Binance is out. Offshore exchanges are under fire. And in the middle of this regulatory shake-up, Coins.ph is stepping up, not just to survive, but to lead the next phase of crypto accessibility in the Philippines.

The country is tightening its grip on Philippine crypto regulation, and Coins.ph is quietly emerging as one of the most stable and strategic players in Web3. While others chase hype or face shutdowns, Coins is focused on building infrastructure that works. Infrastructure that is not just legal but long-lasting.

At the Sonic Meetup in Davao, co-hosted by Bitskwela and supported by the Davao DeFi Community, Eman Ignacio, Business Development Lead at Coins.ph, stood before an audience of students and builders with a simple promise: Coins is not here for hype. It is here to be part of people’s financial lives.

He didn’t start with slides about price charts or token trends. He started with trust.

Coins.ph holds licenses as both a crypto exchange and an electronic money issuer, regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. For the BD lead, this isn’t a technical detail, it is a cornerstone of why Coins is uniquely positioned to thrive.

“We have all the necessary licenses already as both a crypto exchange and also an e-wallet. What that means is our users can buy and sell crypto directly using Philippine pesos. You can cash in or cash out to other banks or wallets, pay bills, send money to family, and at the same time buy or sell crypto, all on one exchange.”

While many platforms force users to jump through hoops, Eman Ignacio pointed out that Coins.ph offers the full financial cycle, fiat to crypto and back, without friction or fragmentation.

“In other countries, you’d need three different platforms. Here, you can do it all in one place. That’s the advantage of being fully regulated."

In a market scarred by rug pulls and broken promises, this regulatory clarity has become a core part of the platform’s identity. Coins isn’t trying to ride the wave. It is trying to lay the rails.

The Regulatory Reality Check

While some players in the space treat regulation like a roadblock, Coins.ph embraces it as a competitive edge. Eman Ignacio made it clear that this is not just about surviving a crackdown, it is about leading through clarity.

“Our regulatory landscape is quite unique. Our regulators have been actively cracking down on offshore or unlicensed exchanges, such as Binance, Bybit, OKX, and MEXC... If you want to be on the safer side, if you don’t want to be interrupted in your crypto journey, then you can transition into regulated exchanges like Coins.”

The BD lead emphasized that Coins is not just legally compliant for the sake of appearances. Its dual licenses as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) and e-money issuer (EMI) allow it to straddle both traditional and decentralized systems, a rare position even on a global scale.

With this setup, Coins.ph reduces complexity for users. You don’t need to swap fiat to stablecoins then move to a third platform to trade. You can convert, transact, and cash out within a single ecosystem. It is about reducing friction and future-proofing the user experience.

More Than Speed, It’s About Structural Efficiency

Ignacio lit up when he spoke about what blockchain actually fixes. It is not just about moving faster. It is about streamlining financial processes that are decades old.

“In traditional systems, a transaction has to go through execution, clearing, and settlement. Sometimes across three different ledgers. That’s why it takes days. If you buy a stock on a Saturday, it might be settled by Tuesday.”

With blockchain, all those steps happen in one process. Transactions settle in minutes instead of days. For institutional clients, that matters. Coins.ph serves high-volume clients, and Eman Ignacio has seen firsthand how those delays can lead to missed opportunities and financial losses.

“If the bank you’re sending from doesn’t have enough capital in its hot wallet, you won’t be able to push the transaction. That top-up process can take hours, and for large clients, hours can mean profit or loss.”

By using blockchain rails, there’s no need for pre-funding. The transaction happens directly from the sender’s wallet to the recipient’s, cutting through capital inefficiencies and saving time.

Remittances and Stablecoins: A Real Use Case in the Philippines

For many countries, blockchain still feels abstract. But in the Philippines, remittances alone provide a clear, compelling reason to care. Filipinos working abroad send billions home every year. In 2023, the figure hit $40 billion, making the Philippines the fourth largest recipient of remittances worldwide.

Eman Ignacio pointed out that under traditional rails, the money takes time and gets eaten up by fees.

“The average cost of a transfer can be around three to ten percent, and settlement can take one to five business days."

With blockchain, those numbers change dramatically.

“Depending on the chain you use, it can cost as little as fifty pesos to send any amount. And it arrives in ten to fifteen minutes.”

It is not just a personal benefit. It is becoming an institutional strategy. Remittance companies and banks are beginning to integrate blockchain rails, not because it is trendy, but because it is cheaper, faster, and more transparent.

Eman Ignacio also highlighted a second use case that hits close to home in today’s global economy: stablecoins as a hedge against inflation.

“In countries like Zimbabwe, the local currency collapsed in just a couple of weeks. Many people turned to USDT as a way to store value. They don’t speculate. They just want stability.”

In the Philippines, Coins.ph is already supporting local stablecoins like PHPC to give Filipinos a similar tool. For rural areas or volatile financial environments, it could be the start of a more resilient future.

Coins.ph in 2025: A Quiet Build Toward Everyday Utility

Coins.ph isn’t trying to dominate headlines. It is focused on real use. Eman Ignacio shared that the platform’s 2025 roadmap is about being useful in daily life, not just in trading.

“Even if the markets aren’t doing well, our focus is still the same. We’re trying to make our platform as comprehensive as possible… From paying bills to sending money to buying crypto, it should all be in one place.”

He acknowledged that this approach might not attract the same attention as flashy token launches or celebrity endorsements. But that’s not the goal.

The key for Eman Ignacio is building slowly. Legally. Thoughtfully. And always keep the Filipino user in mind.

“If we do this right, we’re not just part of the crypto scene. We’re part of the country’s economic story.”

In a market where headlines are dominated by hype and collapses, Coins.ph is choosing a quieter route. One built on compliance, clarity, and confidence.