Pi Network's PI token rose to around $0.09 on Aug. 12, gaining roughly 4%-5% over 24 hours after the Aug. 11 deadline for Mainnet node operators to install Protocol 26 passed. The move partly reversed recent weakness that had pushed the token back below $0.09 and lifted its market capitalization to just under $1 billion, making it the 65th-largest cryptocurrency, according to the newer report. Pi Network had warned node operators to upgrade or lose network connectivity, making the cutoff a key operational milestone. While the Core Team had not officially confirmed that Protocol 26 was live, X users including Rizo and amrOnChain said v26 had been rolled out, with amrOnChain also saying Testnet 2 was on v26. Pi Network has described Protocol 26 as the second-to-last planned upgrade before version 27 and says it is intended to improve smart contract safety and cryptographic functions.