Pi Coin Mining: How Users Can Mine Pi Coins Using Their Smartphones

Cryptocurrency mining often conjures images of humming rigs, expensive hardware, and sky-high electricity bills—think Bitcoin miners racing to solve complex puzzles with specialized equipment. But Pi Network flips this narrative on its head, offering a revolutionary way for anyone with a smartphone to mine cryptocurrency without the hassle or cost. Launched in 2019 by a team of Stanford graduates, Pi Network has redefined mining by making it accessible, eco-friendly, and user-friendly. In this article, we’ll dive into how users can mine Pi coins using their smartphones, and you can get started yourself with the invitation code Billbesto.

BillBesto

5/8/20243 min read

What Is Pi Coin Mining?

Pi Network is a mobile-first cryptocurrency project designed to bring digital currency to the masses. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that demand computational power, Pi Network allows users to “mine” Pi coins directly from their iOS or Android devices with a simple tap. The process doesn’t drain your battery, overheat your phone, or require technical know-how—making it a stark departure from the resource-heavy mining of coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum.

At its core, Pi Network uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a lightweight, trust-based system that relies on a network of users rather than energy-intensive computations. This enables Pi to distribute coins to millions of “Pioneers” worldwide while keeping the process sustainable. As of March 4, 2025, Pi Network has surpassed 70 million users and recently transitioned to an Open Mainnet on February 20, 2025, setting the stage for Pi coins to become tradable and usable in real-world applications.

How to Mine Pi Coins with Your Smartphone

Mining Pi coins is as easy as downloading an app and pressing a button. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Download the Pi Network App
Head to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for “Pi Network.” Download the official app—it’s free and lightweight.
Sign Up with an Invitation Code
To join the network, you’ll need an invitation code from an existing user. Use Billbesto during registration to unlock access and start mining. This code connects you to the Pi ecosystem and boosts your mining rate through the referral system.
Create Your Account
Enter your phone number or sign up via Facebook, then set up a username and password. The app will guide you through a quick onboarding process.
Start Mining
Once registered, you’ll see a lightning bolt icon in the app. Tap it to begin mining your first Pi coins. You’ll need to repeat this action every 24 hours to keep your mining session active. That’s it—no fancy hardware or tech skills required!
Build Your Security Circle
To increase your mining rate and enhance network security, invite trusted contacts to join your “security circle.” This step is optional but recommended, as it boosts your earnings and strengthens the blockchain’s trust model.
Earn Referral Bonuses
Share your own invitation code (like Billbesto) with friends. For each active referral, you’ll receive a 25% bonus on your base mining rate, accelerating your coin accumulation.

Why Smartphone Mining Works for Pi

Traditional mining, like Bitcoin’s Proof of Work (PoW), relies on solving cryptographic puzzles, which demands significant energy and computing power—think rows of GPUs or ASICs churning away in a warehouse. Pi Network, however, uses SCP, where mining isn’t about computation but participation. Your phone doesn’t “solve” anything; it simply signals your activity to the network. This keeps energy use negligible, aligning with Pi’s eco-friendly ethos.

The app runs in the background without impacting your phone’s performance. You won’t notice slowdowns, excessive data usage, or battery drain—unlike the urban legends of crypto mining frying laptops. Pi’s design ensures that mining is a passive activity, seamlessly fitting into your daily routine.

Rewards and Mining Rate

When you start mining with Billbesto, your base mining rate is 0.1 Pi per hour (rates adjust as the network grows). This increases as you contribute to the network:

Referrals: Add 0.025 Pi/hour per active referral.
Security Circle: Completing it can further boost your rate.
Milestones: Early adopters mined at higher rates, but new users still benefit from joining now as Pi builds toward broader adoption.

As of the Open Mainnet launch, mined Pi coins are locked until users complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification—a step to ensure security and prevent bots. Once verified, your coins can be migrated to the live blockchain, where they may soon be traded on exchanges like OKX or Bitget.

Benefits and Considerations

Benefits:

Accessibility: Anyone with a smartphone can mine—no barriers to entry.
Cost-Free: No hardware or electricity costs, unlike Bitcoin mining.
Community-Driven: The referral system (use Billbesto!) fosters growth and rewards participation.
Eco-Friendly: Minimal energy use compared to traditional mining.

Considerations:

Value Uncertainty: Pi isn’t widely tradable yet, so its future worth is speculative.
Centralization Concerns: Critics note Pi’s early phases were centralized, though the Mainnet aims to decentralize further.
Patience Required: Real-world utility is still developing, so mining now is a long-term bet.

Get Started Today