Pi Network has released a Remote Procedure Call (RPC) server on Testnet!
This is an important infrastructure milestone that supports the development, testing, and future deployment of smart contracts within the Pi ecosystem.
The release builds on the Node and Protocol upgrades announced on Pi Day 2026, where Pi’s Mainnet blockchain was upgraded to Protocol 20 to establish the foundation for smart contract capabilities. Pi Mainnet protocol upgrades have continued, with the network now upgrading to Protocol 21.
What the RPC Server Enables
The RPC server is an interface that allows applications to communicate with the blockchain by sending requests and receiving responses.
This infrastructure is key to building practical smart contract-based applications. The RPC server supports two essential types of smart contract interactions:
- Read-only calls (no fees required): Developers can query smart contract data, such as account states, balances, or application-specific information, without incurring gas fees. These operations do not modify blockchain state and can be executed instantly through the RPC endpoint.
- State-changing transactions (require fees): Operations that alter blockchain state, such as executing contract logic or updating data, continue to require standard transaction processing and associated fees.
Many real-world use cases depend heavily on fast, free read access. By enabling efficient communication between applications and the blockchain, the RPC server unlocks the ability for developers to:
- Build responsive applications that rely on real-time blockchain data;
- Test and simulate smart contract behavior in a controlled environment; and
- Integrate backend services and user interfaces with Pi blockchains.
Developers: Test the RPC Server!
The RPC server is currently available on Pi Testnet for developers to explore and test.
Developers are encouraged to try it out:
curl https://rpc.testnet.minepi.com \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"getHealth"}'
Based on Testnet performance and reliability, the RPC server will be released on Mainnet as well.
Node Operators: Add Your Own RPC Servers!
Node operators or businesses running services that depend on smart contracts are also able to add their own RPC servers, whether dedicated to their internal use or made publicly accessible.