PiFest 2024 has concluded, demonstrating the incredible utility of Pi in local commerce worldwide. With the support of Map of Pi, the Pioneer-built Pi Commerce Hackathon winner that allows local merchants to be discovered by Pioneer shoppers in their app, this year’s PiFest drew Pioneers to local shops in unprecedented numbers. Pioneers used their Pi Wallets to transact in Pi on the Pi Mainnet blockchain for real goods and services around the world. Let’s dive into the highlights of this year’s PiFest, celebrating its global reach, engagement, and the inspiring utility of Pi commerce.
Global Participation and Local Engagement
This year’s event was defined by real-world engagement as Pi-powered businesses registered for the event and Pioneer shoppers visited them in person. From bustling markets to local restaurants, the event came alive as Pioneers explored and supported the growing Pi utility in their local community. Local businesses integrating Pi included service providers like real estate agents accepting their service fees in Pi, trip planning and booking services, freelance designers, and auto repair shops providing essential vehicle services, as well as a variety of goods-based businesses like fashion boutiques, Asian-style BBQ shops, art craft shops showcasing handmade creations, and cozy cafes serving delicious coffee. These shops and more highlighted the diverse range of services and products now available for Pi transactions.
Over 55,000 sellers—27,000 active and 28,000 test sellers—from over 160 countries and regions have now signed up in the Map of Pi app to participate in Pi commerce! Over 950,000 unique Pioneers used Map of Pi to browse and search local businesses, and left thousands of reviews of the stores as they shopped there using Pi. This represents a significant increase in engagement from last year’s PiFest, which had 21,000 shoppers respond to the survey. These numbers highlight the growing enthusiasm among businesses to integrate Pi as a means of connection and commerce and much wider participation by Pioneer shoppers who use Pi in their local community.
Complete Pi Ecosystem Supporting Local Commerce
The standout aspects of PiFest were the community engagement and the user experience seamlessly balancing online and offline engagement. While the local shopping experience is offline in physical stores—made possible by our massive and enthusiastic community—the store discovery (in Map of Pi), the payments (via Pi Wallets), the cryptocurrency transactions (on Pi Mainnet blockchain), and experiences sharing and socializing (on Fireside Forum) occurred online across different Pi apps and ecosystem components. This full loop of the Pi local shopping experience demonstrated that the Pi ecosystem is complete in providing an easy integration with Pi in local commerce, allowing people to have seamless local shopping experiences using Pi and enabling local businesses to grow through the Pi platform and community.
On Fireside Forum, Pioneers used the #PiFest channel to share their experiences, post images of their favorite shops, and discuss the potential of Pi commerce in their local communities. Pioneers came together to share their experiences visiting Pi-integrated shops and sharing their visions for the future of Pi as we continue to work towards Open Network. This active engagement reflects the community’s commitment to Pi’s growth and its role in shaping Pi commerce.
Continuing the Pi Commerce Journey
Although PiFest has concluded, Pi commerce continues to evolve, and the utility of Pi doesn’t end here. Pioneers are encouraged to keep exploring and supporting local Pi businesses, using various Pi products and apps as part of their everyday shopping experience to find more Pi-integrated stores and transact Pi locally for goods and services. Merchants can also continue to register and update their shops, expanding the network of Pi-integrated businesses and helping Pi’s inclusive, and community-oriented ecosystem.
PiFest 2024 was a celebration of the capability of the Pi ecosystem in local commerce and the Pi community’s commitment to building a connected and global utility powered by Pi. From in-person shop visits to lively interactions on Fireside Forum, PiFest highlighted the collaborative spirit that drives Pi commerce forward. The connections and momentum built during PiFest will continue to strengthen our community and expand opportunities for Pi-integrated businesses and Pioneers.
