Blockchain in PH expands beyond crypto, gaming: report

The Philippine Blockchain Industry Report 2025 highlights a shift in blockchain use.

It is moving from early focuses like cryptocurrency and play-to-earn (P2E) games to broader applications such as remittances, decentralized finance (DeFi), and data security.

While 74% of Filipinos are confident in blockchain security, only 28% are familiar with Web3.

Adoption is growing, about 40% of users started using blockchain in the past year, and 30% have used it for one to two years.

The report, released by Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and Tether, also explores future opportunities.

These include integrating blockchain with AI and IoT, and applying it in digital IDs and land registries.

Recommendations focus on expanding regulations, building public-private partnerships, and improving blockchain literacy and skills.

🔗 Source: Gobi-Core Philippine Fund

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Philippines’ blockchain evolution mirrors global adoption patterns despite early challenges

The Philippines’ blockchain journey began nearly a decade ago with pioneers like Satoshi Citadel Industries (SCI), which launched in 2014 when bitcoin was still relatively obscure 1.

These early startups faced significant volatility challenges. SCI saw Bitcoin prices drop from $1,200 to under $150 shortly after launching their first payment processor, forcing them to pivot to remittance services 1.

This evolutionary pattern from cryptocurrency trading to practical applications reflects the current national trend revealed in the Blockchain Report, where Filipinos are moving beyond crypto trading and P2E gaming toward broader applications like remittances and DeFi.

The country’s current 8th-place ranking in the 2024 Global Crypto Adoption Index shows how far the ecosystem has developed since those early experimental days 2.

Despite this progress, the Philippine market still faces the universal blockchain challenge of balancing innovation with consumer protection, a tension reflected in the report’s recommendation for regulatory sandboxes and expanded oversight beyond cryptocurrency.