder is visible when needed. The product is tightening. And the network incentives are adjusting with intent. For Pioneers, the message is clear. The transition phase is no longer theoretical. It is happening quietly, step by step, inside the system.