Case Study: A Business That Accepts PI as Payment

As the PI Network continues to grow, some pioneering businesses have started to accept PI as a form of payment. This case study explores one such business, shedding light on the opportunities and challenges of using PI in the real world.

The Business: A Local Café in the Philippines

In early 2024, a small family-owned café in Cebu, Philippines, began accepting PI for selected items on its menu. The café, known for its strong community ties, saw this as an opportunity to attract tech-savvy customers and support the growth of alternative financial systems.

Implementation

The owners created a simple payment system: customers would scan a QR code linked to the café’s PI wallet and transfer the agreed amount. Prices in PI were manually calculated based on the estimated conversion rate discussed within local PI groups. A chalkboard menu was used to display the PI prices alongside the regular currency.

Customer Response

The café received a lot of positive feedback from both new and existing customers. Many PI Network users visited the café specifically to try out the payment method. It created a buzz on social media and even attracted a few local news outlets to cover the story.

Benefits

• Increased Visibility: The café gained attention from the local PI community and online audiences.
• New Customers: PI users in the area visited out of curiosity, increasing foot traffic.
• Community Engagement: The initiative fostered discussions about digital currencies among customers.

Challenges

• Volatility: Without an official exchange rate, PI’s value fluctuated, creating uncertainty in pricing.
• Regulatory Concerns: The café had to ensure compliance with local business laws regarding alternative currencies.
• Limited Usage: Not all customers were familiar with PI or had access to the app.

Lessons Learned

This case highlights the real-world potential of PI as a medium of exchange, especially in communities open to innovation. However, it also emphasizes the need for clearer infrastructure, exchange mechanisms, and broader adoption before PI can become a mainstream payment method.

Conclusion

While still in its early stages, this café’s experience shows that accepting PI is not just a futuristic idea—it’s happening today in small, meaningful ways. As more businesses explore this option, PI's journey from a mobile mining app to a usable digital currency inches closer to reality.