Comparison of investment prospects: Why Pi Network is losing significance, while new GameFi projects attract the attention of analysts

Sentiment Shift at the Beginning of 2026

In the first weeks of 2026, the cryptocurrency market is undergoing a clear transformation. Investors are shifting focus away from established projects and are increasingly interested in early-stage solutions that offer concrete applications and transparent economic mechanics. This trend is directly related to Bitcoin’s stabilization, which is currently hovering around $97,020. Such price consolidation of the largest cryptocurrency naturally directs capital toward assets with higher growth potential.

Structural Challenges of Pi Network Hinder Its Recovery

Pi Network serves as a cautionary example of a project facing a series of market and technical obstacles. The PI token, currently valued at $0.21 with a weekly decrease of 0.22%, shows weak responsiveness even amid market gains accompanying Bitcoin’s rise. Compared to its peak of $3 in February last year, the current valuation represents a decline of over 90 percent.

Analysts point to several fundamental issues limiting the token’s potential. The project still does not have a fully decentralized mainnet, data on actual circulating supply remains unclear, and integration with trading platforms is limited. Additional concerns include centralization of management and blocked user balances.

Flows to centralized trading exchanges further deepen investor uncertainty. Over the past 24 hours, 1.8 million PI tokens have been transferred to trading platforms, which traditionally signals preparations for sale. The volume of PI on spot markets is currently around 425 million tokens, with Gate.io remaining the main liquidity hub for this asset.

Despite these obstacles, a small group of market observers has not lost hope. They see signs of a possible breakout from the current downtrend and note that token unlock plans appear less aggressive than in previous periods. However, with over 130 million PI scheduled for release within 30 days, selling pressure is likely to persist.

Peer-to-Peer Mechanics as an Alternative to Inflationary Models

An alternative to traditional token issuance schemes are projects that leverage actual user activity as a source of value. Tapzi platform exemplifies this approach within the GameFi segment. Users can participate in skill-based games—chess, checkers, logic games—staking $TAPZI tokens in direct matches against other players.

The key difference lies in the reward structure. Instead of relying on continuous new token emissions, rewards come directly from peer-to-peer stakes between participants. This eliminates the main source of inflation characteristic of many GameFi projects while reducing the risk of long-term devaluation.

The platform combines off-chain mechanics for speed of execution with on-chain settlements to verify results. Each match requires signatures from both players and transaction verification before distributing rewards. This hybrid model ensures responsive gameplay while maintaining transparency on the blockchain.

How Usage-Based Economics Affect Price Potential

The value growth of the Tapzi token theoretically depends on three factors: the number of active users, tournament frequency, and staking-based access functions. The absence of external inflationary drivers means that price increases are not supported by additional emissions but by actual demand generated within the platform.

For investors assessing the project’s early potential, this model offers predictability. Capital allocation at the current valuation level allows securing a significant number of tokens before potential price increases as the user base grows.

The comparison with Pi Network highlights a significant difference in approach. While Pi Network struggles with centralization issues and lack of real use cases, Tapzi has a defined economic goal: each player is a potential consumer requiring tokens to participate.

Implications for Investment Strategies in 2026

The current market landscape indicates a clear divide between traditional projects and innovative ones. Pi Network illustrates the danger of projects where technical promises do not materialize in practice. Conversely, platforms like Tapzi and other GameFi projects demonstrate that real utility and transparent economics can attract interest despite the absence of marketing hype.

For market participants seeking exposure to GameFi assets, key criteria should include: a verifiable economic model, an actual user base, minimized dilution risk, and a clear white paper describing the platform mechanics.

The choice between projects reflects a maturing cryptocurrency market, where narratives give way to fundamentals.