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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has released a proposed announcement to suspend the acceptance of new applications for registration of payment system operators (OPS) for 12 months and to implement stricter controls on payment arrangements involving virtual asset service providers (VASP). The BSP stated that this move aims to conduct a comprehensive review of its classification and licensing framework.According to the draft, during the suspension period, the BSP will stop accepting and processing OPS applications. Applications submitted prior to the suspension can continue to be evaluated, but will not be approved or rejected until the suspension ends. Relevant entities are prohibited from conducting business activities that require OPS registration unless they obtain special authorization from the regulatory agency. In addition, BSP-regulated entities providing merchant acquiring services must connect licensed VASPs through direct merchant arrangements, and such relationships will be subject to enhanced due diligence, transaction and settlement limits, and other risk control measures.This requirement applies to virtual asset enterprises licensed, registered, or authorized by the BSP, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines, or other regulatory agencies, with VASPs being categorized alongside betting, gaming, adult industry, and money service businesses. If the draft is ultimately approved, it will take effect 15 days after publication, and the BSP is currently seeking public comments.

According to Binance spot data, the market has experienced significant volatility. GNO has dropped by 21.97% in 24 hours, and ALPINE has dropped by 22.18%, showing a "high and then low" state.In addition, JUV, ACE, and EUL have also shown a "high and then low" state, with declines of 5.22%, 10.86%, and 5.08%, respectively. On the other hand, EDEN, OPN, and KORUB have demonstrated a "bottoming out and rising" state, with increases of 8.08%, 5.83%, and 19.49%, respectively. Meanwhile, CITY reached its 24H highest price, with an increase of 7.05%.

According to Jinshi reports, the Philippines has designated a so-called "baseline of territorial sea" in Huangyan Island, which is Chinese territory, seriously infringing on China's territorial sovereignty and violating international law. China firmly opposes this and demands that the Philippines respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and refrain from taking any infringing provocative actions; otherwise, China will respond resolutely.

He Yifa tweeted that Binance has officially entered the Philippine market. The accompanying official announcement shows that the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted final approval to BlockShoals Technologies Inc., allowing it to launch testing of financial products and services under the Commission's Strategic Regulatory Sandbox (Stratbox) framework.According to the content of the document, BlockShoals will operate using a crypto asset intermediary model, enabling local users in the Philippines to access products from its global crypto asset service provider (CASP) partners. As a core part of the initial testing phase, BlockShoals will complete system integration with local virtual asset service providers within 90 days; upon successful integration, BlockShoals will officially implement the approved testing plan under the supervision of applicable security guarantees and regulatory agencies, which includes user registration and onboarding through its global CASP partner Binance.

According to BusinessMirror, columnist John Mangun pointed out that the European Commission recently proposed the first "comprehensive ban on third-country cryptocurrency asset services" against Russia. The underlying logic—wealthy countries can enforce compliance with their policies on any country accessing their financial systems—has far-reaching warning implications for developing countries like the Philippines.Remittances in the Philippines account for about 9% of GDP, and the proportion of cryptocurrency channels continues to rise. Although the central bank has established a regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers, its regulatory authority stops at the national border. The article cites the case of the Philippines being placed on the FATF "grey list" in 2021, indicating that once external financial connections are severed, compliance costs will be passed down, ultimately borne by ordinary remittance families. The author warns that the current debt-to-GDP ratio in the Philippines has reached 63.2%, a 20-year high. If cryptocurrency regulation is viewed solely as a consumer protection issue, while ignoring the underlying dimensions of capital accounts and fiscal sovereignty, the country may face a "Roosevelt-style four-day ultimatum" unprepared.

Dash is evaluating the Philippines as a potential market for cryptocurrency payments. Daria Chernozub, the Head of Global Adoption at Dash, stated at the 2026 Philippines Blockchain Week that the project focuses on emerging markets where users face high transaction fees and need simpler payment options. Filipino consumers are open to new technologies, aligning with this positioning.She mentioned that Dash is still assessing the local market and will prioritize ensuring legal compliance before proceeding. They have begun communicating with key market participants and have prepared legal opinions. Quevedo, a commissioner of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, stated that foreign investors can complete company registration online in 20 to 30 minutes, but cryptocurrency businesses face additional licensing and compliance requirements.Quiogue, the Legal Director of BlockShoals, pointed out that the Philippine SEC has established a regulatory framework for foreign cryptocurrency exchanges, but the compliance pathway is burdensome. The collaboration arrangement between BlockShoals and Binance took about two years. She added that the young population in the Philippines, high mobile device usage, and widespread English proficiency may attract overseas cryptocurrency companies.

According to Cointelegraph, the Philippines is tightening cryptocurrency regulatory rules and banning privacy coins from being traded on licensed exchanges.

According to Cointelegraph, Binance announced its official return to the Philippine market through a partnership with BlockShoals, using the sandbox framework of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an entry point. Previously, Binance was banned by the Philippine SEC in 2024, and this return is made possible through the compliance sandbox mechanism.

The 13F filing submitted by the American investment firm Alpine Fox Capital to the SEC shows that as of the first quarter of 2026, it holds 3.762 million shares of the Bitcoin mining company Cipher Mining (CIFR), valued at approximately $48.4 million, accounting for the largest proportion of its disclosed portfolio. The fund's total holdings amount to about $154 million. In addition, it also holds 750,500 shares of the Bitcoin mining company IREN, valued at approximately $25.7 million.

