Pioneer Journey Notes

Pi Network sign up process.

The Pi Network offers guidance explaining that the app is not meant for people under the age of 13. There are other restrictions mentioned below that would discourage users younger than 18 as well

When a new Pi user signs up to the Pi Network, they can do so with or without an invitation code. An invitation code is essentially the Pi userID of another existing Pi user (aka Pioneer). Typically when someone invites another person to join the Pi Network, they would pass the invitation code (UserID) to the new user. There are benefits to using an invitation code that positively affects the earning rate of both users who then form part of each other’s referral/earning teams but only as long as the other remains an active participant (actively mining). You cannot typically belong to multiple earning/referral teams, however as a referrer you will show as the referrer at the top of the referral/earning team for each person who joined with your invitation code.

Note: Pi only rewards a Pioneer for direct referrals who use their invitation code. There is no multilevel reward – it is not an MLM or pyramid scheme.

Pioneers signing up will have the opportunity to register using their mobile phone number or auth via Facebook account. Apple users will have the additional option of joining via AppleID. 

If a pioneer decides to sign up via phone number, it is vital that the correct country code is selected and the correct phone number is added. There currently is no option offered to change the phone number after signing up with it.

If the number was entered incorrectly, then phone verification as well as password changes will be impossible for the user. At this point in time, there is no option to change your phone number if you previously added it incorrectly or if/when your phone number changes later – this will likely become an option at a later date. 

Phone joiners are also offered an opportunity to connect their Facebook accounts if they wish to do so. Note that the Pi accounts of phone joiners are not automatically verified – they need to manually verify their numbers from the relevant option in their profile page inside the app. 

Conversely, those signing up with Facebook enjoy the benefit of automatic verification with Pi Network. These users also have the opportunity to add their phone numbers to become phone verified as well. There is currently no mechanism to change a connected Facebook account – this may become available at a later date

Having your Pi account verified allows for easy re-authentication, particularly useful in scenarios where Pioneers have been logged out or need to reinstall the app on a new device. Having both Facebook and phone number verified on a Pi account offers two authentication pathways to reinforce their identity within the Pi Network

Pioneers who have a phone number verified against their account, can also be added to security circles by other members outside of their referral team. This is not possible if the user only has their Facebook account verified on the Pi account.

When signing up, the user is asked to pick a userID or handle to use in the chat rooms which has very few restrictions, however it is imperative for the user to enter their real full name into the relevant name fields. The user’s full name will be used for KYC validation later on. If the full name on the Pi account does not match the full name on the ID document used for KYC, then the KYC validation will likely fail.
Users are given a 14 day grace period after signing up to change their names. Once the 14 day grace period passes, no major name changes can be done. Minor name changes can however be requested through an appeal process triggered from within the Pi user’s profile.

The UserID or handle picked by a pioneer is permanently assigned and cannot be changed.

Once the signup process is done, The pioneer is taken through a short tutorial including the step to activate their first 24-hour mining session. The pioneer will then notice their mined Pi total at the top of the screen counting up over time. The total can be hidden by a switch found in the profile page inside of the Pi app. The pioneer also has the option to hide their full name from people in their referral team by flipping the appropriate switch in their profile page.

Although a Pioneer’s 24-hour mining session is activated by tapping the lightning icon on the mobile phone app, the actual mining is not happening on the phone – in other words, the phone’s hardware is not being used for mining. In fact the mining session will continue even if the phone is switched off for the remaining duration.
At this point in the Pioneer’s journey, the Pi earned is not real, but just promissory. It only becomes real after a Pioneer successfully completes KYC validation and has their Pi migrated to their Mainnet wallet.

New users are not able to access the KYC process until after they have completed 30 24-hour mining sessions. Only Pioneers over the age of 18 are currently allowed to apply for KYC.

Welcome to Pi Network – A Cool Way to Learn About Crypto!

Hey there! If you’re curious about cryptocurrency but don’t know where to start, Pi Network is a fun place to begin. But remember, if you’re younger than 13, this app isn’t for you. And there are some other rules that might make it better suited for people over 18. Let’s dive into how you can join and what you need to know!

