Chengdiao Fan is the co-founder and head of product at Pi Network, where she focuses on human-computer interaction and social computing. Her work applies research in anthropological sciences to blockchain technology. ^[1]

Career

Fan earned her Ph.D. in anthropological sciences from Stanford University in 2014, focusing on human behavior, group dynamics, and social computing. Her research explored how technology influences human interaction, productivity, and online communication. She later applied these principles to blockchain and decentralization, emphasizing human-computer interaction in digital ecosystems. In 2018, she co-founded Pi Network alongside Nicolas Kokkalis, and Vincent McPhillip, integrating social computing concepts with blockchain technology. ^[1]

Pi Network

Pi Network was launched on March 14, 2019, by Kokkalis, Fan, and McPhillip to create a more accessible, mobile-first cryptocurrency. Inspired by Bitcoin, the project aimed to remove third-party intermediaries in financial transactions while addressing barriers limiting mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Instead of using Bitcoin’s energy-intensive mining process, Pi Network developed a consensus mechanism based on social security circles, allowing users to validate transactions through a mobile application with minimal resource consumption. The idea was shaped by the founders’ experiences at Stanford, including Kokkalis’ course on decentralized applications and discussions with other faculty members. Their research focused on making blockchain technology more user-friendly and exploring applications beyond finance, including healthcare and identity management. The team emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration in distributed systems, cryptography, and social sciences to refine Pi Network’s development. ^[2]

“Cryptocurrency and blockchains have the potential to decentralize financial and legal services in the same way that the internet decentralized information and media. Unfortunately, in their current state, most cryptocurrencies remain out of reach of the everyday people who could most benefit from the technology.” - Dr. Fan

Interviews

About Pi Network

In a discussion about Pi Network, Dr. Fan and Kokkalis shared insights into the platform's unique features and future potential. Pi Network differentiates itself by targeting everyday people rather than investors, offering an accessible, free mining process that doesn't require technical expertise or significant financial investment. Its utility token, Pi, can be mined on mobile devices, allowing users to participate in an ecosystem where goods and services are purchased using Pi. Unlike Bitcoin's energy-intensive proof-of-work system, the platform operates on a low-energy consensus algorithm. Pi Network has never sold coins; instead, it raises funds through traditional startup equity. Intending to expand globally, the network aims to complete KYC for millions of users, preparing for a transition to its mainnet. Despite challenges in the broader crypto market, Pi Network remains stable, with its internal ecosystem unaffected by external fluctuations. ^[6]

Panels

Pi AMA

In January 2022, Kokkalis and Fan hosted an AMA addressing questions about the platform’s functionality and upcoming features. They confirmed that users would be able to track the total supply available for mining through the Pi Block Explorer and potentially within the app. They clarified that locked-up Pi would be included in the circulating supply, and lock-ups would have countdown timers. They explained that users who lost private keys to their wallets would have to wait for a reset period before transferring to Mainnet. Notifications were planned for balance transfers, allowing users to adjust lock-up settings beforehand. Initially, the app would support one wallet per user, but future updates might allow multiple wallets. The number of KYC-approved users might be displayed in the app or accessed via blockchain data. KYC validators would be compensated, but the exact Pi distribution was still being determined. A pool-based system would reward validators even if a user’s KYC application failed. The KYC validation process included privacy safeguards and segmented user data across multiple validators. Moderators would be the first to participate as validators, with a structured system for earning trustworthiness status. The co-founders also addressed technical difficulties and stated that KYC pilots would expand over time. ^[7]