According to BusinessWorld, the Central Bank of the Philippines has warned the public and cryptocurrency users not to trade with unauthorized virtual asset service providers, as this may lead to financial losses due to fraud, security vulnerabilities, and operational failures.The central bank stated that unauthorized VASPs also pose risks such as lack of legal recourse, absence of consumer assistance mechanisms, poor service quality, false advertising, improper handling of private keys, cybersecurity incidents, and data privacy issues. Additionally, access may be restricted due to government enforcement actions against illegal operations. The Central Bank of the Philippines has committed to continuing cooperation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Telecommunications Commission, and other departments to restrict access for Philippine users to unauthorized VASP platforms, and urges consumers to protect personal information, maintain cybersecurity hygiene, and only trade with licensed institutions.

Bitget, through the Blockchain4Her program, continues to promote the popularization of Web3 women's education and community building in emerging markets such as the Philippines. This program focuses on providing a systematic blockchain knowledge framework for women and youth, helping them participate in the long-term development of Web3 with a solid understanding and gain more substantial opportunities within the industry.To achieve this goal, Blockchain4Her has supported several grassroots initiatives led by local female advocates. These include: transforming blockchain technology into practical development opportunities for underdeveloped communities; developing exclusive learning materials titled "Young Learners' Encyclopedia" for youth; and building a learning community focused on risk control and trading discipline. These initiatives not only help local beginners avoid misinformation and establish a rational understanding of Web3 but also align closely with Bitget's partnership with UNICEF in promoting digital skills and blockchain education globally.Bitget CEO and Blockchain4Her founder Gracy Chen stated, "Our original intention is to provide a more equal and open environment for women to explore Web3. Seeing more and more outstanding women engaging in community building shows us how true industry inclusivity takes root and flourishes from the grassroots."

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Philippines has issued an investor warning, reminding the public not to invest in seven cryptocurrency trading platforms including dYdX, Aevo, gTrade, Pacifica, Orderly, Deriv, and Ostium.The SEC stated that the aforementioned platforms are not registered with the commission and have not obtained the necessary authorization required under the cryptocurrency asset service provider (CASP) framework. At the same time, the SEC warned that individuals promoting these platforms within the Philippines may be held criminally liable, facing fines of up to 5,000,000 Philippine pesos (approximately 89,000 USD) or a maximum of 21 years in prison.

Brother Ma Ji, Huang Licheng, posted on platform X, stating that after reading CZ's book, he did not feel excited but rather felt a chill down his spine.Brother Ma Ji said, "Most people see this as an entrepreneurial story, but to me, it feels like a survival guide for cryptocurrency. In this field, merely following trends is not enough. You must avoid risks, endure cycles, and overcome human nature."

According to Binance spot data, the market has experienced significant volatility. D has dropped 26.1% in 24 hours, while ALPINE has decreased by 10.7% in the same period.At the same time, ONG, STEEM, and KERNEL have also shown a "pullback" state, with declines of 7.85%, 9.18%, and 7.61%, respectively. On the other hand, AIXBT, INIT, and SAHARA have shown a "bottoming rebound" state, with increases of 5.2%, 6.32%, and 5.7%, respectively.

According to Decrypt, Philippine digital bank Maya is exploring an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, aiming to raise up to $1 billion. The company is currently working with advisors to advance this deal.Maya holds a digital banking license issued by the Philippine central bank and offers savings accounts, consumer loans, payment, and merchant services through its app. In addition to core banking services, Maya also provides in-app cryptocurrency trading services under a regulated virtual asset service provider framework. Choosing to list in the U.S. market may provide Maya with a deeper capital pool and a broader base of institutional investors.Local observers noted that investors will weigh the company's banking fundamentals against the compliance of its cryptocurrency business.

According to market news, the Philippine police recently successfully rescued a Chinese citizen who was illegally detained by Chinese kidnappers in an apartment in Pasay City. Two individuals were arrested on the scene, while two other suspects are still at large. The victim reported being threatened for a demand of 1 million dollars and had already transferred over 400,000 dollars in cryptocurrency; the suspects also threatened to sell organs.The police seized items such as tape, knives, and handcuffs at the scene and will file charges related to kidnapping and extortion.

According to Cointelegraph, Philippine internet service providers (ISPs) have begun to block major cryptocurrency trading platforms after regulators started to strengthen local licensing regulations for cryptocurrency service providers.Users have reported that Philippine users are unable to access global cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Gemini, with multiple local ISPs unable to access these two platforms. The ISP blocking actions are being carried out under the orders of the National Telecommunications Commission. The order instructs service providers to restrict access to 50 online trading platforms that have been identified by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as operating without authorization.The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has not released a complete list of the platforms affected by this order. However, this change indicates that local regulators are shifting from an informal tolerance approach to enforcement, with local licensing becoming a decisive factor for market entry in the Philippine cryptocurrency sector.

Bitget announced that its Blockchain4Youth (B4Y) educational program has completed a new round of Starlink satellite network deployment in remote island areas of the Philippines, bringing high-speed and stable internet access to six schools in Surigao del Norte, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental. This deployment has provided a reliable network environment for over 7,300 students and more than 100 teachers. For schools that have long relied on paper-based materials or have been hindered by unstable networks, this deployment allows them to truly depend on high-speed internet for teaching.

According to Cointelegraph, the Philippine digital bank GoTyme has launched cryptocurrency services.The bank has 6.5 million customers and has integrated cryptocurrency features into its banking app through a partnership with the American fintech company Alpaca. Users can now buy and store 11 types of crypto assets through the app, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), and more. The system supports automatic conversion from Philippine pesos to US dollars for transactions. GoTyme CEO Nate Clarke stated that the product focuses on simplicity and reliability, designed for users who want to confidently purchase cryptocurrencies without complex technical analysis or managing multiple apps.Reports indicate that GoTyme was established in October 2022, created in collaboration between the Singapore unicorn Tyme Group and the Philippine conglomerate Gokongwei Group. The bank plans to expand into the Vietnamese and Indonesian markets, currently focusing on rapid growth rather than profitability, and does not expect to optimize profitability before 2027.