Joining Pi Network: With or Without a Friend’s Code

When you sign up for Pi Network, you can either use a special code from a friend who’s already a member (we call them Pioneers) or just sign up on your own. If you use a friend’s code, both of you get to earn more of Pi’s digital money whenever you’re both active on the app. But you only get extra points for directly inviting friends, not for friends of friends. So, it’s not like those pyramid schemes you might have heard about.

Ways to Sign Up: Phone, Facebook, or AppleID

You can sign up with your phone number, your Facebook account, or, if you have an Apple device, your AppleID. Each way has its own steps:

Phone Number: Make sure to pick the right country code and enter your phone number correctly because you can’t change it later. If you make a mistake, you won’t be able to verify your account or reset your password.

Facebook: Signing up with Facebook is pretty straightforward. Your account gets automatically verified, and you can also add your phone number later for extra security. 

AppleID: If you’re using an Apple device, you have the option to sign up with your AppleID.

Getting Verified: Why It Matters

Verifying your account, either through your phone or Facebook, is super important. It helps you easily log back in, especially if you get logged out or need to reinstall the app. Plus, if your phone number is verified, other members can add you to their security circles, which isn’t possible with just Facebook verification.

Choosing a UserID and Entering Your Real Name

You’ll need to pick a userID for chatting in the app – The UserID picked by you is permanently assigned and cannot be changed and cannot be changed. Make sure to use your real full name in the profile. This is crucial for later when you go through KYC (Know Your Customer) validation. KYC is a check to make sure you are who you say you are. If the name on your Pi account doesn’t match your ID, you might have trouble. Don’t worry, you have 14 days to change your name if you need to, but after that, major changes aren’t allowed.

Starting Your Mining Adventure

After signing up, you’ll go through a quick tutorial, including starting your first 24-hour mining session. Don’t worry; mining doesn’t use your phone’s battery or data. It’s all just part of the app’s fun way to earn Pi digital money. The Pi you earn at first isn’t ready to spend until you pass the KYC validation and move your Pi to a special wallet.

Earning Real Pi: KYC Validation

Before you can spend your Pi, you need to pass KYC validation. This is where the app checks your ID to make sure everything matches up. You can’t start this process until you’ve completed 30 mining sessions and are over 18.

And that’s pretty much it! Pi Network is a cool way to get started with cryptocurrency, learn about how digital money works, and have fun earning Pi. Just remember the rules, especially about entering your real name and phone number correctly, and you’ll be all set to explore the world of crypto with Pi Network!

