Ethereum price remains under pressure after a sharp decline that unsettled investors across the crypto market. 

Although Ethereum appears to be entering a historically favorable accumulation zone, on-chain indicators reveal mixed conviction among different holder cohorts.

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Ethereum Is In a Prime Accumulation Range

Ethereum’s Market Value to Realized Value, or MVRV, ratio indicates that ETH has entered what analysts describe as an “opportunity zone.” This range lies between negative 18% and negative 28%. Historically, when MVRV falls into this band, selling pressure approaches exhaustion.

Previous entries into this zone often preceded price reversals. Investors typically accumulate when unrealized losses deepen. Such behavior can stabilize the Ethereum price and initiate recovery phases. However, historical probability does not guarantee immediate upside.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Current macro conditions complicate the outlook. Liquidity constraints and cautious sentiment may delay accumulation. While MVRV suggests undervaluation relative to realized cost basis, broader market weakness could suppress momentum and extend consolidation before any meaningful rebound begins.

Ethereum Holders Are Leaning Differently

Short-term holders are regaining influence over Ethereum price action. The MVRV Long/Short Difference measures profitability between long-term and short-term holders. Deeply negative readings signal greater profitability among short-term holders compared to long-term investors.

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Toward the end of January, the metric suggested profitability was shifting away from short-term traders. That trend hinted at an improving structure. However, the recent decline reversed that dynamic, restoring short-term holder profits. These investors typically sell quickly, increasing vulnerability to renewed downside pressure.

The HODLer net position change metric reveals another shift. Long-term holders previously exhibited steady accumulation. In recent days, the buying pressure has transitioned into distribution, reflecting reduced confidence among strategic investors.

Long-term holder selling adds structural risk. These participants often provide foundational support during downturns. Without renewed accumulation from this cohort, the Ethereum price may struggle to absorb supply. Current data shows limited evidence of strong counterbalancing demand.

ETH Price May Look At Consolidation

Ethereum price trades at $1,983 and remains above the $1,811 support level. Despite this stability, the altcoin recently marked a nine-month low at $1,743. Maintaining $1,811 is critical to prevent deeper technical deterioration.

Given ongoing selling from both short-term and long-term holders, recovery may face resistance near $2,238. Continued weakness could keep ETH trading closer to support rather than challenging overhead barriers. A confirmed breakdown below $1,811 may expose Ethereum to $1,571.

Alternatively, reduced selling from short-term holders could ease pressure. If long-term holders resume accumulation, Ethereum may attempt a stronger rebound. A decisive move above $2,238, followed by a rally past $2,509, would invalidate the bearish thesis and improve the medium-term outlook.

In recent years, millions of traders and crypto users have experienced what it feels like when personal data gets exposed. Exchange leaks, identity verification breaches, wallet tracking, and analytics tools have made privacy a growing concern in digital finance. Many blockchain networks record everything publicly, making transactions transparent but not always private. For users who value security, that model no longer feels enough.

This is where Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) enters the conversation. ZKP is a Layer-1 blockchain built around one clear principle: prove computation is correct without revealing the underlying data. Instead of exposing sensitive information, it validates results while protecting privacy. In a market where trust is often tested, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is gaining attention as the top crypto to buy today for those seeking a more secure blockchain foundation.

What is Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP)?

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is a Layer-1 blockchain built to validate computation without revealing the underlying data. In simple terms, the network allows a result to be proven correct while keeping sensitive inputs private. This approach is central to zero-knowledge cryptography and is the foundation of the entire ZKP ecosystem.

The project was developed with a strong commitment to readiness. Before launching its presale, the team invested $100 million of self-funded capital into building the blockchain architecture, proof systems, and supporting infrastructure. This build-first model reduces risk and signals long-term focus.

Core features include:

• A privacy-focused Layer-1 blockchain
• Zero-knowledge validation of computation
• Architecture designed for secure AI workloads
• Integration with real hardware through Proof Pods

For newcomers exploring options in today’s market, ZKP stands apart because it already operates with infrastructure in place. This foundation strengthens its case as the top crypto buy today, especially for those looking beyond early hype and into practical execution.

Live Presale Auction: Stage 2 Momentum Builds

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is currently in a structured crypto presale auction that distributes coins in progressive stages. The presale has already raised $1.85 million, showing early traction. At present, Stage 2 is closing in 6 days, marking a critical point in the auction cycle.

