Maya is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States that could raise between US$500 million and US$1 billion. While the company has declined to confirm these reports, citing them as market speculation, it maintains that its current priority is scaling its ecosystem for consumers and businesses in the Philippines. The fintech firm, which serves as the financial technology arm of PLDT Inc., operates as a licensed digital bank under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Since transitioning from its origins as an e-wallet, Maya has developed into an integrated financial system offering savings, loans, merchant services, and…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) is expanding its ATM Go network into geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) by leveraging Starlink satellite internet. This initiative supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) objective to improve financial inclusion in underserved regions through satellite technology. The ATM Go service functions as a “kapitbahay ATM”. It allows local merchants like sari-sari stores and cooperatives to offer essential banking services. These terminals enable cash withdrawals, deposits, fund transfers, and bill payments in areas that lack traditional bank branches. Currently, approximately a quarter of RCBC’s merchant partners rely on satellite connectivity to maintain operations in…

Kaspersky has issued a warning to Filipinos regarding the seasonal surge in online romance scams. Recent advisories from the Philippine National Police (PNP) indicate a rise in reported cases where fraudsters initiate contact through social media or dating platforms before eventually requesting money from victims. According to Kaspersky, these scams have grown in sophistication by incorporating social engineering with technical tools to appear more convincing. Fraudsters typically build rapport over several weeks or months using stolen photographs and fabricated life stories. Additionally, there is a rise in bogus Valentine’s Day gift websites that mimic legitimate retailers to harvest payment details…

BridgeWise, a provider of AI-powered wealth intelligence, has acquired Chicago-based Context Analytics to strengthen its technical capabilities before launching in the Philippines this year. The acquisition allows BridgeWise to integrate unstructured data processing into its existing financial analysis tools. BridgeWise intends to serve Filipino financial institutions, including banks and brokerages, with investment intelligence derived from a combination of asset analysis and quantifiable sentiment data. Context Analytics specialises in converting human-centric information into machine-readable formats, which helps firms identify market signals and manage risk. “Our vision has always been to deliver the most robust financial intelligence available, so by acquiring Context…

Filipinos working abroad sent back home to the Philippines a record US$35.63 billion in cash remittances in 2025, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The figure represents a 3.3% increase from 2024 and surpasses the central bank’s official growth projections for the year. In December alone, inflows reached an all-time high of US$3.52 billion, marking the fastest monthly growth in three years at 4.2%. This year-end surge was largely driven by seasonal factors, including the release of bonuses and increased holiday spending. The inflows provided a significant boost to the national economy, accounting for 7.3% of…

Coins.ph has reported a 327% increase in monthly spot trading, with volumes reaching US$500 million (approximately PHP 29.4 billion) back in November 2025. This figure represents a nearly fourfold rise compared to the US$117 million recorded during the same period in 2024. The platform recently recorded a daily spot trading peak of US$50 million. Company leadership attributes this growth to the increasing use of stablecoins like USDT and USDC as financial infrastructure for cross-border payments. In the Philippines, where remittances totalled US$38.3 billion at the end of 2024, stablecoins are becoming a preferred method for corporate payouts and supplier disbursements…

Philippine National Bank (PNB) and Mastercard have formalised a partnership to accelerate the implementation of tokenised digital wallet payments in the Philippines. This collaboration aims to update PNB’s payment infrastructure to improve transaction security and consumer convenience. The technology, known as tokenisation, replaces a customer’s actual 16-digit card number with a unique digital token for each transaction. This process reduces the exposure of sensitive card details, lowering the risk of fraud in both online and in-store settings. Furthermore, tokenisation supports biometric authentication and assigns device-specific account numbers, providing multiple layers of security without disrupting the user experience. PNB President and…

Globe Telecom Inc. has received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise up to PHP 25 billion through the sale of preferred shares. The offer consists of a PHP 15 billion base amount, representing 7.5 million shares. It also includes an additional PHP 10 billion set aside for an oversubscription option of five million shares. The company describes the shares as cumulative, non-voting, and non-convertible redeemable perpetual preferred shares. Globe plans to release the offer in two tranches. The first dividend rates set at 6.1179% per annum for Series A. The other will be at 6.7631%…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI) are set to enforce new rules on how digital banks and e-wallets move their money, as reported by YugaTech. These regulations mandate that digital banks and e-wallets utilise standardised payment rails, such as InstaPay and PESONet, rather than proprietary “shortcut” integrations. A primary result of these changes is the deactivation of linked bank account features. For instance, GoTyme Bank permanently disabled deposits via linked accounts on 1 February 2026, ending a feature that allowed direct, in-app cash-ins from local banks like BPI. Similarly, BPI announced that linked…

The Google Play Store in the Philippines no longer hosts the main Binance mobile application following recent regulatory actions, as reported first by BitPinas. A search for Binance on the app now only displays results for local competitors or region-specific versions of the app intended for other countries, such as Thailand or Turkey. This removal aligns with escalating enforcement measures by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). In 2024, the SEC formally requested that both Google and Apple remove the Binance app from their Philippine marketplaces, citing the exchange’s lack of a necessary license…

