The Pi Foundation today announced the launch of Pi Network Ventures, a $100 million development initiative aimed at investing in startups and businesses that drive Pi adoption and utility.
The fund will be split between Pi tokens and US dollars, sourced from 10% of the PI supply allocated for foundation reserves.
Pi Network’s $100 Million Venture to Improve Utility
The initiative comes shortly after Pi Network’s Open Network launch, which enabled external connectivity. Pi Network Ventures will support early-stage to Series B companies that integrate Pi into products, services, or business processes. Investments will focus on sectors beyond crypto, including AI, fintech, ecommerce, embedded payments, and consumer applications.
Unlike typical blockchain venture funds, Pi Network Ventures plans to operate with Silicon Valley-style sourcing, selection, and vetting processes. Most investments will be made directly in Pi tokens rather than fiat, aligning incentives with Pi’s ecosystem growth.
The Pi Foundation emphasized that the fund’s goal is to accelerate real-world use cases of Pi and strengthen network effects among its tens of millions of KYC-verified users. The $100M is not guaranteed to be fully deployed and will be invested over time depending on the quality and number of applicants.
This marks a major development step as Pi seeks broader real-world integration and decentralized utility expansion.
Bitcoin (BTC) surged past the $90,000 mark following reports of its potential preferential treatment in President Donald Trump’s proposed US crypto reserve strategy.
The speculation comes ahead of the White House Crypto Summit, which Trump will host and feature top digital asset industry executives.
Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Plan Unveiled
Citing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, The Pavlovick Today revealed that the strategic cryptocurrency reserve would be on Friday’s agenda for President Trump’s White House Crypto Summit.
“The President definitely thinks that there’s a Bitcoin strategic reserve. Now there will be the question of, how do we handle the other cryptocurrencies? And I think the model is going to be announced on Friday,” Lutnick reportedly stated.
Reportedly, Trump envisions a strategic Bitcoin reserve, distinguishing it from other cryptocurrencies. Lutnick suggested Bitcoin would receive unique status under Trump’s plans.
“So Bitcoin is one thing, and then the other currencies, the other crypto tokens, I think, will be treated differently—positively, but differently,” he added.
Following this news, Bitcoin reclaimed the $90,000 psychological level, with BTC trading for $90,097 as of this writing. According to BeInCrypto data, this represents a surge of over 7% since Wednesday’s session opened.
The prospective preferential treatment for Bitcoin is unsurprising given its heft as the pioneer crypto. Similarly, its commodity status, like Ethereum (ETH), also positions it for possible privilege.
In a recent Truth Social post, he emphasized his administration’s commitment to elevating the crypto sector. Specifically, Trump announced that the US crypto reserve would include XRP, SOL, and ADA alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.
However, Lutnick’s comments suggest that Bitcoin may receive special status under the new framework. While Trump’s announcement has fueled bullish sentiment in the Bitcoin market, it has also sparked significant debate.
Some crypto leaders have expressed skepticism about including alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) in the US reserve. Critics argue that favoring Bitcoin while treating other tokens differently could create market distortions.
Another major talking point is Ethereum’s role—or lack thereof—in the prospective crypto reserve strategy. The White House Crypto Summit will feature leaders from ecosystems running on Ethereum, but the blockchain lacks representation.
Notwithstanding, the announcement of a strategic crypto reserve has led to speculation about an incoming altseason. Tim Haldorsson, founder of Luna Strategy, told BeInCrypto that Trump’s plan could drive increased investment into altcoins.
However, Henrik Zeberg Jensen, the head of Macroeconomics and fund manager of Swissblock Technologies AG, has a different opinion.
“Trump does not stand as a testimony to or a proof of which tokens will have success. Look at his meme coin [TRUMP]! No usability- and driven by speculation. The success of any token in the long run will be based on the usability of the token in future solutions which will lift productivity and reduce cost. Trump’s picks in that respect seem arbitrary,” Zeberg told BeInCrypto.
Should Bitcoin get preferential treatment in the crypto reserve, altcoins could still benefit. Historically, Bitcoin-led rallies have often paved the way for altcoin surges.
AI meme coins led the rally, with AIXBT surging 17% despite a quiet broader market. This bullishness suggests AI memes still have strong investor interest.
BeInCrypto has analyzed two additional AI meme coins for investors to watch today, highlighting their potential price directions.
AIXBT price surged nearly 17% in the last 24 hours, currently trading at $0.210. The AI meme coin is trying to hold $0.209 as a support floor, aiming to stabilize its recent gains and build momentum for a potential further rally.
Despite recent gains, AIXBT has faced resistance at $0.209 several times, breaking it only once. The Parabolic SAR indicator above the candlesticks signals a possible decline, suggesting caution as the price struggles to maintain upward momentum.
If broader market conditions remain weak, AIXBT could drop back to support at $0.166. However, securing $0.209 as support might fuel a rally toward $0.227, invalidating bearish concerns and signaling renewed buying interest.
ai16z experienced volatility in the last 24 hours, dipping to an intra-day low near $0.260 before rebounding. Since then, the meme coin has surged 21%, showing resilience amid market fluctuations and renewed investor interest.
The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator shows a sharp uptick, signaling strong capital inflows. This boost supports ai16z’s price rise, with the altcoin aiming to break the $0.342 resistance and potentially reach $0.380 if the momentum continues.
However, selling pressure could disrupt this trend. If ai16z fails to breach $0.342 or faces heavy investor sell-offs, the price might drop toward the $0.256 support level from its current $0.317, weakening the bullish outlook.
VADER gained 8% in the last 24 hours, trading at $0.0415 while attempting to hold $0.0385 as support. With over 215,690 holders, the meme coin has attracted attention since early May, showing growing interest among investors despite volatility concerns.
Investors should be cautious as VADER lacks a transaction tax limit, allowing the contract owner to change terms at will. The next key resistance level is $0.0510. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains in the bullish zone, indicating potential upward momentum for the meme coin.
If VADER fails to maintain support at $0.0385, the price could drop to $0.0340 or lower at $0.0286. Such a decline would invalidate the current bullish outlook, signaling increased selling pressure and potential losses for holders.