Market observers and analysts have noted the pace of participation. Some experts project that if momentum continues, the ZKP presale auction could reach $1.7 billion, highlighting expectations around the project’s scale.

Below is the current auction snapshot:

The auction model allows price discovery across stages rather than through a fixed-price sale. This structured progression creates measurable entry points and encourages sustained participation. For those searching for the top crypto buy today, the combination of raised capital, staged structure, and projected growth gives ZKP a strong position within the current presale market.

Proof Pods: A Working Product Backed by $17M

Proof Pods represent the tangible layer of the Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) ecosystem. These physical devices are designed to generate verifiable computation for the network. Instead of relying solely on digital staking models, ZKP connects blockchain incentives to measurable hardware performance.

The project allocated $17 million specifically for Proof Pods creation, covering development, production, and logistics. This investment demonstrates that Proof Pods are not conceptual but operational components of the network’s design.

Key benefits of Proof Pods include:

• Real hardware participation in blockchain validation
• Generation of cryptographic proofs
• Decentralized distribution of computing power
• Accessibility for non-technical users

Proof Pods strengthen decentralization while tying network rewards to real activity. For presale participants, this working product provides tangible backing to the blockchain’s function.

When evaluating the top crypto buy today, projects with operational hardware and capital commitment often stand out. ZKP’s integration of Proof Pods shows that it is building a functioning ecosystem rather than relying purely on token demand.

Final Say

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) combines three critical elements rarely seen together in early-stage blockchain projects: a fully developed Layer-1 architecture, a structured live presale auction, and a working hardware product in Proof Pods. With a $100 million self-funded development, $17 million allocated to hardware, and a presale that has already raised $1.85 million, ZKP demonstrates preparation and execution before scaling further.

As Stage 2 closes in 6 days and experts project the presale could reach $1.7 billion, the project continues to build measurable momentum. The staged auction structure provides transparency, while Proof Pods anchor the network in real-world computation.

For newcomers seeking the top crypto buy today, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) presents a strong combination of privacy technology, financial commitment, and live participation mechanics. Rather than promising future development, ZKP enters the market with infrastructure already built and an ecosystem actively expanding.

Explore ZKP:

Website: https://zkp.com/

Buy: https://buy.zkp.com

Telegram: https://t.me/ZKPofficial

X: https://x.com/ZKPofficial

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Key Takeaways

• JPMorgan maintains a bullish 2026 outlook despite the total market cap falling from $3.1T to $2.3T.
• The Crypto Fear & Greed Index is pinned at 12 (“Extreme Fear”), levels historically associated with bottom formation.
• Bitcoin is trading at $67,610, significantly below its estimated production cost of $77,000.
• Whale activity in perpetual markets suggests complex institutional hedging is dominant over spot selling.

• Stacks price surged by 5% to test resistance near $0.28.
• Gains follow Bitcoin’s uptick to $67,500.
• STX could still dip to recent lows if the Bitcoin price falls to new lows.

Stacks’ STX token edged higher on the day as Bitcoin held above the $67,500 level following a roughly 2% intraday move.

Despite the modest gain, the Bitcoin layer-2 network’s native token continues to trade in volatile conditions, reflecting uncertainty across the broader cryptocurrency market.

A sustained pickup in momentum could lift STX toward levels last seen in May 2025.

However, ongoing market turbulence and expectations of further downside risk for Bitcoin suggest Stacks may remain under pressure.

Analysts point to $0.24 as a key support level that bulls will need to defend to prevent a deeper pullback.

Stacks price today

STX posted modest daily gains on February 12, 2026, trading around $0.27 at the time of writing with a 5% uptick.

But buyers are hovering at these levels after hitting resistance around $.028, a level reached after STX recovered from Feb.5, 2026, lows of $0.22.

Despite weekly losses having moderated to 2%, Stacks remains more than 32% down in the monthly time frame.

Meanwhile, gains on the day have also come amid reduced buyer interest, with daily trading volume down 6% to $13.2 million.

Notably, prices remain within the range that offers support at $0.24, with bulls revisiting the level on three occasions year-to-date.

Stacks price prediction

Stacks is among the top Bitcoin DeFi protocols looking to leverage a layer-2 network to enable smart contracts and yield opportunities directly on Bitcoin’s security.

The project has gained traction as the digital asset investment space broadens.

One of its landmark moves is the recent integration with Fireblocks, which could potentially expose over 2,400 institutional clients to STX for native Bitcoin DeFi participation.

