Ecosystem Directory Staking is a decentralized way for Pioneers and businesses to actively support and promote the ranking of Pi apps and utilities in the Ecosystem Interface.
The Ecosystem Interface is where Pioneers can browse Pi apps by category in Pi Browser, including Mainnet apps, Pi App Studio apps, and services like centralized exchanges.
Pioneers and businesses can stake their Pi on the Mainnet blockchain to directly boost an app’s or service’s ranking within the ecosystem. Staking increases the app’s exposure to the Pi community, resulting in more impressions and potentially more user traffic. This feature provides a self-service avenue for developers and creators to use Pi to tap into the attention resource of Pi Network to acquire users. The community can also collectively review apps through an actual stake with economic weight, rather than through just comments like in typical Web2 app directories.
Originally launched in June 2025, staking is a lightweight platform-level utility of Pi that requires minimum effort in setup and participation for developers to access Pi’s attention and user acquisition resources, as compared with Pi Ad Network or Pi Launchpad which require more work in application and approval processes.
For example, in less than one week after the CiDi Games beta launch, the app’s ranking was organically boosted by 3.19 million staked Pi, which resulted in strong visibility and over 1.2 million game plays in under one week. This demonstrates how Ecosystem Directory Staking can serve as a visible signal of community interest.
This week, Ecosystem Directory Staking released an updated design with various user-experience improvements, and it is ready for further utilization by developers, creators, vibe coders and Pioneers. App rankings can be viewed in the PiApps tab of the Pi Browser, which, with the update, now enables easier ecosystem discovery and navigation.
Ecosystem Directory Staking can be especially useful as AI-assisted tools make it easier to create apps, but more difficult to reach real users. It offers vibe coders, developers and creators a way to use Pi for their apps to be discovered, supported, and improved by the over 60 million engaged Pioneers in the Pi ecosystem.
Note: There are no Pi rewards at the protocol level for staking, as the network does not promote one Pi app over another. It is up to the third-party developer of a Pi app or service to decide whether they want to provide staking incentives, such as app features, overall quality, user experience, in-app rewards, promotions, or other benefits, to Pioneers. The original staked amount will be returned to users once the staked duration has ended.