The Philippines Becomes Web3’s Unlikely Powerhouse—Here’s How
Move over, Silicon Valley—Manila’s crypto hustle just rewrote the playbook.
Remittance revolution
Filipinos now funnel 30% of cross-border payments via stablecoins, slashing fees to Wall Street’s embarrassment.
Gaming gold rush
Axie Infinity’s backyard became a P2E breeding ground, with guilds onboarding 2 million unbanked users since 2023.
Regulatory jiu-jitsu
The SEC’s ’test sandbox’ approach let local exchanges like PDAX flourish while US giants choked on compliance costs.
The dark horse
With 65% of adults holding crypto (triple the G20 average), the Philippines didn’t adopt Web3—it hijacked it. TradFi won’t see this disruption coming until their Manila office lease gets paid in SOL.
Keynote and Panel Highlights
Opening Remarks
Fermin D. Barrenechea III, Co-Founder of Museigen.io, emphasized the importance of adapting to technological advancements. His keynote introduced emerging models like Sleep-to-Earn and Learn-to-Earn, highlighting the expanding possibilities within the crypto ecosystem.
Panel: The Future of DeFi
Moderated by Patricia Arro (OpenGuild / Polkadot SEA), the panel featured insights from Jen Bilango (Coins.ph), Robert Joseph Dela Cruz (UnionBank of the Philippines), and Mench Dizon (YGG Pilipinas). Discussions centered on the integration of blockchain with traditional finance and the potential for more inclusive financial systems.
Keynote: Cross-Border Payments & Stablecoins
Ralph Idio (Coins.ph) discussed the transformative role of stablecoins in remittances, highlighting their potential to make cross-border transactions more efficient and accessible.
Panel: AI – Blessing or Curse?
Gail Macapagal (Women in Blockchain Philippines) led a conversation with Paul Soliman (BayaniChain), Eliezer Rabadon (DvCode Technologies), and Myrtle Ramos (Block Tides) on the implications of AI in daily life and its intersection with blockchain technology.
Keynote: Crypto Security 101
Frank Andes and Al Yap (CryptoBilis) provided attendees with practical advice on safeguarding digital assets and navigating the crypto space securely.
Keynote: Buying a Tesla with Bitcoin
Luis Buenaventura (GCash) shared his experience of purchasing a Tesla using Bitcoin, illustrating the real-world applications of cryptocurrency.
Keynote: Regulation and Innovation
Atty. Paolo Ong (SEC Philippines) addressed the balance between regulatory frameworks and technological innovation, emphasizing the need for compliance to foster sustainable growth.
Panel: Crypto, Web3 & Gaming
Hosted by MJ Aguilar (Cryptocurrency Trader PH), the panel included KC Montero (Kumu), Aldrin Rabino (Crypto4chun), James Genove (The Resistance Trader), and Miguel Avila (Impact Web3). The discussion focused on the convergence of gaming and blockchain, and the opportunities it presents.
Interactive Elements and Community Engagement
- Attendees participated in various activities, including booth passport challenges and giveaways.
- Networking was facilitated through color-coded wristbands and QR feedback forms.
- Community partners hosted parallel sessions, such as Gainers Ground Trading Community’s “TradeCoded” and MCMJN Marketing Services’ “NFTs & Brand Adoption”.
Acknowledgments
The success of CVCPH2025 was made possible by sponsors, including:
- Coinpedia
- Trading Beasts
- ICOHolder
- Coin Edition
- NFT Insider
- MAG NFT
- NFT Plazas
- AllConfsBot
- Bitcoin Insider
- Huidu
- The Coin Republic
- Coinstelegram
- The Market Periodical
- Bitcoin Garden
- Bitcoin World
- Crypto Reporter
- The Cryptonomist
- Crypto News
- Blockchain Reporter
- Cryptopress
- Altcoin Observer
- 9 CAT Digital
- BitPinas
- Voice of Crypto
- Icoda
- CryptoNewsZ
- U.Today
- Coingape
- Bitcoin.com
Looking Ahead
CVCPH2025 highlighted the dynamic nature of the crypto industry in the Philippines. For updates on future events and initiatives, follow Museigen.io and its partners.
