The cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve with innovative projects gaining traction on major exchanges. On May 23, 2025, Kraken, one of the world’s leading digital asset platforms, announced the launch of PI Network (PI) perpetual futures trading — marking a significant milestone for the mobile-mined cryptocurrency.
This strategic move underscores growing market confidence in PI Network’s long-term potential and expands access for traders seeking exposure to one of the most unique blockchain ecosystems today.
What Is PI Network?
PI Network launched in 2019 with a bold mission: to make cryptocurrency mining accessible to everyday users through their smartphones. Unlike traditional proof-of-work blockchains that require high-powered hardware and consume vast amounts of energy, PI utilizes the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) — an energy-efficient algorithm designed for scalability and decentralization without compromising security.
Users, known as Pioneers, can mine PI directly from their mobile devices at no cost and with minimal battery or data usage. This inclusive approach has helped PI Network amass a global community of millions, positioning it as one of the most widely adopted decentralized networks in recent years.
In February 2025, PI Network reached another critical milestone with the launch of its open mainnet, transitioning from an invitation-based test phase into a fully functional, public blockchain. This shift has paved the way for broader financial integration, smart contract capabilities, and now, derivatives trading.
👉 Discover how decentralized networks are reshaping crypto futures
Kraken Pro Introduces PI Perpetual Futures
Kraken Pro has officially listed PI perpetual futures contracts, allowing traders to gain leveraged exposure to PI price movements without owning the underlying asset. The new market offering supports up to 20x leverage, giving experienced traders enhanced flexibility in both bullish and bearish market conditions.
Perpetual futures are particularly popular among active crypto traders due to their lack of expiration date and built-in funding mechanisms that keep contract prices aligned with the spot market.
According to Kraken’s official announcement on X (formerly Twitter), the $PI perpetual contract is now live and available for trading globally, subject to regional regulations.
"$PI @PiCoreTeam perpetual futures are now live with up to 20x leverage.
Why trade PI futures on Kraken Pro?
☑️ Over 40 staking options
☑️ Access to 360+ markets
Start trading PI perps now 👇"
— Kraken Pro (@krakenpro), May 23, 2025
This integration highlights Kraken's commitment to expanding its derivatives offerings while supporting emerging projects with strong community foundations and technological innovation.
Market Reaction and Price Performance
The announcement triggered immediate market interest. Prior to the news, PI was trading at $0.7865**, with a market capitalization of approximately **$5.686 billion. Following the launch, the price rose slightly to $0.7893**, pushing total market cap to **$5.7 billion.
As of this report, PI is trading around $0.7889**, maintaining steady momentum amid increased trading volume. Over the past 24 hours, more than **$209 million worth of PI changed hands across global exchanges, reflecting heightened liquidity and investor engagement.
On May 23 alone, PI experienced notable volatility — peaking above $0.82** before dipping near **$0.78, then recovering to current levels. This kind of price action is typical during major exchange listings, especially when leveraged products are introduced.
Such volatility also presents opportunities for sophisticated traders using futures instruments to hedge positions or capitalize on short-term swings — further validating the demand for regulated derivative products like those offered by Kraken.
Why Trade PI Futures?
Futures trading allows investors to speculate on future price movements of an asset using leverage, potentially amplifying returns (and risks). With Kraken’s introduction of PI perpetuals, several key benefits emerge:
- High Leverage: Up to 20x leverage enables traders to control larger positions with less capital.
- Global Access: Available to eligible users worldwide through a trusted exchange platform.
- Diverse Staking Options: Kraken offers over 40 staking choices, enabling users to earn yield while engaging in derivatives trading.
- Deep Liquidity: Integration into Kraken’s ecosystem provides access to over 360 markets, enhancing order execution speed and pricing accuracy.
Moreover, trading on a regulated exchange like Kraken adds a layer of transparency and security often missing in decentralized or offshore platforms.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are perpetual futures?
A: Perpetual futures are derivative contracts that allow traders to speculate on an asset’s price without an expiration date. They use a funding rate mechanism to stay pegged to the spot price and are widely used in crypto trading.
Q: Can I stake PI on Kraken?
A: While Kraken supports over 40 staking options across various cryptocurrencies, staking availability for PI specifically depends on network functionality and exchange policies. Users should check Kraken’s official staking page for real-time updates.
Q: Is PI Network now fully decentralized?
A: With the launch of its open mainnet in February 2025, PI Network transitioned into a fully decentralized blockchain. However, ongoing development and governance involve collaboration between the core team and the Pioneer community.
Q: Does trading PI futures require KYC?
A: Yes. As a regulated exchange, Kraken requires identity verification (KYC) for all users accessing futures markets. This ensures compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) standards and enhances platform security.
Q: How does SCP differ from Bitcoin’s consensus model?
A: The Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) used by PI Network is energy-efficient and doesn’t rely on energy-intensive mining like Bitcoin’s proof-of-work. Instead, SCP achieves consensus through federated voting among trusted nodes, enabling faster transactions and lower environmental impact.
Q: Where can I trade PI futures securely?
A: Kraken Pro is one of the top-tier platforms offering secure, compliant access to PI perpetual futures. Always ensure you're using verified exchanges with strong track records in security and customer support.
The Bigger Picture: Mainstream Adoption Ahead?
The listing of PI futures on Kraken signals growing institutional recognition of community-driven blockchain projects. While many early-stage cryptocurrencies struggle to gain exchange support, PI’s combination of mobile accessibility, sustainable consensus design, and massive user base makes it a compelling candidate for long-term adoption.
As more users transition from mining PIs to actively trading them, the ecosystem stands to benefit from increased utility, liquidity, and real-world use cases — especially as decentralized finance (DeFi) integrations expand post-mainnet.
With over 360 markets now available on Kraken Pro and continuous expansion in staking and derivatives services, traders have more tools than ever to engage with next-generation digital assets like PI.
👉 See how next-gen blockchain projects are entering mainstream finance
Final Thoughts
Kraken’s decision to list PI perpetual futures is more than just a new trading pair — it’s a validation of PI Network’s journey from mobile experiment to tradable digital asset. Backed by energy-efficient technology, a global user base, and now institutional-grade trading infrastructure, PI is poised for deeper market integration in 2025 and beyond.
For traders, this opens new avenues for strategy development and portfolio diversification. For the broader crypto ecosystem, it reinforces the importance of accessibility, sustainability, and innovation in driving mass adoption.
As regulatory clarity improves and exchange support grows, expect further developments around PI’s ecosystem — including potential spot listings, wallet integrations, and DeFi expansions.
Core Keywords: PI Network, PI futures, Kraken Pro, perpetual futures, Stellar Consensus Protocol, crypto derivatives, mobile mining, decentralized blockchain