Pi Coin Rises 2% As Crypto Market Weakness Extends

While most of the crypto market is falling, it’s rare to see money moving in the opposite direction. But this is what Pi coin did today, March 19, 2026. While the crypto market fell by almost 4%, Pi coin rose by 2%.

At press time, the price of the token stands at $0.1762 with an uptick of 2.03% in the last 24 hours according to CoinMarketCap.

This increase, although small, has attracted the attention of investors, especially at a time when the main crypto market is struggling.

The Big Change That Changed Everything

According to the X post, the Pi Network has officially completed a major step in its development path with the successful update of the Mainnet to Protocol 20. The change, as confirmed by the Pi Core team, also includes all major Pi nodes moving to version 20.2. This migration will ensure that there is full support for the new protocol across the network.

The Pi Mainnet has been successfully upgraded to Protocol 20, laying the foundation for supporting smart contracts. Node users, please make sure your system is up to date and stay tuned for v21 upgrade instructions.

-Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) March 19, 2026

The upgrade is important because it lays the groundwork for implementing smart contracts (automated software that can authorize apps, payments and transactions automatically without intermediaries) on the Pi.

Another thing that was revealed in one of X’s posts is that instead of launching all at once, the network plans to launch smart contracts in phases. As Pi Network administrators have highlighted, the main goal will be the real thing.

All major Pi nodes have now been upgraded to 20.2 and support protocol 20. Pi has also completed the upgrade of the Mainnet blockchain to protocol 20.

Protocol 20 provides a framework for developing smart technologies, and issuing smart contracts… pic.twitter.com/fxxqgABmdI

-Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) March 18, 2026

The exact types of smart contracts and other data will depend on how the environment evolves and what developers and users need most.

Also, the team also explained the next step which is Protocol 21. In this upgrade, the node operators have been asked to maintain their systems and be ready for other instructions, showing that the development is progressing.

Pi Day Rally Followed by Sharp Corrections

After the day of Pi, March 14, the symbol increased in value. The meeting was driven by environmental changes and the hype created around the brand. In addition to this, Pi coin is also listed on Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, which brings new interest and marketing.

Coming tomorrow: $PI@PiCoreTeam Pi Network is the first Layer-1 blockchain platform and architecture platform that has a stable environment on a verifiable mainnet.

Post-auto mode, deposits were introduced.

The auction starts on March 13 at 15:00 UTC

Get ready → https://t.co/sncSsMhRi3 pic.twitter.com/INdfG8WMjr

– Kraken Listings (@krakenlistings) March 12, 2026

At the peak of the session, Pi coin rose to the $0.3 range and soon after, the price of Pi coin dropped by 30%. Such declines are more common in crypto as early buyers and short-term traders take profits. This in turn increases the selling pressure and pushes prices down.

According to experts, Pi Network is holding an important share between $0.16 and $0.17. If the price of Pi coin can stay above $0.17, it can go above $0.20. This is the next level where the pressure to sell can increase.

Pi Coin Unlock Scheduled for March 20th

However, there is a big concern here. According to Pi Scan, tomorrow, March 20, approximately 16 million Pi coins are scheduled to be unlocked and will begin circulation. This opening will increase the supply of tokens, which will create pressure to sell and push down the price of the token, unless the high demand absorbs it.

So, until now, the mind is neutral. The latest update is good and the price drop looks good. But the real test is the significance of the signs. Will the consumers be able to get the new products that will come after the opening? Only time will tell.

Also Price of Pi Network Dips Below $0.18 Despite Signs of Market Recovery