1. What is the Pi Network? The Pi Network is a project that allows users to earn cryptocurrency (Pi) through a mobile app by participating in the network.
2. Can anyone sign up for Pi Network? While anyone can sign up, the app is not intended for individuals under the age of 13, and there are certain features and requirements that may be more suitable for users over the age of 18.
3. Do I need an invitation code to join Pi Network? No, you can sign up with or without an invitation code. However, using an invitation code from an existing user can increase your earning rate for both you and the person who invited you.
4. What is an invitation code in Pi Network? An invitation code is the userID of an existing Pi user. When used during sign-up, it forms a referral team between the new user and the existing user, enhancing the earning potential for both.
5. Is Pi Network a multi-level marketing (MLM) or pyramid scheme? No, Pi Network rewards users only for direct referrals with no multi-level rewards, distinguishing it from MLM or pyramid schemes.
6. What are the options for signing up on Pi Network? Users can register using their mobile phone number, Facebook account, or AppleID (for Apple users).
7. Why is it important to select the correct country code when signing up with a phone number? It is crucial because if you enter your phone number incorrectly, you cannot change it later, which could prevent phone verification and password resets.
8. Can I change my phone number on Pi Network after signing up? No, once you sign up with a phone number, there is no option to change it.
9. What does verifying your phone number or Facebook account on Pi Network do? Verification helps in easy re-authentication of your account, especially useful if you’re logged out or need to reinstall the app on a new device.
10. Why might someone want to have both Facebook and phone number verified on Pi Network? Having both verified offers two authentication pathways, enhancing the security and recoverability of your account.
11. Can other members add me to security circles if I only have my Facebook account verified? No, being added to security circles by other members requires your phone number to be verified.
12. Do I have to use my real name when signing up for Pi Network? Yes, it’s important to use your real full name for KYC (Know Your Customer) validation later. Your name on Pi should match your ID document.
13. Can I change my name on Pi Network after signing up? You have a 14-day grace period for name changes. After that, only minor changes are possible through an appeal process.
14. What happens after I complete the sign-up process on Pi Network? You’re taken through a tutorial, including starting your first 24-hour mining session, and learn how to manage your Pi earnings and profile settings.
15. Does the Pi Network app use my phone’s resources for mining? No, the mining does not use your phone’s hardware. Your mining session continues even if your phone is off.
16. When does the Pi I mine become real? The Pi you mine is considered promissory until you successfully complete KYC validation and migrate your Pi to your Mainnet wallet.
17. When can new users access the KYC process? New users can access the KYC process after completing 30 24-hour mining sessions and must be over the age of 18.
18. What is KYC validation in Pi Network? KYC (Know Your Customer) validation is a verification process to ensure the user’s identity matches the information provided, crucial for converting mined Pi into a spendable currency.
19. What if my full name on Pi Network does not match my ID document? If there’s a mismatch, your KYC validation might fail, so it’s important to ensure your Pi account name matches your official documents.
20. Can I hide my Pi mining total and full name from my referral team? Yes, within the app’s profile settings, you can choose to hide your mined Pi total and your full name from your referral team.
21. What is the purpose of having a userID in Pi Network? A userID serves as your unique identifier within the Pi Network, especially for use in chat rooms and for interaction within the community.
22. Is there an option to change the userID once it’s set? The UserID or handle picked by a pioneer is permanently assigned and cannot be changed.
23. How do I activate my first 24-hour mining session on Pi Network? After completing the signup process and tutorial, you activate your mining session by tapping the lightning icon on the mobile app.
24. What does it mean that the Pi earned is ‘promissory’ initially? Initially, the Pi you mine is considered promissory, meaning it represents a promise of value but is not yet transferable or spendable until certain conditions are met, such as KYC validation.
25. How can I ensure my KYC validation will be successful? Ensure the full name on your Pi Network account matches the full name on your government-issued ID document to avoid discrepancies during KYC validation.
26. What happens if I don’t complete KYC validation? Without completing KYC validation, you may not be able to convert your promissory Pi into real, spendable Pi or transfer it to a Mainnet wallet.
27. Can I sign up for Pi Network without a mobile phone or Facebook account? As per the provided details, signing up requires either a mobile phone number, a Facebook account, or an AppleID (for Apple users), so one of these is necessary.
28. What are the benefits of being in a referral team on Pi Network? Being part of a referral team increases your earning rate for Pi, as both you and the person who invited you benefit from active participation in the network.
29. Can I be part of multiple referral teams? You cannot typically belong to multiple earning/referral teams, however as a referrer you will show as the referrer at the top of the referral/earning team for each person who joined with your invitation code.
30. What are security circles in Pi Network? Security circles are groups of trusted Pioneers that you can join or form. They are designed to enhance the security and trustworthiness of the network, but specific details on their operation were not provided.
31. Why is phone verification important if I signed up using Facebook? Adding phone verification to your account increases its security and provides an additional recovery option, making your Pi Network account more secure.
32. What should I do if I accidentally enter my phone number incorrectly during signup? If you enter your phone number incorrectly and cannot verify it, you might be unable to access certain account features, including password reset. There is currently no way of updating an incorrect phone number – this will likely become an option at a later date – underlining the importance of entering information correctly.
33. Is it possible to remove or change the Facebook account linked to my Pi Network account?  There is currently no mechanism to change a connected Facebook account – this may become available at a later date
34. How does automatic verification work with Facebook signup? Signing up through Facebook automatically verifies your Pi Network account, streamlining the process compared to phone verification, which requires manual steps.
35. What does it mean to have your account ‘phone verified’ on Pi Network? Phone verification involves confirming your phone number through a verification process, adding a layer of security to your account and enabling certain features like joining security circles.
36. How can I hide my mined Pi total from my profile? You can use a switch in the profile settings within the Pi app to hide your mined Pi total from being visible to others.
37. Is there a way to appeal for a major name change after the 14-day grace period? For minor name changes, an appeal process can be initiated from within the user’s profile. Major changes are not allowed after the 14-day period, but exceptions might be considered through appeals.
38. What actions can I take if I’m logged out of my Pi Network account? Having a verified phone number or Facebook account helps in re-authenticating and regaining access to your account, especially if you’re logged out.
39. How often do I need to activate mining sessions to earn Pi? You need to activate mining sessions every 24 hours by tapping the lightning icon in the app to continue earning Pi.
40. Can I participate in Pi Network if I frequently change my phone number? Since there’s no current option to change your phone number in the app after signing up, it’s advisable to use a more stable method of verification if your phone number changes often, such as Facebook verification

