- Pi Network halts wallet payment requests after widespread scams target users.
- Scammers exploit public balances and impersonate trusted contacts.
- PI trades near $0.20 amid low liquidity and token unlocks.
Pi Network has temporarily disabled the wallet payment request feature after a wave of sophisticated scams resulted in the loss of millions of PI tokens from user wallets.
This action, announced by the Pi Core team on the social platform X, comes as attackers increasingly abuse the network’s payment request function to trick users into approving fraudulent transfers.
On-chain data shared by community observers and reporting sources indicate scammers have diverted more than 4.4 million PI by sending deceptive payment requests to holders with large balances.
One single scam address reportedly received hundreds of thousands of tokens each month throughout 2025.
Tokens approved via these requests move instantly into the attacker’s wallet and cannot be reversed, leaving victims without recourse once a transfer is authorized.
The Pi Core team emphasized that this problem stems from social engineering rather than a protocol flaw in the network.
Because wallet balances and addresses are publicly visible on the Pi blockchain, malicious actors can identify high-value wallets and impersonate trusted contacts, friends, moderators, or even official accounts to persuade users to authorize transfers.
To limit further losses, the network has disabled the payment request feature across its ecosystem while it evaluates potential safety measures.
The suspension is intended to be temporary, but the team has not provided a specific timetable for restoring the feature.
Meanwhile, community moderators and safety advocates urge users to reject all unsolicited payment requests.
Scam tactics and broader security concerns
Experts and user reports indicate these scams are part of a broader rise in fraudulent schemes targeting Pi users.
Scammers cast a wide net, using phishing links that promise fake airdrops or price promotions, as well as counterfeit portals that request wallet credentials or private keys—actions that can lead to full account takeovers.
The Pi Network core team has repeatedly warned users not to share sensitive information or interact with unverified links circulating on social networks and messaging platforms.
While Pi Network itself is not broadly labeled a scam by independent analysts, its rapid growth, mobile-centric model, and referral-based incentives have drawn attention and made its large user base an attractive target for fraudsters.
Users are advised to rely only on official communication channels and exercise heightened caution when interacting with unverifiable contacts.
Impact on the PI token price
The suspension of payment requests occurs amid mixed sentiment over the market performance of the PI token.
Although some price forecasts remain optimistic, PI is currently trading near $0.20, showing only about a 1% increase over the past two weeks.
Price performance has been affected by low liquidity and ongoing token unlocks, with significant amounts entering circulation in recent months.
The token has struggled to absorb the additional supply, and daily trading volumes remain moderate.