Grab Shakes Up Philippines’ Payments Scene with Crypto Integration—Watch Out, Banks!
Ride-hailing titan Grab just dropped a crypto bombshell in the Philippines—fiat's got competition.
The Move That Changes Everything
Starting today, millions of Grab users can ditch pesos for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins. No more wallet-draining FX fees or bank delays—just tap-to-pay with your digital stash.
Why This Hurts Traditional Finance
Banks left scrambling as Grab’s 30M+ regional users get a crash course in decentralized payments. Remittance corridors? Those 5% transfer fees just got put on notice.
The Cynic’s Corner
Sure, volatility risks remain—nothing like paying for your pancit with a token that plunges 10% before the check arrives. But hey, at least someone’s finally using crypto for actual purchases instead of degenerate leverage trading.
The Philippines leads in crypto adoption
In addition to Triple-A, Grab also partnered with a local crypto exchange, PDAX. Its CEO, Nichel Gaba, highlighted that, due to a variety of factors, the Philippines is a leader in crypto adoption, both regionally and even worldwide.
PDAX CEO hopes that this move WOULD both support existing crypto users and drive further adoption. At the same time, Garb’s executive CJ Lacsican explained that crypto plays an important role in digital inclusion in developing countries.
“By offering more accessible, digital-first solutions, we aim to empower a wider spectrum of Filipinos — especially those with limited access to traditional banking or those who prefer the convenience of digital currencies,” CJ Lacsican, Grab Philippines.