After you sign up as a Pioneer you are entitled to start your mining/earning process daily. A mining session/cycle runs for 24 hours after starting it. Once you’ve started the mining session, there is no need to keep running the app. While you can close the app, it is important NOT to sign out through the menu of the app. Signing out will cancel your current mining session and you will not earn any more Pi while signed out. Unless you’ve opted out of the notifications, the Pi app should alert you when your current mining session ends. Once this happens, you can enter the app again and start your next mining/earning cycle. Remember that Pi does not use your phone’s hardware for mining – The phone is merely used as a tool to register your participation. The aim of Pi is to make its cryptocurrency widely available to ordinary people who have a mobile phone.

Every user/Pioneer is only allowed a single Pi account. People who run up more than one account, will be flagged as bad actors on the network and will not have their Pi moved to the Mainnet.

There are a few ways to increase your mining rate so that you earn Pi faster. 

1. One of them is to invite new users who have not joined the Pi Network project yet by sending them your Pi Userid (aka your invitation code). If they use your invitation code during signup, then they are locked into your earning team and both of you will benefit as long as they remain active and come back to start their mining sessions. They will also need to commit to completing the KYC process once it is extended to the, else the bonus they’ve contributed to your balance will not become transferable. Note however, that if they mistype your invitation code, then they could end up in the earning team of a random Pioneer. The earning team assignment cannot be changed afterwards. There is no limit to the number of earning team members you can add and there is also no limit to the bonus or earning multiplier you can gain from adding these earning team members.
2. Another way to increase your mining rate is to add people to your security circle. Tap the shield icon on the right of the front page of the app.
   1. The security team multiplier maxes out when you have 5 or more active members in your security circle.
   2. It is still a good idea to add more than 5 people, since you want to try as much as possible to ensure that you have at least 5 active security team members to max out your security circle multiplier.
   3. Anyone in your Earning Team can be added to your security circle straight from the UI and choosing “Add an Existing Pi User” near the bottom of the screen. Tap the Add button next to the name(s) of the users in your earning team.
   4. Additional pioneers who are not linked to you in any way can be added to your security circle if they have already verified their phone number with Pi Network.
      1. first add them to your phone’s contacts/address book (ensure that you have their international dial code added as this would be registered with Pi Network and allow the system to find them)
      2. Once you’ve added the user as a phone contact, navigate back to the Pi app home screen, tap on the shield icon and then click on “Add From Contacts” near the bottom of the screen. Search for the contact and add them.
         

In this project, you are earning Pi. There is no promised value attached, since value is market- and demand-driven. At this moment in time, Pi is in the Enclosed Mainnet Stage where Pi’s blockchain is firewalled off from 3rd party connection and so no exchanges or external wallets can connect to it. This means that there can be no valid exchange listings or valuations. During the Enclosed Mainnet, Pi can still be transferred intra-network amongst Pi users who have already had Pi migrated to their mainnet wallets. This ability has allowed Pioneers to engage in the trade of goods/services for Pi. For these trades during the Enclosed Mainnet, Pioneers have been encouraged to determine a Pi value by themselves – and so it is normal to find different valuations for Pi. 

Clearly there are exchanges out there who have unauthorised listings of Pi who arguably are only doing so to entice the (extremely large) Pi Network audience to their platforms. Unfortunately these listings are setting the stage for many Pi users to be scammed out of their Pi by bad actors on the Pi Network. A common scam is to get Pi Users to send Pi to a scamster’s Pi wallet in return for money that will never be sent in return.