“Bitcoiners want to earn yield without sacrificing security. They want their yield to be denominated in Bitcoin and ideally, with as few additional trust assumptions as possible,” the firms stated in their announcement.

Clients will be able to tap into Bitcoin-denominated rewards, BTC-yielding vaults, and BTC-backed loans.

This institutional gateway could significantly boost STX adoption, especially if Bitcoin prices spike.

Bulls could eye the $0.56-$0.60 range or higher, with the altcoin having reached highs of $1.05 in May 2025.

The technical picture supports this short-term outlook and targets.

On the daily chart, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers at 34, but signals bullish divergence.

Charts also show the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator pointing to a bullish crossover.

If Bitcoin faces intensified selling pressure, Stacks’ upside potential could suffer.

In this case, STX may find support in the $0.23-$0.20 area.

Ethereum Layer 2 Optimism is partnering with Succinct as its first zero-knowledge (ZK) proving provider, in order to provide instant and real-time withdrawals from the L2, according to an announcement shared exclusively with The Defiant.

The move makes Succinct Optimism’s first official ZK partner, and by leveraging Succinct’s proof system, users can off-ramp capital from Optimism to any other chain in a timely fashion, as opposed to the bridge’s traditional, multi-day wait time.

By accelerating the bridge time from Optimism, large on-chain operators such as market makers or treasuries, can move capital quickly without having to rely on a third party bridging solution.

In addition to its withdrawal time upgrade, Optimism is also working towards a larger ZK proof infrastructure launch on the chain, which will allow teams building across the OP Stack to upgrade to ZK validity proofs “seamlessly” per a release shared with The Defiant.

Karl Floersch, the co-founder of Optimism commented on the news:

“We’re honored to partner with Optimism to bring ZK to the Superchain, starting with OP Mainnet. As rollups consolidate around ZK, Succinct is building the proving infrastructure the ecosystem can rely on,” said Uma Roy, CEO and co-founder of Succinct.

The news comes shortly after Optimism unveiled OP Enterprise — a new chain deployment suite for enterprise clients who are looking to build their own native blockchains.

Crypto markets took a tumble Thursday morning, Feb. 12, pushing Bitcoin below $66,000 and Ethereum below $2,000, as investor sentiment deteriorated to unprecedented lows.

Total crypto market capitalization is flat over the past 24 hours around $2.33 trillion, while large-cap assets are mixed today. At press time, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $65,747 at press time, down marginally on the day and bringing 7-day losses to about 5%.

Ethereum (ETH) fell to $1,910 this morning, little changed over the past 24 hours and down 4% on the week.

While BNB gained nearly 2% on the day, it’s still down almost 10% over the past week. Solana (SOL) slipped 0.6% in the past 24 hours, and is down 8% on the week.

Among the top-10 crypto assets, XRP and Figure Heloc (FIGR_HELOC) stood out on the weekly timeframe, both up about 4%.

Unprecedented Extreme Fear

Market sentiment, however, continues to lag price action. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell today to a reading of 5, its lowest level on record, pushing sentiment deeper into “extreme fear” territory than during any previous bear market.

Glassnode analysts said in an X post today that the disconnect between prices and sentiment reflects a market under sustained stress rather than a clear capitulation event.

The analysts pointed out that the 30-day simple moving average of net flows for both BTC and ETH spot ETFs has remained negative for most of the past 90 days, showing “no sign of renewed demand.”

They added in a separate research report that liquidity remains thin, with traders maintaining defensive positioning. Without renewed spot demand or improvement in risk appetite, glassnode warned that price action is likely to remain driven by short-term positioning.

Big Movers and Liquidations

Looking at the top-100 assets by market cap, earlier today, Aster (ASTER) climbed more than 7% after the decentralized exchange confirmed that the mainnet launch of Aster Chain is scheduled for March. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token also rose about 7%, extending its recent rebound.

On the downside, Uniswap (UNI) led losses among large-caps, down 11.6%, erasing all of its gains from Wednesday’s rally that followed news of a strategic investment by BlackRock.

According to CoinGlass data, over 120,000 traders were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with total liquidations reaching $285 million. Bitcoin accounted for roughly $118 million of that total, followed by Ethereum at about $65 million.

