Pi Network partners with the first digital bank! AI assistant, real-time transactions, and the future of finance are here.

The brand new digital banking app Gargoura Digital Bank has been released on the Pi Network testnet, sparking widespread discussion online as users share its powerful features. Its interface combines traditional banking functions with decentralized features, showcasing advanced tools like AI-assisted services and real-time transactions. The displayed balance of “314,159 USD” reflects Pi Network’s mathematical branding philosophy.

Gargoura Digital Bank Interface Merges Traditional and DeFi

(Source: PI Testnet)

The app is developed in French, with menu options including “Send” (Envoyer), “Receive” (Recevoir), and “Account Overview” (Aperçu du Compte). It resembles a traditional mobile banking app but offers greater flexibility through decentralized finance (DeFi). Pi Network’s testnet allows users to perform instant transfers, receive payments, and manage funds—features that highlight the core advantage of blockchain technology over traditional banking systems.

The interface’s design, mimicking real banking systems, is strategically significant. For most Pi Network users, this is their first exposure to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. If the interface is overly technical or too different from conventional financial apps, it could raise the learning curve and deter potential users. Gargoura’s choice to emulate the look and operational logic of traditional banking apps helps users experience blockchain benefits within a familiar environment, greatly reducing adoption barriers.

(Source: PI Testnet)

A prominent yellow warning icon indicates that this is not an operational financial tool but is in the testing phase. Since the network remains in a closed testnet stage, Pi coins have not yet been officially priced on the market. This warning is responsible, preventing users from mistaking testnet balances for real assets. Historically, confusion between testnet tokens and mainnet tokens has led to financial losses and legal issues.

The displayed balance of “314,159 USD” embodies Pi Network’s mathematical branding concept. 314,159 is a variation of the mathematical constant pi (3.14159), and this numerical play is central to Pi Network’s brand identity. From its inception, Pi has been named after pi, emphasizing its mathematical foundation and universality. Showing this specific number in Gargoura not only pays homage to the Pi brand but also serves as a marketing strategy to reinforce user identification with the Pi ecosystem.

Core Features of Gargoura Digital Bank

Real-Time Transfers: Instant send and receive on Pi Network testnet

AI-Assisted Tools: Intelligent assistant offering personalized financial advice and operational guidance

Account Management: Similar to traditional bank account overview and transaction history

DeFi Flexibility: Combining decentralized finance’s agility with user-friendly banking features

Multilingual Support: Currently in French, hinting at future expansion to other markets

Mixed Community Reactions and Official Certification Controversy

As popularity grows, some Pi Network users urge caution. Others praise the app’s futuristic feel, while some report access issues. A comment reminds everyone that the Pi core team has not officially approved Gargoura, implying it may be an independent testnet experiment. Testnet applications are prone to bugs and limited functionality, making verification crucial.

The fact that Pi Core Team has not officially endorsed Gargoura is a risk users should be aware of. Within the Pi ecosystem, not all applications running on the testnet are officially supported or recognized. Developers can freely deploy experimental apps on the testnet, but their security, functionality, and long-term sustainability are unverified by the official team. If users mistakenly believe Gargoura is an official app and invest real funds after mainnet launch, they could face financial losses.

Nevertheless, the enthusiastic community response is positive. Even if Gargoura does not become an official part of the Pi ecosystem, it demonstrates developer interest in building on Pi’s blockchain. Such third-party developer participation is essential for any blockchain ecosystem’s maturity. The success of Bitcoin and Ethereum owes much to their large developer communities. If Pi Network can attract high-quality developers, its long-term prospects will improve significantly.

Currently, over 210 decentralized applications (dApps) are active within the Pi Network ecosystem. While this is far fewer than Ethereum’s tens of thousands of dApps, it’s a notable achievement for a project not yet fully launched on mainnet. These 210 dApps span categories like payments, gaming, social media, and finance, indicating active exploration of Pi’s application possibilities.

The choice of a French interface is also noteworthy. French is the fifth most spoken language globally, widely used in Africa, Europe, and parts of Canada. Gargoura’s focus on the French market may be driven by strong demand for digital financial services and relatively low banking penetration in these regions. Particularly in Francophone Africa, many lack traditional bank accounts but have rapidly increasing smartphone adoption, creating a significant market opportunity for blockchain-based digital banking.

Pi Network’s Vision of AI + DeFi Integration

Gargoura Digital Bank emphasizes Pi Network’s goal of combining AI-driven personal finance with blockchain-based decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Its real-time transaction system and online assistant embody a user-centric smart financial model. This strategy reflects global fintech trends, where AI and decentralization are transforming how people manage their funds.

AI-assisted tools hold enormous potential in financial applications. Smart assistants can analyze user spending patterns, offer personalized savings advice, and suggest investment strategies. They can automate routine tasks like scheduled transfers, bill payments, and asset rebalancing, reducing user effort. Advanced features might include risk assessment, fraud detection, and market trend prediction. If Gargoura or similar apps can deliver these on the mainnet, they could offer Pi Network a value proposition beyond traditional crypto wallets.

The integration of DeFi provides flexibility that traditional banks cannot match. In a decentralized architecture, users have full control over their assets without relying on centralized institutions or risking account freezes. Cross-border transfers can be completed in seconds with much lower fees. DeFi protocols also enable lending, staking, and liquidity mining, often offering higher yields than conventional savings accounts.

As Pi Network advances toward mainnet, apps like Gargoura could define Pi’s digital economy future. If testnet success leads to official approval, Gargoura might become a flagship app within Pi, serving millions of users with banking services. Such success would attract more developers and businesses to build on Pi, creating positive network effects.

However, transitioning from testnet to mainnet involves challenges. Stability, regulatory compliance, security audits, and user experience improvements require significant time and resources. While Gargoura’s current features are impressive, whether it can operate reliably on mainnet—handling real funds and large user volumes—remains to be seen.

Gargoura Digital Bank’s Pi testnet cleverly blends aesthetic design, AI, and DeFi. Its visual appeal and symbolic balance have captured community attention, prompting reflections on Pi’s development speed—sometimes even outpacing mainnet launch. While encouraging, this also highlights a core contradiction in Pi’s development: the active developer ecosystem versus the slow pace of mainnet deployment.