Pi runs its own blockchain, which is based on Stellar Consensus Protocol. This makes it a Layer 1 cryptocurrency token, which some refer to as a cryptocurrency coin. The processing of transactions take place on Nodes, which are currently available on PC and Mac (with Linux coming later). These nodes are optional for Pioneers to run and there is a mining/earning bonus for running them. During the Enclosed Mainnet Stage, all mainnet nodes are run by the Pi Core Team behind a firewall. All of the nodes run by Pioneers during this stage are actually still connected to the TestNet.

There is a secondary app required to help you progress on your Pi Journey. This app is the Pi Browser. Through the Pi Browser you will have access to:-

• the KYC process (and validation if you become a KYC validator),
• Pi Wallet
• Ecosystem apps (including Fireside Forum)
• Brainstorm/Developer portal

To help you on your way, there is a Mainnet Checklist under the Mainnet option in the menu of the app. Follow the steps in this checklist as they become available so that your Pi can be migrated to your Mainnet wallet. A video covering the Mainnet Checklist can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQyVp9CIAjI&ab_channel=PiNetwork

Here is a transcript:of the video –

Hey Pioneers! Welcome back. Today, we’ll be going through the Mainnet Checklist, which is essential to complete before your Pi Transferable Balance can be queued up for Mainnet migration. This way, you will be able to join the Enclosed Mainnet Pi ecosystem where Pioneers with real Pi in their Pi wallet can purchase goods and services with their Pi! To get to the Mainnet Checklist, either tap the shortcut “Mainnet info” at the bottom right corner of the home screen, or go to your Pi mining app home screen and tap the ☰hamburger icon on the top left to open up the Pi menu, then tap “Mainnet.” Tap “Mainnet Checklist” from this page, and you’re here! Overall, the Mainnet Checklist is divided into 8 steps, listed below. In this video, we’ll explain each step in detail. After Step 7 is complete, your Transferable Balance will be enabled to queue up for migration to the Mainnet blockchain.

Step 1: Download the Pi Browser App Essential ecosystem Pi Apps, such as the Pi Wallet and the Pi KYC, are available on the Pi Browser, which can be downloaded from the iOS App or Google Play Store. This is your one-stop access point for the Pi Ecosystem, where you will be able to spend Pi for goods and services and use Web 3.0 Pi apps whose backend interacts with the Pi Mainnet.

Step 2: Create a Pi Wallet Once migrated onto the Mainnet blockchain, your Pi Transferable Balance will be sent to your Pi Wallet, located within the Pi Browser. For a comprehensive walkthrough on how to create and use your Pi Wallet, watch the Pi  Wallet tutorial video on the official Pi Network YouTube channel.

Step 3: Confirm your Pi Wallet Your Pi Wallet is non-custodial in nature, which means that Pi Network does NOT have records of your Wallet passphrase, which is needed for you to unlock your wallet. Losing your Wallet passphrase is thus akin to losing your entire Wallet along with all assets inside. To ensure that you know your Wallet passphrase, Step 3 requires you to enter it here.

Please remember to store the passphrase somewhere safe so that you do not lose or forget it and no one else has access to it. Step 4: Commit to lockup configuration By committing to a binding Pi lockup setting, you can start mining at a higher rate even before you migrate your Pi to Mainnet. The longer the duration and higher the percentage of your total Pi you choose for your lockup settings, the higher your Lockup mining reward will be.

The lockup reward is meant to support a healthy and smooth ecosystem and incentivize long-term engagement with the network, while the network is bootstrapping the ecosystem and creating demands. It is an important decentralized macroeconomic mechanism especially in the early years of the open network when utilities are being created.

More information about the lockup reward is available in the new chapters of the updated whitepaper released on December 28, 2021 (December Whitepaper). While Pi lockups are voluntary, you must commit to an initial lockup setting to complete Step 4 of the Mainnet Checklist. The “binding” aspect of your lockup setting means that the lockup amount and duration cannot be lowered before the transfer of your balance to the Mainnet.

After your initial Mainnet transfer, the lockup setting for your next transfer—duration and percentage—will remain the same as your current one and will be applied to your future migrations automatically, unless you change these settings. You can adjust the settings anytime between any two transfers to the Mainnet —the saved changes will be applied to any next transfer to the Mainnet, and it will not affect any previous lockups already transferred.