ETFs and Macro Conditions

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, spot Bitcoin ETFs reversed their inflow streak, posting over $276 million in net outflows on the day. Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded net outflows of more than $129 million, according to data from SoSoValue.

In macro markets, U.S. Treasury yields moved lower today as investors assessed fresh labor data and looked ahead to Friday’s consumer price index report. The 10-year yield slipped to 4.158%, while the 30-year fell to 4.782%, CNBC reported.

Per a report published today from the U.S. Labor Department, initial jobless claims came in at 227,000 for the week ended Feb. 7, slightly above expectations but lower than the prior week, the report notes, adding that investors continue to digest January’s nonfarm payrolls report, which showed a decline in the unemployment rate to 4.3%.

XRP’s price has retreated for six consecutive weeks, in line with the broader market’s performance.

Ripple (XRP) token was trading at $1.3915 on Thursday, down by 62% from its all-time high of $3.6590. Technical indicators suggest the coin may be about to rebound as demand for the Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin rises.

Ripple USD supply is rising 

There are signs that demand for the RLUSD stablecoin is growing, a trend that may accelerate after Binance completes its integration on the XRP Ledger. The integration enabled users to deposit and withdraw the token on the largest crypto exchange in the industry.

Data compiled by Artemis shows that the supply of RLUSD in circulation jumped to over $1.5 billion for the first time ever. $1.1 billion of these tokens are in Ethereum, while the rest is in the XRP Ledger.

In a statement on Thursday, Jack McDonald, the Senior Vice President at Ripple Labs, hinted that the stablecoin will overtake “traditional dollar, Venmo, PayPal, and others.” He pointed to the rising institutional demand for the coin, especially as the developers gears to launch the Permissioned DEX platform.

Artemis data show that RLUSD’s usage continues to grow. It handled over 480,000 transactions in the last 30 days, while the adjusted transaction volume soared to close to $4.9 billion. Most of the volume was in decentralized finance, followed by blockchains and centralized exchanges.

Meanwhile, XRP price may benefit from the ongoing ETF inflows. Data compiled by SoSoValue show that spot XRP ETFs have added over $48 million this month so far, more than Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have shed substantial assets in the past few months.

XRP price prediction: Technical analysis 

The weekly timeframe chart shows that the XRP price has pulled back in the past few months as the crypto market crash accelerated.

The Relative Strength Index has moved to the oversold level of 30, its lowest level since August 2022. It is common for a coin to rebound after moving to the oversold level.

XRP has also formed a large falling wedge pattern, consisting of two descending, converging trendlines that are nearing the confluence point.

Therefore, the coin will likely rebound in the coming weeks, potentially reaching the key psychological level of $2.0, which is 45% above the current level.

Bitcoin BTC$66,988.52 has fallen back to the low end of its recent trading range during late-morning U.S. trading hours on Thursday as the tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbles 1.6%.

Trading at $65,700, bitcoin is now lower by 1.5% over the past 24 hours, while ether ETH$1,961.10, just above $1,900, is down more than 2%.

The bitcoin price action — uncorrelated with the Nasdaq when that index is headed higher, but perfectly correlated when it heads lower — has become all too familiar for the crypto sector. And the failure to hold any sort of sustained bounce from last week’s panicky plunge has bulls seemingly in full capitulation mode.

Alternative’s well-followed Crypto Fear & Greed Index today fell to just 5, a level of “extreme fear” exceeding even what was seen during the multiple collapses of the 2022 crypto winter and the 2020 Covid crash.

Also raising eyebrows is longtime bull Geoff Kendrick from Standard Chartered, slashing his 2026 price targets for bitcoin, ether, solana, BNB and AVAX, while warning bitcoin could dip to as low as $50,000.

Crypto stocks lose ground

Coinbase (COIN) and Robinhood (HOOD) are among the largest losers on Thursday, each down more than 8%. Coinbase reports fourth-quarter results after the bell, but Robinhood’s fourth-quarter report earlier this week confirmed that the crypto bear market had taken a large bite out of trading revenues in the final three months of 2025 — and that was before the price action got really bad to begin 2026.

Other large decliners today include Strategy (MSTR), down 4.2%, Circle Financial (CRCL), down 4.3%, and Hut 8 (HUT), down 6.6%.

