Tagged: Philippines

March 14, 2026 @ 4:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed lifting a moratorium on new online lending platforms, reopening the market to new digital lenders while imposing tougher capital, disclosure, and consumer-protection rules on financing and lending companies. The draft circular, published for comment on March… Read More

February 5, 2026 @ 3:35 am By Michael Wong  |  

Cross-border payments in Southeast Asia are shifting from pure remittances to “everyday” obligations, like social security contributions, where compliance and local rails are as important as speed. A new Malaysia–Philippines partnership is betting that overseas Filipinos will be an early driver of that interoperable-payments push…. Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 5:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Sovereign wealth funds typically spread capital across global markets. The Philippines’ newest one says it is narrowing its focus instead. The Maharlika Investment Corporation, the Philippines’ sovereign wealth fund, said it will deploy capital in fiscal year 2026 across four strategic pillars — energy, logistics,… Read More

December 22, 2025 @ 12:01 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission has ordered Trading Point Holdings Ltd, which operates under the XM brand, to immediately stop soliciting investments, saying it was offering products to the public without the required registrations and licenses. In a cease-and-desist order, the regulator directed Trading… Read More

December 13, 2025 @ 2:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

GoTyme Bank, which claims to be one of the fastest-growing banks in the Philippines and a JV between the Gokongwei Group and Tyme Group, announced the launch of its cryptocurrency investment feature. This launch was reportedly made possible in partnership with Alpaca, a global player… Read More

December 8, 2025 @ 8:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has sought public comment on proposed rules that would set a regulatory framework for sukuk, as Manila tries to broaden funding options and deepen its capital markets through Islamic finance. In a draft memorandum circular issued on Nov. 26,… Read More

December 7, 2025 @ 8:03 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

etaily, the Philippines’ digital-native retail platform, has secured new strategic investments led by Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), through its SMBC Asia Rising fund, bringing its total funding to over $24 million. Other investors in this round include Kaya Founders, JGDEV of the Gokongwei… Read More

November 23, 2025 @ 10:54 am By Michael Wong  |  

Philippine financial regulators will begin a comprehensive mapping of corporate linkages across the economy next year, as regulators watch property prices and credit growth, the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) said. The inter-agency body, chaired by central bank governor Eli Remolona, made the project a… Read More

November 7, 2025 @ 4:48 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

The Hashgraph Group, the Swiss-based Web3 technology and engineering company operating within the Hedera ecosystem, has signed a strategic framework collaboration agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – the executive department of the Philippines government responsible for directing, leading and coordinating science,… Read More

November 4, 2025 @ 11:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CyberCube, the provider of cyber risk analytics for the insurance industry, is pleased to announce its expansion across Asia with a recent partnership in the Philippines. The Insurtech firm said it has signed a deal for its Broking Manager solution with Lacson & Lacson Insurance… Read More

November 2, 2025 @ 12:35 pm By Michael Wong  |  

International boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has launched a new payments platform under 7th Pillar Integration Systems Corp., moving to compete in the Philippines’ fast-growing but crowded digital finance market. The service, branded Manny Pay, is starting as a payment gateway and aims to expand into… Read More

September 27, 2025 @ 9:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, said it will stop accepting new applications for digital bank licenses from Dec. 1, as the regulator moves to tighten oversight of the fast-growing sector and safeguard financial stability. The suspension follows the… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 7:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The cryptocurrency ecosystem is undergoing a maturation phase, marked by increasing regulatory clarity, growing governmental adoption of Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, and significant market dynamics. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong has emerged as an active voice in the web3 space, offering insights into Bitcoin’s… Read More

July 29, 2025 @ 11:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move to deepen its footprint in the Philippines’ digital payments ecosystem, Tonik, the nation’s digital-only bank, has launched QRPH transfers within its mobile app, enabling enhanced digital transactions across a vast network of over 675,000 merchants and 1,824 billers. This initiative marks another… Read More

July 12, 2025 @ 2:52 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech firm Revolut is establishing a technology hub in the Philippine capital, Manila, as part of a plan to expand global capabilities and accelerate product innovation, the company said on Wednesday. The Manila site will operate as a Global Capability Center that supports engineering, financial-crime prevention… Read More

July 7, 2025 @ 10:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is drafting a new circular aimed at mitigating risks from online gambling for users of digital financial platforms, as part of its broader financial consumer protection and wellness agenda. The proposed circular would apply to BSP-supervised institutions (BSIs), including… Read More

July 1, 2025 @ 10:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Only 28% of Filipinos are familiar with Web3 technologies despite 96% awareness of cryptocurrencies, according to the Philippine Blockchain Industry Report 2025, the country’s first benchmarking study of its blockchain ecosystem. Released by the Blockchain Council of the Philippines in partnership with Gorriceta Africa Cauton… Read More

June 29, 2025 @ 10:57 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine government has intensified its crackdown on abusive online lending platforms after receiving more than 13,000 complaints from borrowers who reported harassment, threats, and privacy violations. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is leading the nationwide campaign in coordination with the Securities and Exchange… Read More

June 8, 2025 @ 3:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippines and India are accelerating efforts to strengthen collaboration in financial technology and broader development cooperation, as both nations seek to harness digital innovation to drive economic growth. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto recently held talks with Indian Ambassador Harsh Jain to identify new avenues… Read More

May 17, 2025 @ 11:01 am By Michael Wong  |  

BillEase, a digital consumer finance platform in the Philippines, has partnered with Maya Business, the country’s largest digital payments processor, to bring its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service to Maya’s ecosystem. The integration enables installment-based payments at checkout via QRPh-enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminals and… Read More