Can I really buy it at Pi Coin? Please take a look here!

Key takeout

Pi Coin finally got live on Open Mainnet in February 2025, unlocking real use cases a few years after the closure beta.

You can use PI coins, but most can be used within the P2P community and within the KYC-enhanced PI app. Mainstream adoption is still in its early stages.

PI is now available for trading on several CEXs, including OKX, Bitget, and MEXC, but Binance has not yet listed despite the voters of over 2 million users who are lobbying their list.

Seller recruitment is growing slowly, with real products and services being exchanged for PIs in localized markets and app-based ecosystems.

Pi, often called People’s Cryptography, is a decentralized project that runs without the need for GPU or gas fees. But five years after Mainnet was released in 2021, the $1 million questions are still hanging down into the air. Can I actually buy anything with Pi Coin in 2025?

Dive into the real-world ease of use of PI networks and answer what every PI miners and curiosity crypto observer wonders. Do PI coins work in real life, or are they just theoretical digital dust?

What is Pi Coin and what attracts the attention around it in 2025?

It was released in March 2019 by the PhD of Stanford – the trio of Nicholas Coccaris, Chendiaofan and Vincent McPhilippe. PI networks were established to solve one of the core cryptographic problems: accessibility.

Unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, which require specialized hardware, PI Coin is designed to mine directly from a smartphone without draining batteries or data. Ideas? Democratize codes from the palm of your hand.

The PI network quickly went viral and spread through invitation-only mining that produced a sense of exclusivity and social virality. By 2021, the app had surpassed 20 million engaged users or “pioneers,” and by the second half of 2023 its number reached 47 million, making it one of the world’s largest foresightful crypto communities.

Here’s a quick timeline for key moments:

March 2019: PI Network launches beta versions of the app on Android and iOS.

2020-2021: User growth will accelerate through referrals. The PI phase moves towards the testnet.

December 2021: Closed mainnets will be released. PI transactions remain within the ecosystem.

2022–2024: Over 100 PI apps built for testing in a closed economy.

February 2025: PI Network officially launches the official mainnet, allowing blockchain interaction with the outside world.

This much-anticipated mainnet move has led to the PI (PI) coins being listed in the central exchange (CEXS) and opening doors used outside the sandbox. Finally, we are approaching our goal of becoming a real digital currency for everyday use of our projects.

From ambitious student projects to one of the most downloaded cryptographic apps of all time, PI Network’s journey has never been a norm. But now that technology is live trading, the big problem is: Can you actually use PI coins to buy things?

Did you know? Over 2 million users voted for Binance to list Pi Coin, but Binance is completely silent. The PI Network boasts a fully launched mainnet with 47 million users, but the world’s largest exchange has not occurred. why? Some say it’s a lack of decentralization. Others refer to a controlled KYC rollout. In any case, even the code reminds us that even the Virus army can’t force gatekeepers to open doors.

Where can I buy Pi Coin in 2025?

After the launch of the PI Network’s Open Mainnet in February 2025, PI Coin is now available to trade on several cryptocurrency exchanges. As of April 2025, PI Coins are listed on the following exchanges:

OKX: One of the first PIs to offer trading pairs such as PI/USDT.

BITGET: Provides liquidity and a user-friendly interface for PI trading.

MEXC: Another early adopter supporting PI trading pairs.

BitMart: Supports PI trading, but some lists may be Ious.

HTX (formerly Huobi): I’ve listed the PIs, but based on the IOU list.

Despite community efforts, including over 2 million votes, Binance has not listed Pi Coin as of April 2025. Concerns about blockchain compatibility, transparency and regulatory issues are touted as reasons for hesitation.

Did you know? Many PI coin lists in exchange are actually ious, but this is not true. These “I Owe You” tokens are speculative placeholders not supported by the MainNet PI. This means that it cannot be withdrawn or used within the PI network ecosystem. It’s like exchanging tickets for a movie that hasn’t been released for a movie that’s yet to be released for the first time. Always check if you are purchasing an actual PI token or if it’s just a promise.

What can you actually buy from Pi Coin?