Editor’s note: In today’s fintech landscape, global payment infrastructures are increasingly decisive in unlocking cross-border commerce. Juspay’s Dubai DIFC HQ marks a milestone in its expansion, signaling a focus on enterprise-grade payments in the Middle East. The move aligns with GCC digitization goals and regional fintech collaboration, and demonstrates how scalable payments platforms can drive growth across international markets. This release outlines Juspay’s strategy and what it means for merchants, banks, and developers navigating multi‑currency challenges.

Key points

• Juspay opens a regional headquarters in DIFC Dubai to expand its Middle East presence.
• The expansion aims to serve enterprise merchants, banks, and networks across GCC and MEASA.
• The DIFC hub enables closer engagement with partners to scale enterprise payments.
• Juspay powers 500+ enterprise merchants and banks globally with full‑stack payment orchestration and related services.

Why this matters

This expansion signals a long‑term commitment to open, interoperable payments across the MEA region, offering an institutional‑grade platform to handle multi‑currency and regulatory challenges. It also reinforces Dubai’s role as a fintech hub and positions Juspay to partner with regional banks, networks and merchants to scale payments across markets.

What to watch next

• Regional team growth and partnerships with banks and networks in DIFC and GCC.
• Adoption of Juspay’s payments orchestration platform by MEA enterprises.
• Regulatory and compliance readiness to support multi‑currency, cross‑border payments across GCC and MEASA.
• Expansion of services to additional markets in MEASA as demand scales.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Juspay Strengthens Middle East Presence with DIFC Headquarters

Dubai, February 10th, 2026 – Juspay, a global leader in payment infrastructure solutions for enterprises and banks, today announced its expansion into the Middle East with the opening of its regional headquarters in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This move marks an important step in Juspay’s international expansion, deepening its focus on serving enterprise merchants, banks, and financial institutions in the Middle East. The DIFC headquarters will support closer engagement with existing partners as enterprise payment demand continues to scale.

With digital commerce accelerating in the GCC region, rapidly scaling enterprises in sectors such as airlines, hospitality, e‑commerce, and financial services face increasing complexity driven by multiple regional currencies, evolving regulations, and diverse local payment methods.

To address this complexity, Juspay’s payments orchestration platform provides a unified & reliable payments stack, helping organizations optimize authorisation rates and costs, simplify compliance and scale seamlessly across GCC and global markets with institutional‑grade reliability.

Establishing operations in DIFC highlights Juspay’s long‑term commitment to the Middle East, with a focus on building , regulated, and enterprise‑grade payments infrastructure in the region. As a leading global financial hub, DIFC provides a strong regulatory environment, robust infrastructure, and access to high quality talent. Juspay plans to leverage this and work closely with regional banks, acquirers, networks, and ecosystem partners to deliver scalable and reliable payment solutions tailored for enterprises operating across global markets.

Commenting on the expansion, Sheetal Lalwani, Co‑founder & COO of Juspay, said: “Juspay has been building foundational payments infrastructure for large‑scale, mission‑critical commerce globally for over a decade. We are excited to bring these learnings to the Middle East and partner with merchants, banks, networks, and the broader ecosystem to build secure, scalable payments infrastructure that supports the region’s rapidly evolving digital economy.”

Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority said: “We are pleased to welcome Juspay to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s most significant fintech and financial services ecosystem. As a global leader in payment infrastructure, Juspay’s presence strengthens our growing digital economy, reinforces DIFC’s role as a catalyst for financial innovation and cements Dubai’s position as a top four global FinTech hub.”

With more than a decade of experience in scaling payment infrastructure, Juspay powers 500+ enterprise merchants and banks globally including Agoda, Amazon, Flipkart, Google, HSBC, IndiGo, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto & more. It offers a comprehensive suite of payment solutions that spans full‑stack payment orchestration, authentication, tokenisation, reconciliation, fraud solutions and more. The company also provides end‑to‑end, white‑label payment gateway and real‑time payments infrastructure tailored for banks. Together these capabilities enable merchants and banks to deliver seamless, reliable and scalable payment experiences to the end‑consumers.

Speaking about Juspay’s regional focus, Nakul Kothari, head of Middle East & APAC said, “By establishing our presence in the Middle East with DIFC, we continue our mission of building innovative payment solutions rooted in deep local market understanding. The region holds tremendous potential, and we are investing in long‑term partnerships with merchants and banks to help them build future‑ready payment stacks that can scale across markets.”

