TLDR
- Chengdiao Fan said token design should align with real product innovation.
- Pi Launchpad requires projects to have a working product before launch.
- Funds are placed into liquidity pools, not sent directly to builders.
- The model uses verified users to support product feedback and usage.
- Fan said AI makes app building easier, while distribution remains harder.
Pi Founder Chengdiao Fan used her Consensus 2026 talk to address a core Web3 challenge. She said tokens should support real product innovation and user utility, not only capital raising. Her presentation, “Aligning Web3, AI, and Blockchain for Utility,” placed Pi Launchpad at the center of that discussion. The model links tokens with apps, users, and engagement.
Pi Founder Calls For Better Token Design
Pi Founder Chengdiao Fan said token models must support real products and users. She made the remarks during her Consensus 2026 talk titled “Aligning Web3, AI, and Blockchain for Utility.” Her message focused on a common issue in Web3. Many projects launch tokens before they build useful products.
Fan said this creates poor alignment between users, builders, and long-term value. The talk placed Pi Launchpad within this wider debate. The model is designed to connect token launches with product readiness, user growth, and ongoing usage.
It aims to move tokens away from short-term fundraising. Fan said AI has changed the product market. Building applications is now easier because AI tools can help create code and interfaces. Yet products still need real users, feedback, and engagement to survive.
Pi Launchpad Focuses On Utility And Product Readiness
Pi Launchpad is designed to support ecosystem tokens linked to active products. A project must have a working product before it can launch a token. This means a functional app or service must exist first. The approach seeks to reduce launches based only on speculation.
It also sets a clear order for builders. They must create a product before asking users to join a token economy. Another part of the model concerns liquidity. Funds committed by participants are placed into liquidity pools. According to the described design, project teams do not receive those funds directly.
This structure aims to reduce quick exits after a token launch. It also gives the token a liquidity base from the start. The method changes the role of tokens from fundraising tools to user acquisition tools. Fan’s speech also connected the model with verified human users. According to Pi Network, its user base can help products gain early users. Those users can test products, give feedback, and decide whether to stay.
AI Era Raises The Value Of Real Distribution
Fan said the AI era makes app creation less difficult. However, distribution and real usage remain harder challenges. This point was central to her view of Web3 and product design. Under this approach, users are not treated only as token buyers. They are treated as participants who can use products and hold builders accountable. They can also leave when products fail to improve.
This user choice creates pressure on builders to keep improving. It also supports a stronger link between token use and product value. The model depends on active engagement, not only market trading. Pi’s approach combines blockchain tools, identity verification, launch design, and user access.
The goal is to support products that need real users and feedback. It also seeks to connect token activity with product needs. Fan’s central message was clear. Tokens should not stand apart from product innovation. They should support real utility, user adoption, and long-term participation across Web3 applications.





