$PI Resume

Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis
Chief Technology Officer
Ph.D. from Stanford University, instructor of the university's inaugural course on decentralized applications; he combines distributed systems with human-computer interaction technologies to bring cryptocurrency into everyday life.

I have dedicated my life to technology, which allowed me to earn a Ph.D. from Stanford University and continue as a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Computer Science. As part of my postdoctoral work, I introduced and taught CS359B, a course on "Decentralized Applications on Blockchain," at Stanford. It was here that I personally experienced the challenges of bringing blockchain technological advancements to the general public. I believe that today’s technology can empower people more than ever before.

As a young undergraduate, I designed and built an innovative computer motherboard from scratch. Early in my doctoral studies, I created a framework for writing "smart contracts" in fault-tolerant distributed systems—before the advent of blockchain and Ethereum—and published this framework as my master's thesis. I also developed an online gaming platform called Gameyola, which entertained millions of users over more than 2000 person-years; later, in my doctoral research, I attempted to make up for this lost time by developing a crowdsourced email assistant to help people save time when managing emails and tasks. Additionally, I am the founding CTO of StartX, a non-profit startup accelerator for Stanford students that has helped over 2000 entrepreneurs.

I firmly believe in the enormous potential of cryptocurrency at technological, financial, and social levels, and hold a strong long-term conviction in its future. However, I am somewhat disappointed by its current limitations. I am committed to showcasing the power of blockchain by improving existing experiences and creating value for everyone. To this end, I adopt a user-centric design philosophy that fundamentally transforms the development process of new blockchains: releasing in beta first; inviting members to join the network; iterating protocols collaboratively with members; and decentralizing the final design.

This effort is currently embodied in Pi Network, a new form of cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer network. The system is now operational in over 150 countries and supports 32 languages. Pi Network is 100% driven by my professional dedication, while my beloved wife and son occupy all my personal energy.