What is ISO 20022, and why is it important?
ISO 20022 is a global standard that defines how financial institutions exchange information for transactions such as payments, securities and remittances. It replaces older, fragmented messaging systems with a unified, structured format that allows banks, fintech companies and payment networks around the world to communicate in the same digital language.
Adoption of ISO 20022 cross-border compatibility by enabling the secure and efficient sharing of richer, structured transaction data (such as payment intent and sender and receiver information). It improves transparency, reduces the number of errors and speeds up the processing of international transfers.
The global transition to ISO 20022 marks a major milestone in financial modernization. Several central banks and payment systems, including the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) and the US Federal Reserve’s Fedwire, which completed its transition in July 2025, are implementing the standard, targeting full implementation by November 22, 2025.
After that date, most international financial institutions connected to Swift’s cross-border network are expected to use ISO 20022 as the common foundation for seamless, data-rich data.
What is the ISO 20022 approach of the PI Network?
The PI Network’s plan to adopt the ISO 20022 standard is divided into three main phases: preparation before November 2025, activation by November 22, 2025, and post-launch adoption.
The upgrade builds on PI Network’s large user base, reflected in more than 50 million app downloads. Pi plans to introduce improved tools for cross-border payments, secure digital wallets and a decentralized exchange (DEX) To support real-world transactions.
By adopting ISO 20022, the PI network will gain easier integration with banking systems, enabling faster, cheaper and more transparent digital transfers. This move could help PI evolve from a community-driven project into a recognized participant in global payments, bridging the gap between cryptocurrency and regulated finance.
do you know Unlike Bitcoin, the PI network does not consume large amounts of electricity or require specialized hardware. Users “mine” coins just by tapping a button, making this one of the biggest social crypto experiments in history.
How Pi Network compares to XRP Ledger and Stellar Network
Ripple’s XRP ledger and the stellar network are well-established blockchain systems for cross-border payments and financial integration. The XRP ledger enables fast, institutional-grade remittance solutions with near-instant settlement for banks and payment providers, while stellar is focused on financial inclusion, offering low-cost transfers and greater access to banking to underserved communities.
Both networks are compatible with the ISO 20022 standard. The XRP ledger supports the following messaging formats through Ripple’s enterprise solutions, while the design of the stellar network is aligned with the financial communication standard, making it interoperable with ISO-based systems.
The PI network differentiates itself through its strategic alignment with the ISO 20022 transition and its focus on emerging markets. Its strengths include access and broad community outreach, but it currently lacks institutional partnerships, liquidity and proven track record of the XRP ledger and the stellar network.
The critical challenge for the PI network is whether it can move beyond replication to build the trust, adoption and stable ecosystem necessary to compete with the XRP ledger and the stellar network in global payments.
Here is a comparison of the PI network with the XRP ledger and the stellar network:
Opportunities and challenges for the PI network
The PI Network is at an important moment as it prepares for the ISO 20022 upgrade, which presents both major opportunities and potential risks. Its mobile-first approach and base of more than 50 million app downloads position it to promote financial inclusion in regions such as Africa, Asia and Latin America, where access to banking remains limited in many areas.
The global transition to ISO 20022 by November 2025 gives the PI Network a timely opportunity to integrate with international systems and expand to cross-border payments and digital remittances.
However, the PI network faces many challenges. It must build institutional trust, meet regulatory and compliance requirements and ensure adequate liquidity within its token economy. The success of its Mainnet launch, DEX performance and merchant adoption will be crucial in establishing long-term credibility.
Potential applications include remittances, merchant payments and future collaborations with governments or fintech firms. While ISO 20022 alignment opens up new possibilities, the global success of the PI Network depends on achieving sustained, real-world adoption beyond the upgrade itself.
do you know XRP (XRP) XRP ledger transactions typically settle in three to five seconds, compared to many traditional bank transfers, which can take hours or even days for cross-border payments, marking a significant improvement in global payment efficiency.
Benchmarks and three scenarios for global payments of the pi network
The PI Network’s path to global relevance depends on its ability to turn technical ambition into measurable adoption. To do this, it must meet both the credential benchmarks that define Ripple’s XRP ledger and the stellar network.
In order to reach a status comparable to the XRP ledger and the stellar network, the PI network must meet key benchmarks that demonstrate world credibility. This includes building partnerships with banks and financial institutions, achieving significant cross-border transaction volumes and securing visible adoption by merchants or government entities.
Stable token liquidity, active DEX participation and a thriving app ecosystem will serve as critical indicators of true adoption. Currently, key metrics to monitor include bank or fintech merger announcements, progress in mainnet activation and open-market trading and adoption in emerging market remittance corridors. These developments will reveal whether PI can transform from potential to proven performance.
Three possible situations can open up:
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Best case: The PI network becomes a third major ISO 20022-aligned payment network alongside the XRP ledger and the stellar network.
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Average case: The PI network establishes a significant niche in the generating-economy of remittances but cannot reach the institutional scale of the XRP ledger or the stellar network.
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Worst case: Technical, regulatory or ecosystem-adoption challenges prevent the PI network from achieving significant cross-border scale.
do you know Stellar was founded by Jed McCaleb, co-founder of Ripple, with a mission to promote financial inclusion. The UN has used it to deliver aid payments to Ukraine, serving as a real-world example of Crypto’s potential humanitarian potential.
ISO 20022 Upgrading the Pi Network: A New Era or an Overhyped Dream?
The upcoming ISO 20022 upgrade of the PI Network provides a solid foundation for global integration, but achieving true success will require more than meeting technical standards. To compete with the XRP Ledger and the Stellar Network, the PI Network must prove its practicality, reliability and capacity to form institutional partnerships that prove its value in the financial world.
With November 22, 2025, activation approaching, the PI Network aims to enable inclusive digital payments that can drive greater financial inclusion in emerging markets. However, making the vision a reality will require clear governance, regulatory compliance and a seamless user experience across crypto wallets, DEXs and merchant tools.
The success of the PI Network will be measured by post-launch indicators such as transaction volume, liquidity growth and recognition from governments or banks. The outcome will determine whether it marks the beginning of a new era in digital finance or will be dismissed as an overhyped cryptocurrency vision.
