"PI's Efforts in Gaming Encounter December Unlock Challenge Amid Growing Bearish Indicators"
PI Network Faces Volatility Amid New Gaming Partnership and Upcoming Token Unlock
PI Network (PI) is showing early signs of a potential rebound, but faces significant hurdles ahead, including a major token unlock scheduled for December and bearish technical signals. The cryptocurrency, known for its price swings, recently announced a collaboration with CiDi Games to boost PI's use within the gaming industry. Despite this positive development, PI experienced a 4% drop by Friday, with centralized exchanges seeing a surge in deposits totaling 1.71 million tokens. This influx suggests that investors remain cautious as the market prepares for the release of 186 million PI tokens—representing 43% of the PI supply held on exchanges—later this year.
Expanding Utility Through Gaming
The alliance with CiDi Games will see PI adopted as the main currency for in-game purchases, rewards, and payments across the developer’s titles. An open framework for this integration is expected to begin testing in early 2026, aiming to drive real-world adoption—an essential step for any digital asset seeking mainstream traction.
However, the market’s response has been cautious. PI’s price slipped to $0.2600, approaching the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $0.2921. Should the price fall below the 50-day EMA of $0.2446, it could test the psychologically important $0.2000 support level, which has historically provided a floor for the token.
Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals
- The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has eased to 61, signaling a retreat from overbought conditions.
- The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains above zero, indicating some lingering bullish momentum.
- The Fear & Greed Index stands at 28, reflecting a cautious mood among investors.
Market analysts from CoinCodex anticipate a 25% drop in PI’s value over the coming month, targeting $0.1805, and project a 12-month price of $0.1847. This outlook suggests continued downward pressure despite occasional short-term rallies.
Risks from December Token Unlock
The impending release of a large number of tokens in December poses a significant threat, as such events often lead to increased selling and downward price movement—especially if market sentiment is already fragile. PI’s current price is also trading below its 200-day simple moving average (SMA), a technical indicator often viewed as bearish by traders. Additionally, PI’s correlation with the top 100 cryptocurrencies (excluding stablecoins) sits at 0.489, indicating that it remains sensitive to broader market trends, which have been inconsistent for alternative coins recently.
Potential for Recovery Amid Uncertainty
Despite these challenges, some experts see possible catalysts for a turnaround. For instance, Impinj (PI)—a separate company sharing the same ticker—recently achieved a high Relative Strength Rating, highlighting the volatility and leadership shifts within the tech sector, which could indirectly affect sentiment around PI Network. Looking ahead, projections suggest that PI’s 50-day SMA could reach $0.2158 by late December 2025, potentially providing a support level for short-term investors.
Outlook: Navigating Growth and Market Pressure
PI Network’s future will depend on its ability to grow its real-world use cases while maintaining investor confidence. Strategic partnerships like the one with CiDi Games may offer long-term benefits, but the upcoming token unlock and weak technical indicators could limit gains in the near term. Key price levels to watch include the 100-day EMA and resistance at $0.2716 and $0.2928. If PI can stay above $0.2446, a move back toward $0.2921 is possible; however, a sustained drop below $0.2000 could reinforce the bearish trend.