SB Finance, an affiliate of Security Bank Corporation, has partnered with global insurtech bolttech and MAAGAP Insurance to introduce a bundled loss-of-employment protection feature for motorcycle loan customers in the Philippines. This initiative strengthens the MotorsikLOAN programme by offering riders financial stability during unexpected life challenges. MAAGAP Insurance is currently the only insurer in the country authorised by the Insurance Commission to provide insurance for involuntary loss of employment due to just and lawful causes. Under this collaboration, SB Finance will bundle the protection with all motorcycle loans issued through its retail network, while bolttech will manage distribution and claims…

Luis Buenaventura has announced that February 2026 will be his final month as the Head of GCrypto, the cryptocurrency division of the Philippine fintech giant GCash, BitPinas reported. Buenaventura confirmed his departure on Thursday, 12 February 2026, concluding a tenure focused on integrating crypto trading into the country’s most popular mobile wallet. Since joining GCash in late 2023, Buenaventura has overseen significant growth for the platform. Under his leadership, user volume increased approximately tenfold. He also established key partnerships with industry leaders, including Tether, Circle, the Ronin gaming chain, and the Kaia blockchain. Beyond technical integration, his team focused on…

The US$2.5 trillion SME credit gap in the Asia Pacific remains a significant challenge for traditional banks. Joe Udomdejwatana of Axe Finance joins us to discuss how the Axe Credit Portal (ACP) is transforming lending infrastructure. Key Highlights Composable architecture avoids high-risk “rip and replace” projects. Tools like Axe Studio and Axe BPM empower compliance officers to manage regulatory shifts. Predictive scoring with explainability models replaces “black box” AI with a transparent “glass box” approach. Lending 3.0 focuses on “intelligent adaptability” to process data in real time.

The global rate of identity fraud decreased in 2025 from the previous year’s high, but the threats have become more severe. Fraud isn’t retreating, it’s maturing. The sloppy, low-effort attacks that thrived in 2024’s era of widely available tools are being replaced by fewer but sharper operations: multi-step, coordinated, and built to bypass basic verification. Sumsub, a global verification and fraud prevention firm, have identified this Sophistication Shift, signalling that the next stage of identity fraud won’t be measured by volume alone. Why attackers are leveling up Behind the numbers is a change in criminal behavior. When simple tactics stop…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has introduced a digital banking feature that allows users to hold U.S. dollars and convert them to Philippine pesos in real time. Available on the RCBC Pulz app, this service provides customers with the flexibility to manage foreign currency based on preferred timing and exchange rates. Developed in partnership with U.S.-based payments provider Meridian, the feature specifically supports Filipinos, such as freelancers and virtual assistants who receive overseas funds from the United States. This addition builds upon the U.S. Virtual Account feature introduced last year, which enables users to receive international transfers directly through the…

Open Stable Network (OSN), a global on-chain foreign exchange (FX) settlement infrastructure provider, has activated a new payment corridor between the Philippines and the UAE. This infrastructure provides businesses with enterprise-grade access to fiat-to-stablecoin FX settlements across emerging and major financial markets. OSN claims that this new corridor offers transaction fees up to 50% lower than those found on leading payment platforms. The framework eliminates the high costs and delays typical of legacy correspondent banking. It facilitates bi-directional fund flows between stablecoins and fiat currencies like the USD, AED, EUR, and PHP. Businesses can bypass the latency and expenses associated…

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to integrate the Link.BizPortal as the department’s official electronic payment facility. Signed by Labour Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma and LANDBANK President Lynette V. Ortiz, the partnership aims to streamline public transactions in line with national directives to expand digital government services. DOLE’s central and regional offices can now collect fees online through this new integration. The system enables clients in the Philippines and abroad to settle transactions without visiting physical offices. Users can pay assessed fees through various…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has penalised Global Dominion Financing, Inc. for using unfair and abusive debt collection methods. In an order dated 28 January 2026, the SEC Financing and Lending Companies Department (FLCD) found the firm in violation of Memorandum Circular No. 18 and the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA). The regulator ordered the company to pay an administrative fine of PHP 50,000. The commission warned Global Dominion that repeating such acts would result in more severe consequences. This includes possible higher monetary penalties or the loss of its certificate of authority. The case originated…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has launched cardless QR withdrawals for GCash users across its entire ATM network in the Philippines. RCBC intends to increase cash-out options for mobile wallet users by linking digital platforms with physical banking infrastructure. The service allows fully verified GCash users to withdraw funds without a physical ATM card for a fee of PHP 18.00. To use the feature, customers generate a “Cash Out” QR code within the GCash app. Then, users need to scan it at any of the bank’s ATMs. While the capability was initially limited to select locations in Metro Manila and…

Digital banks in the Philippines are facing a pivotal year in 2026 as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) prepares to introduce new players into the market, Business World reported. While Filipinos have enjoyed savings rates exceeding 3% (compared to the traditional bank average of 1.8%), this competition has yet to yield widespread profitability. As of late 2025, only Maya Bank and Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) were reported to be net profitable. The regulator intends to issue up to four new digital banking licences by March 2026, aiming to bridge gaps in products that incumbents have not yet addressed. Melchor…