Pi Coin activates fingerprint KYC to prevent account fraud! 189 million tokens unlocked in February may intensify selling pressure

Pi Coin Testing Palm Print KYC Verification to Prevent Fake Accounts, with Face Scan for Live Detection. In February, 189 million coins will be unlocked, marking the biggest release of the year; 134 million have already been released in January. In January, 2.5 million frozen users were unblocked; currently, 16 million have migrated to the mainnet, and 3 million are in the process. KYC rewards will be distributed by the end of March.

Breakthroughs and Privacy Controversies in Palm Print KYC

Pi Coin has begun testing a new palm print verification feature within its KYC system. This update coincides with the network preparing for its largest annual token unlock. Approximately 189 million Pi Coins are expected to unlock in February, which will put pressure on supply and price. Therefore, the team is working to strengthen identity verification before more users access the mainnet.

This new feature uses palm print patterns to verify user identity, providing an alternative way to prove that accounts are operated by real people. Pi Network will initially offer this feature to new users applying for KYC certification, then expand it to early users who have already passed verification. The goal is to prevent fake accounts and speed up approval processes. Palm print scans can serve as a live detection method, working alongside facial scans and verification. Supporters say this makes cheating more difficult. Pi Coin also states that this method can protect privacy because it does not rely solely on facial data.

Compared to fingerprint and facial recognition, palm print technology has unique advantages. Palm prints contain more features, including palm ridges, vein patterns, and skin textures, making forgery extremely difficult. Additionally, contactless palm scan (which can be done remotely via a phone camera) is more hygienic and convenient than fingerprint scans. Compared to facial recognition, palm prints are harder to deceive with photos or videos, providing better live detection.

However, the new technology has also raised concerns among some users. Some worry about delays and data usage. Palm print scans require uploading high-resolution images, which consumes more network bandwidth than simple facial photos, potentially troubling users in developing countries with poor internet. Moreover, storing and using biometric data raises privacy concerns; if Pi’s database is hacked or data is misused, users’ biometric information could be permanently exposed.

Three Key Features of Palm Print KYC

High Security: Palm features are numerous and difficult to forge; live detection surpasses facial recognition

Privacy Protection: Does not rely solely on facial data, dispersing biometric risks

Fast Approval: Automated verification reduces manual review time

189 Million Unlock: The Largest Supply Shock in History

February will see the largest monthly unlock to date, with about 189 million Pi Coins entering circulation. In January, about 134 million were released. Many users believe this unlock is related to recent price weakness. An increase in token supply typically leads to selling pressure. Community posts describe this month as a “stress test.”

The 189 million unlock is unprecedented in Pi 幣 history. Compared to the current circulating supply of about 2.8 billion, this represents roughly a 6.7% increase in supply. Such a monthly supply increase is extremely rare among mainstream cryptocurrencies; Bitcoin’s annual inflation rate is about 1.8%, and Ethereum has become deflationary after switching to PoS. This rapid supply growth of Pi Coin is one of the fundamental reasons for its continued low price.

With 134 million released in January and 189 million in February, the two-month total exceeds 323 million, increasing circulating supply by about 11.5%. Without a corresponding increase in demand, this flood of supply will inevitably keep prices suppressed. Even more concerning is that future unlock schedules remain unclear; if similar releases continue monthly, over 2 billion additional coins could enter circulation in a year, exerting long-term downward pressure on price.

Many users believe that this unlock is related to recent price weakness, and this judgment is correct. Pi Coin fell from $0.19 in January to a new low of $0.146, a decline of about 23%, which coincides with the 134 million unlock. The market has preemptively reacted to the increased supply expectations, with investors choosing to sell before the unlock to avoid larger drops later. If the same logic applies to the 189 million unlock in February, it could trigger even sharper price declines.

16 Million Migrations and a Security-First Strategy

This testing follows a large-scale migration update in January. Pi has unblocked about 2.5 million users who were frozen due to regional or security checks. If these users remain active and complete verification checklists, they can now transfer their balances to the mainnet. Pi Network also plans to soon distribute rewards to KYC verifiers, expected by the end of March.

Currently, over 16 million users have successfully migrated to the mainnet, with about 3 million more in progress. This user scale is among the top in crypto projects, demonstrating Pi’s success in user accumulation. However, user numbers do not directly correlate with token price. The key is how many of these users are truly active and how many are dormant accounts waiting to cash out after early free mining.

Supporters argue that strict identity verification is necessary before more tokens enter the market. They believe that trust is more important than speed at this stage. The palm print test is not accidental; Pi aims to prove that growth requires stricter rules. Both user count and token issuance need stronger control. Palm print KYC aligns with this philosophy.

However, not everyone is convinced. Some users worry about delays and data consumption. Others believe the project must accelerate toward open mainnet and real utility features. This community split reflects the dilemma Pi faces: rapid opening could flood the network with fake accounts, undermining fairness; excessive caution could cause users to lose patience and leave.

Currently, Pi hopes to enhance security to enable token unlocks. It aims to reduce bot participation and increase genuine user engagement. Whether this will impact prices or user adoption remains uncertain. But with increasing supply, the network is focusing on building user trust. In the long run, this “slow is fast” strategy might be correct. If Pi can establish a fair “one person, one account” image, it could attract more genuine users and developers. But in the short term, the 189 million unlock pressure will not disappear because of palm print KYC, and prices may continue to be under pressure.