Step 5: Apply for KYC KYC or “Know Your Customer” is a procedure to first identify and then verify Pioneers’ identities, to comply with regulations and to ensure that Pioneers within the global Pi Ecosystem are real individuals. The Pi KYC app on the Pi Browser is a native, decentralized solution to make KYC scaleable and financially accessible around the world.

It combines machine automation and crowdsourced, hyperlocal human verification to accomplish scalable, secure and efficient KYC. Please submit your KYC application on the Pi KYC app as an application slot becomes available. Currently slots are open to more than half of the network, and more work is being done to enable the rest of the network to receive KYC invitations.

Step 6: Wait for KYC Results This step will be complete once your KYC application has been successfully verified. In rare cases, additional network checks performed right before Mainnet migration may revert the “verified” status back to being unverified. If this occurs, Pioneers may be presented with an option to resubmit the application, so please check the status of your KYC application and the next KYC step in the Pi KYC app.

Once you pass KYC, you are also welcome to apply to become a KYC Validator on the Pi KYC app. While becoming a KYC Validator is not required for your Mainnet migration, it helps scale and expedite the KYC solution for the Pi whole community, and your validation work will be compensated in Pi. Step 7: Migrate to Mainnet After completing all the previous Checklist steps, this step enables you to queue your Pi Transferable Balance for Mainnet migration.

Step 7 includes executing an acknowledgement document with your wallet passphrase. Note that this passphrase has to be the same one that you confirmed in Step 3. If for some reason you are not able to access your current passphrase or otherwise wish to change your Wallet, you can repeat Steps 2 and 3, and then confirm the same Wallet passphrase in Step 7.

After completing Step 7, your Pi Transferable Balance will be queued to be sent to your Mainnet Pi Wallet address (also known as Mainnet migration), unless additional network checks before the migration reverted your KYC verified status as mentioned before. After the migration, there will be a 14-day pending period during which Pioneers’ Pi balance in their Mainnet wallet will not be available yet for transfer by the Pioneer, allowing the network to conduct additional checks or course corrections if necessary to clear the transfer.

When the pending period expires, the Pioneer will then be able to use their Pi within the current Enclosed Pi Mainnet. Step 8: Invite your Referral Team and Security Circle to KYC Step 8 is technically not required for Mainnet migration. However, the Pi you’ve mined via your Referral Team or Security Circle members will only become a part of your Pi Transferable Balance once these members pass KYC themselves.

Pi Network issues non-custodial wallets through the Pi Browser, which means the owners of the wallets have exclusive control and guardianship of their wallet passkeys/passphrases as well which they must secure by themselves. 

When users create a wallet, it is first created on the Testnet. As part of the creation process, the user is given a unique 24-word passphrase. This passphrase is not stored or recorded by the app or the Pi Core Team. It is therefore imperative that the owner of the wallet stores the passphrase somewhere safe and secure, preferably not on the phone so that they can access their wallet again in future even if they lost their phone. I would recommend a password vaults like Bitwarden, LastPass, etc.

Setting up biometric access to your Pi wallet is a valid convenience, but it does not replace the need for recording your full 24 word passphrase somewhere safe. Remember that biometric access does not necessarily transfer to a new phone – and is subject to failure – a new phone setup would require you to enter your 24-word passphrase again in order to gain access to your wallet.

At the time of writing this, a user can create new wallet once per week. Each new wallet starts with a zero balance and has its own unique 24-word passphrase. New wallets do not inherit the balance of previous wallets. The only way to get at the balances in previously owned wallets is by accessing them with their related passphrases. There is no recovery mechanism for passphrases.

In the wallet interface, users can switch between their Testnet balance and Mainnet balance. Typically the Testnet balance just shows some test Pi and is unrelated to your real Pi balance. The Mainnet Balance will only show a balance if a user has completed the mainnet checklist and has had Pi migrated to their Mainnet wallet.

After Pi has been migrated to one’s Mainnet wallet, you would need to enter the wallet, ensure to switch the dropdown to “Mainnet”, navigate to the Migrations tab and then tap on “Move” to make the balance available.

There are cases where the Move button will not be available, but a lock will be displayed instead. This means that the wallet owner set a lockup multiplier before migration and that it has still not expired. Tapping on the lock will show details of the lockup including the expiry date.