Coins.ph to Trial Stablecoin in Philippines’ Remittance Market, Here’s Why

• Approval of Coins.ph’s stablecoin trial signals the Philippines’ openness to blockchain innovation.
• PHPC could enhance remittance efficiency, benefiting both senders and recipients.
• Amidst regulatory changes, digital payment firms vie for a stake in the Philippines’ remittance market.

The financial realm of the Philippines stands on the brink of change as the central bank gives the green light to Coins.ph to experiment with a groundbreaking stablecoin in the nation’s crucial remittance market. This decision represents a noteworthy progression in the quest to update the remittance sector, which ranks among the largest globally, aiming to boost its effectiveness and accessibility.

Coins.ph, known for its digital currency exchange services, is preparing to introduce PHPC, a stablecoin linked to the Philippine Peso. This comes after receiving approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Under the BSP’s Regulatory Sandbox Framework, the stablecoin will be backed by Coins.ph’s reserves held in Philippine bank accounts, ensuring stability and reliability.

Led by Wei Zhou, formerly Binance’s Chief Financial Officer, Coins.ph aims to introduce PHPC to its platform by early June, following a successful pilot phase. The pilot will gauge the stablecoin’s viability in real-world scenarios and its impact on the existing financial ecosystem. If specific benchmarks are met, full approval is anticipated, allowing Coins.ph to transition out of the sandbox environment.

This development comes amidst the Philippines’ decision to restrict Binance’s operations within its borders and its commitment to launch a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) within the next two years, steering clear of a retail CBDC. Concurrently, digital payments firm Strike has expanded its global money transfer services to the Philippines, further diversifying the remittance landscape.

Expanding its reach, digital payments company Strike has now extended its global money transfer service to the Philippines. This strategic move allows Strike to access the country’s lucrative $12 billion remittance market. It underscores the increasing need within the nation for streamlined and economical options for cross-border transactions.

Coins.ph envisions integrating PHPC into remittance platforms across countries with substantial remittance flows to the Philippines, promising greater efficiency and lower transaction costs for overseas Filipino workers and their families. This move is poised to revolutionize cross-border payments, streamlining processes and fostering financial inclusion.