This is where things become (or less realistic). You may not have purchased Tesla with PI (yet), but the PI community has documented purchases such as:

T-shirts, mugs, phone accessories

Freelance Graphic Design Service

Basic electronics and gadgets

Food, drinks, small restaurant meals (localized PI events)

Handmade crafts and collectibles.

catch? Most of these transactions take place through social media groups, Telegram chat, or PI’s own ecosystem apps, such as PI browsers and PI chat. These platforms act as informal markets and often rely on trust and reputation rather than formal escrow systems.

So, Pi is not primetime ready in major retail environments, but it works in a grassroots, community-driven way. Think of it as a barter system with crypto talent rather than a fully integrated payment network. At least for now.

PI Network Merchant List – Facts or Fiction?

Looking for a list of your favorite retailers, you’ll be disappointed if you search for “stores accepted by Pi Coin” on Google.

There is no official PI network merchant list that guarantees where PIs are accepted. Instead, recruitment is grassroots and highly localized. One group of Indonesian PI pioneers may be able to purchase food with PI, while another group will use it for top-up mobile data. However, it is difficult to track, standardize, or verify.

It’s still too early to recruit merchants, but they’ve gained traction.

With Pi Network’s open mainnet now live, conversations are no longer about “IF” PI being integrated with the wider crypto ecosystem. This is the speed at which you can ride a real merchant or use case.

One promising trend is the rise in PI apps that customers (KYC) have verified, a platform that users and businesses need to complete identity verification before joining the PI economy. This trust layer will help PI networks create a more legitimate commercial environment. Merchants are confident that they will accept Pi Coin as payment.

In the months since the launch of the Open Mainnet, PI Network developers and communities are focusing on scaling real-world integrations, including:

Local companies in countries such as Nigeria, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines accept PIs for their products and services.

PI Chain Malls and other markets enable digital commerce with PI.

Third-party integrations have been tested to connect PIs with distributed finance (DEFI) protocols, cross-chain bridges, and inappropriate token (NFT) platforms.

The PI browser and PI app allow Decentralized Applications (DAPP) developers to launch new payment-enabled services using MainNet PI.

Over 100 PI apps have already been built during the TestNet phase, and the PI Network, a global military of KYC-Verified users, has the tools to grow your real, scalable economy. Whether it turns into a bustling merchant network or a niche payments group depends on what the community builds next.

That said, interest in onboarding merchants has been growing through KYC-validated PI apps, slowly suggesting a potentially scalable adoption model.

Currently, Open MainNet Live is also expected to launch integrated Defi protocols, distributed exchanges (DEX), and NFT marketplaces. If these integrations are successful, it could unlock critical use cases beyond the PI bubble.

Did you know? Pifest In 2025, over 1.8 million users were engaged in transactions using PI coins spanning 58,000 active merchants worldwide. The event introduced the increased real-world adoption of PI networks and the potential to promote daily commerce.

Is Pi Coin ready for real-world payments?

Let’s be honest: Pi Coin is not a Visa Killer at this time. They are not ready to bolster global commerce or compete with Salvador Bitcoin. However, Crypto payments act as a testbed on what it looks like when driven by community trust rather than institutional support.

Think of it as a local barter system for cryptosteroids, not a universal payment tool.

If the PI network nails open mainnet rollouts and extends merchant onboarding with real compliance and liquidity support, 2025 can mark the moment when Pi moves from a playful experiment to a real candidate.

Final Verdict: Can I buy one at Pi Coin?

Yes – but there are restrictions.

You can use Pi Coin, but it can only be used in select peer-to-peer (P2P) markets run by Pi Pipioneers, community-driven stores, or pilot programs. Most of it still happens in closed circuits where there is no large merchant integration yet.

But is that really a problem?

Probably not. After all, it wasn’t that different in the early days of Bitcoin – experimental, niche, and often dismissed.

At the time, buying pizza with Bitcoin (BTC) was a groundbreaking experience. Currently, BTC is located in the Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) portfolio and the Ministry of Corporate Finance.

Whether a PI network breaks through or fades obscurely depends on what happens next. It’s about the clarity of regulations and whether networks can scale beyond internal communities.

Devotees or skeptics, one thing is certain. The real world testing of the PI network economy is just beginning – and the world is watching.