What Is Starmax: A Look at the Second Place Winner in the Pi Network 2025 Hackathon

Starmax is a web-based loyalty and payments application built for the Pi Network ecosystem that enables merchants to accept Pi as payment and run customized, Pi-denominated reward programs. It placed second in the Pi Network Hackathon 2025, a global developer competition held after the launch of Pi Network’s Open Network, which enabled external connectivity to the blockchain.

The project attracted attention for its narrow, practical focus. Rather than introducing new blockchain concepts, Starmax applies Pi to everyday retail transactions by combining payments and loyalty rewards in a single system, without requiring merchants or customers to interact directly with blockchain mechanics.

How Did Starmax Gain Recognition?

The Pi Network Hackathon 2025 was the first major hackathon held after Pi Network opened its blockchain to external connectivity in February 2025. According to Pi Network’s official announcement, the event was launched on December 11, 2025, and received more than 215 Mainnet application submissions from developers worldwide. The stated objective was to prioritize production-ready utilities capable of operating at scale within the Pi ecosystem.

Starmax was awarded second place, ranking behind Blind_Lounge, a privacy-focused social and dating application, and ahead of RUN FOR PI, a gaming app with Pi integration. Five additional projects received honorable mentions, including Kindrek, Workflet, PallyPay, SimpleJoy, and Agora Pulse. Together, the shortlisted projects reflected Pi Network’s stated emphasis on real-world utility rather than speculative or experimental use cases.

Earlier Pi Network hackathons in 2023 and 2024 produced applications such as Polls for Pi, Connect Social, and StreamVault, several of which are still maintained. By contrast, the 2025 edition showed a clearer shift toward merchant tools, consumer payments, and applications designed for routine use. Starmax aligns closely with that direction.

What Is Starmax Designed to Do?

Starmax is a loyalty and payments application that runs within the Pi Browser as a PiNet app. It enables merchants to create digital reward programs that use Pi as both the payment currency and the reward unit. Customers, referred to within the Pi ecosystem as Pioneers, can pay with Pi, earn rewards, and track those rewards across multiple participating businesses through a single interface.

The application is intended to replace traditional punch cards, points systems, and third-party loyalty platforms with a Pi-native alternative. By using Pi for both transactions and rewards, Starmax avoids fiat currency conversions, external payment processors, and physical infrastructure such as cards or printed vouchers.

How Does Starmax Work for Customers?

Based on official descriptions and published demo footage, Starmax uses a scan-and-earn workflow for customers. When visiting a participating store, a Pioneer scans a QR code generated by the merchant. The scan initiates a Pi payment and automatically records progress toward a predefined reward.

For example, a merchant may configure a reward that unlocks after a customer spends 30 Pi. Progress toward that reward is tracked automatically, without requiring the customer to manually manage points or stamps.

Rewards earned across different businesses are consolidated in the Starmax interface, reducing the need for multiple loyalty apps. The application also includes a discovery feature that displays participating merchants on an in-app map. Higher-rated businesses receive greater visibility, encouraging users to locate Pi-accepting stores and compare available offers.

One notable design feature is how Starmax addresses price fluctuations in Pi. If the value of Pi changes, reward progress is adjusted proportionally. This approach is intended to preserve the relative value of rewards for both customers and merchants, rather than fixing incentives to a static fiat equivalent.

How Does Starmax Work for Businesses?

For merchants, Starmax is designed to reduce technical and administrative barriers. Business owners create a store profile within the app, assign unique identifiers to staff, and generate QR codes for payments. Employees are not required to manage personal wallets or interact directly with blockchain interfaces, as transactions are handled through Pi’s infrastructure in the background.

Merchants can configure loyalty programs using simple Pi-based rules, such as “buy five, get one free,” or more complex reward structures for larger operations. Rewards may include free items, discounts, or other incentives defined by the business.

Starmax also provides basic engagement tools. Merchants can send notifications or promotions directly to users who have previously interacted with their store. This reduces reliance on third-party marketing platforms and avoids recurring fiat subscription fees. The application operates on a pay-per-use model denominated in Pi, rather than fixed monthly pricing.

Scalability is a central design consideration. Because Starmax does not require integration with traditional point-of-sale systems or currency exchanges, it can be adopted by small shops and larger retailers alike. Automated reward tracking further reduces manual reconciliation and the potential for errors.

Technical Architecture and Platform Integration

Starmax is built as a PiNet application and is accessed through the Pi Browser. It appears to use Pi’s blockchain to process transactions securely while abstracting technical details away from end users. Wallet addresses, transaction hashes, and other blockchain-specific elements are not exposed in the standard user flow.

The application emphasizes automation, including automatic reward calculation and proportional adjustments tied to changes in Pi’s value. This design approach aligns with Pi Network’s broader objective of making blockchain-based applications accessible to non-technical users.

At the time of writing, the public-facing site at starmax6101.pinet.com contains minimal information. This suggests the application is still in early deployment and is primarily intended for use within the Pi Browser. No detailed source code or system architecture has been released publicly, which is typical for hackathon projects moving toward production.

Team Background and Development Status

Public information about the Starmax development team remains limited. Official materials describe the project as an effort to build a transparent growth model based on rewards and user participation, but they do not list individual developers or organizational details. This level of disclosure is standard for early-stage hackathon projects, particularly those developed by small teams.

Promotional videos published under the Starmax name on YouTube indicate ongoing development and outreach following the hackathon. Based on the competition timeline, development likely began in mid-2025, with the hackathon serving as the project’s first significant public milestone.

What Challenges and Practical Constraints Does Starmax Face?

Despite its clearly defined use case, Starmax faces several constraints. As a new application, adoption remains limited, and early-stage technical issues are possible. Merchant onboarding requires outreach and education, particularly in regions where cryptocurrency payments are not widely used.

Pi’s price volatility presents an ongoing structural risk, even with proportional reward adjustments in place. Regulatory uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency payments also varies by jurisdiction and may affect merchant participation in certain markets.

Starmax’s growth is closely tied to the broader Pi Network ecosystem. Its success depends on the availability of active Pioneers and merchants willing to transact in Pi. The development team has encouraged business owners to introduce customers to Pi, reinforcing a network-driven adoption model.

Why Starmax Matters Within the Pi Ecosystem

Starmax does not introduce new blockchain technology. Instead, it applies existing Pi infrastructure to a specific and practical problem: customer loyalty in physical commerce. By combining payments and rewards into a single Pi-native system, it reinforces Pi’s role as a medium of exchange rather than a passive digital asset.

For Pi Network, applications like Starmax serve as tests of whether the ecosystem can support routine economic activity. For merchants, it offers a low-friction way to experiment with Pi payments. For customers, it provides a direct connection between Pi balances and tangible goods and services.

Conclusion

Starmax is a loyalty and payments application that reflects Pi Network’s priorities following the launch of its Open Network, including usability, merchant adoption, and everyday transactions. Its second-place finish in the Pi Network Hackathon 2025 underscores its focus on practical implementation over speculative features.

By consolidating Pi-based payments and rewards into a single web application, Starmax addresses a defined gap within the ecosystem. Its long-term relevance will depend on merchant uptake, technical stability, and broader Pi adoption, but its current design illustrates how Pi can be integrated into routine commercial settings.

Sources

• Pi Network X Post - Starmax Announcement as Runner Up
• Website - What is Starmax
• Starmax YouTube - Exploring the Starmax Ecosystem