Pi Network Rolls Out .pi Domains, But Critics Question Accessibility

The Pi Network has taken a major step in expanding its blockchain-powered ecosystem by introducing .pi domains.

Launched on Pi Day 2025, the initiative enables businesses, developers, and individuals within the Pi community to secure personalized .pi domain names, granting seamless access to Pi-based apps, storefronts, and services.

Pi Network Launches .pi Domains

The announcement marked a major milestone for Pi Network, which kicked off PiFest 2025 simultaneously. In the latest video, Nicolas Kokkalis, Pi Founder and Head of Technology, likened .pi domains to the internet’s traditional domain system, emphasizing their potential to shape the digital sector in a similar way.

“Just as traditional domains shaped the internet, we know today .pi domains can transform how we connect, interact, and build within our digital space and beyond,” Kokkalis said.

Kokkalis called them an important infrastructure layer within the Pi ecosystem. He added that a .pi domain gives users a unique digital address that enhances their online presence within the network ecosystem. 

The domains are available exclusively through a blockchain-powered auction. Users can bid using Pi Coin (PI) to secure their unique digital address. The auction runs from March 14, 2025, to June 28, 2025.

“The domain auction gives everyone ample time to thoughtfully select and bid on their ideal digital identity without the risk of someone else grabbing it quickly before them or overpaying later,” Kokkalis added.

Despite the excitement, some community members have raised concerns about the practical application of these domains, particularly their limited accessibility outside the Pi ecosystem.

.pi domains operate entirely within Pi’s blockchain environment. Thus, they are not directly accessible through conventional browsers. Users must either rely on the Pi Browser or access them through a “pinet.com” extension.

“.pi domains appear to be more like an address / user account on a closed lan/network. This raises virtually endless and troubling questions such as governance, security, access gateway, routing, encryption, packet snooping, legal oversight, consumer rights and protections, autonomy, and so on,” a user wrote on Reddit.

Another major concern is the lack of regulatory oversight, as the core team has full control over domains. Additionally, the auction listing of Google.pi for 2050 PI has raised trademark and copyright concerns.

On the other hand, many users have shown strong support for the initiative. They argue that these domains might gain massive value in the future, just like .com domains did.

“Right now, most people don’t see the full value of a .Pi Domain, just like how people ignored .com domains among others in the early days of the internet. Fast forward, and those who secured their domains early are now sitting on digital gold,” a user wrote on X.

Users also believe that the move could boost PI’s adoption if companies are forced to use the currency to acquire them.

“It’s marketing genius. Companies will come running to buy their trademark domains and take a seat in the Pi Network community, which will lead to a new technological revolution and the beginning of officially adopting blockchain technology,” another user wrote on Reddit.

While the initiative has generated mixed reactions, it has not yet translated into positive price movement for PI.

Pi Coin Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

Over the past 24 hours, PI has declined by 7.1%, trading at $1.41 at the time of writing. Over the last 14 days, the coin has experienced a double-digit decline of 16.7%.

Additionally, Pi Coin’s trading volume has dropped by 9.8% in the past 24 hours, further reflecting the ongoing downward trend.