This expansion reflects Juspay’s long‑term vision of enabling open, interoperable, and accessible payments worldwide. With a team of over 1,500 payment experts solving payment complexities across Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, Europe, UK, and North America, Juspay is strategically positioned to reshape the Middle Eastern payments landscape. The company plans to grow its regional team, specifically targeting growth in business development, solution engineering, and partnerships.

About Juspay

Juspay is a leading multinational payments technology company, redefining payments for 500+ top global enterprises and banks. Founded in 2012, the company processes over 300 million daily transactions, exceeding an annualized total payment volume (TPV) of $1 trillion with 99.999% reliability. Headquartered in Bangalore, India, Juspay is powered by a global network of 1500+ payment experts operating across San Francisco, Dublin, São Paulo, Dubai, and Singapore.

Juspay offers a comprehensive product suite for merchants that includes open‑source payment orchestration, global payouts, seamless authentication, payment tokenization, fraud & risk management, end‑to‑end reconciliation, unified payment analytics & more. The company’s offerings also include end‑to‑end white label payment gateway solutions & real‑time payments infrastructure for banks. These products help businesses achieve superior conversion rates, reduce fraud, optimize costs, and deliver seamless customer experiences at scale.

To learn more about Juspay, visit: http://www.juspay.io

About Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres, and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), which comprises 77 countries with an approximate population of 3.7bn and an estimated GDP of USD 10.5trn. With a 20‑year track record of facilitating trade and investment flows across the MEASA region, the Centre connects these fast‑growing markets with the economies of Asia, Europe, and the Americas through Dubai. DIFC is home to an internationally recognised, independent regulator and a proven judicial system with an English common law framework, as well as the region’s largest financial ecosystem of 46,000 professionals working across over 6,900 active registered companies – making up the largest and most diverse pool of industry talent in the region. Comprising a variety of world‑renowned retail and dining venues, a dynamic art and culture scene, residential apartments, hotels, and public spaces, DIFC continues to be one of Dubai’s most sought‑after business and lifestyle destinations. For further information, please visit our website: http://difc.ae, or follow us on LinkedIn and X @DIFC. 

Here’s the latest hint from the Pi Network team that could affect millions within its community.

The Core Team behind the popular project has provided a comprehensive update on its Node infrastructure, revealing major progress on the promised decentralization while maintaining its phased rollout strategy.

They claimed that 16 million Pioneers have already migrated to the Mainnet, and Pi is trying to position its node system as the backbone of a large and identity-driven blockchain ecosystem. Additionally, they made some big claims about an upcoming “series of upgrades” that would require all Mainnet nodes to complete the first step by February 15.

Important reminder for Nodes: The Pi Mainnet blockchain protocol is currently undergoing a series of upgrades. The deadline for the first upgrade step is February 15. All Mainnet nodes must complete this step to remain connected to the network. More information is available here…

— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) February 11, 2026

Why Do Pi Nodes Matter

The post reiterated by the team explains that Pi Nodes represent the “fourth role” in Pi Network’s community, and they run on laptops and desktop computers, instead of mobile devices. Similar to nodes in other blockchain networks, they validate transactions and help maintain the distributed ledger.

However, since Pi Network does not use proof-of-work like Bitcoin, for example, as it relies on a consensus model based on the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), they have different responsibilities. In this system:

• Nodes form trusted groups (quorum slices)
• Security circles from mobile miners create a global trust graph
• Consensus is achieved through trust relationships rather than mining competition

The team believes this makes the system designed to be more energy efficient and accessible.

Levels of Participation

The post also explained that the Pi Network ecosystem works with three levels of participation. Through the first one, the computer app, users can install the Pi App interface to check balances, chat, and access internal apps. Node participation enables them to verify blockchain validity, submit transactions, and run the blockchain component.

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The third and most advanced option, called SuperNode, which is believed to be the “backbone of the blockchain,” allows Pioneers to participate in consensus, maintain ledger state, and synchronize network activity. They must operate 24/7 with stable connectivity and are selected by the Core Team upon KYC approval.

The Upcoming Upgrades

As mentioned above, the Core Team published on X that a series of upgrades is coming, which requires the first deadline step to be completed within the next few days. However, as it has happened during several of the team’s previous posts, the community was quick to lash out against some of the project’s controversial features.

Instead of commenting on the upcoming upgrades, many users questioned the lack of a clear strategy for the second migration and asked when their Pi tokens would be migrated to the Mainnet.

Others wanted more details on the upcoming upgrades and whether they would finally be able to shed light on the missing tokens.