Latest news with #PhilippineBlockchainWeek
Coin Geek
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Coin Geek
Crypto Fight Night brings blockchain to the boxing ring
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Blockchain and combat sports aren't an obvious pairing — but at Crypto Fight Night ONCHAIN® , they proved to be a knockout combination. title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""> The high-energy event, held as part of Philippine Blockchain Week 2025, pulled in not just fight fans, but an audience of Web3 developers, founders, venture capitalists (VCs), and enthusiasts eager to experience a different kind of industry gathering. Far from the typical drinks-and-deals networking scene, Crypto Fight Night fused the raw intensity of amateur boxing with the fast-paced energy of the blockchain community. The result? An unconventional but effective environment for building connections—and curiosity. 'I'm surprised because this is the first time that a crypto company held a boxing event,' said three-time world champion boxer John Riel Casimero, who was ringside to show support. 'As a three-time world champion, I just want to show my support to the blockchain community and to all the athletes fighting here tonight.' Claire Celdran exclusive interview with Crypto Fight Night's special guests: former three-division world champion John Riel Casimero and the first Filipina MMA world champion Denice Zamboanga. Hear their thoughts about the event coming soon on Casimero wasn't the only sports figure intrigued by the event's potential. MMA fighter Denice Zamboanga sees the crossover as an opportunity to raise awareness for both industries. 'A lot of people don't know much about combat sports, so this technology, this event, will help us to know more about the combat sports,' she said. 'Also, from the side of the technology, we can also know more about the blockchain and technologies.' For organizers, that intersection—between adrenaline-fueled spectacle and real-world conversations—was intentional. 'We want to create an event that is exciting for people to go to,' explained Jason Dominique, CEO of ONCHAIN®, the Web3 infrastructure company behind the event. 'And then on the side of that, in between the fights, it's an opportunity for people to connect, share experiences, and possibly do deals with people they didn't think they could meet.' According to Dominique, the goal is to evolve beyond the repetitive, transactional nature of typical blockchain conferences. 'Doing the fight night falls back into providing more than just networking opportunities,' he added. 'It's really trying to create entertainment and bring people together—more than just, you know, come for the drinks and the food, which I think can become quite redundant.' While the punches may have been the headline act, the bigger story lies in how events like these reshape Web3 community building, turn casual spectators into curious stakeholders, and spark conversations that extend well beyond the ring. If Crypto Fight Night ONCHAIN® is any indication, the future of Web3 gatherings may look less like boardrooms and more like boxing rings. Watch | Philippine Blockchain Week 2025: Web3 innovation goes from hype to use case
Coin Geek
25-06-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
Decoded and delivered: Blockchain takes root at PBW 2025
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Philippine Blockchain Week 2025 brought together global leaders, regulators, founders, and digital currency enthusiasts under this year's theme—'Decoded.' The message was clear: blockchain is no longer just for the technically inclined. It's being translated into everyday use, real business value, and practical regulation. And the Philippines is at the heart of that transformation. title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen> 'We decode it for everyone,' said Donald Lim, Lead Convenor of Philippine Blockchain Week and Founding President of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines. 'We make sure that everyone understands where everyone plays and how this technology can help. We act like an interpreter—how it goes to business, how we bring it to users to make sure it's a safe and legit environment.' Lim stressed the importance of regulation in building a responsible ecosystem. 'If you want to be part of the ecosystem, you have to follow certain rules in a particular country. The rules are designed to keep people safe and informed,' he said. However, he also pointed out a challenge: 'There is a gap between regulators, government, the private sector, and also the user base.' Day 1 of @philippinebc_wk is in the books—and it did not thought-provoking panel discussions to groundbreaking use cases of emerging technology, the day was packed with insights and a clear vision for a more connected, digital future for the Philippines. Make… The country's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently addressed this gap through a new regulatory framework for Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs). According to Atty. Mark Gorriceta, Managing Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, 'If you are into crypto asset service… you can now register your company or your activity in the Philippines under this new regulation. Basically, it really invites more investors to legitimize in the country within the jurisdiction of the SEC.' To register as a CASP in the Philippines, foreign companies must incorporate as a domestic corporation, have at least PHP 100 million in paid-up capital, and meet strict operational and reporting standards—ensuring that market participants are credible and accountable. This regulatory shift not only opens the door for foreign players but also empowers local institutions. 'With these new regulations, licensed players like Philippine banks and digital wallets can now offer new products—not just peso-to-crypto exchange, but even token trading like a digital stock exchange,' he adds. Mainstream platforms are already integrating these changes. Luis Buenaventura, Head of Crypto at GCash, said over three million Filipinos now use GCrypto within the GCash app. 'We're growing at a pretty steady pace because the GCash brand has built enough trust,' he said. 'Now the challenge is getting those users to think of crypto not just as speculative, but as something like long-term savings.' Investor and Web3 evangelist Evan Luthra, founder of KOL Capital, brought a global perspective. 'I've spoken at over 200 events in 50 countries. The Philippines is ground zero for GameFi and Web3 adoption,' he shared. Though this was his first visit to the country, he was impressed by the energy and talent. 'What's great about Filipinos is that they're early adopters. Even just playing a game, they end up with a crypto wallet. That's a huge opportunity.' Luthra also highlighted how blockchain is reshaping work and creativity. 'Web3 is about ownership. Nobody works for someone—everyone's a partner. That's what tokenization enables,' he said. 'As a creator with 3 million followers, I bring value, and in crypto, that's what matters. Degrees are everywhere. But value—real value—is what makes someone investable.' He was especially struck by the presence of students at the event. 'I've never seen school children at a blockchain conference before,' he said. 'Technology doesn't care about degrees. I started building apps at 12. Events like this expose kids early—and that's powerful.' That message echoed across the event, from metaverse job pipelines supported by the government to AI-driven blockchain tools like Chatoshi. Billed as 'the ChatGPT for Web3, crypto, and anything blockchain,' Chatoshi is fine-tuned to answer real-time queries about token sentiment, on-chain analytics, and transaction statuses. 'We're connected directly to blockchain tools,' said Chatoshi's Joe Pepito. 'If you want to know if a token is a scam, or check your transaction status, you can just ask Chatoshi.' The platform pulls data directly from the blockchain, including educational resources, token legitimacy checks, and even market trends. 'At the end of the day, we want to help people feel less skeptical about the space. Information empowers users to make smarter, safer decisions,' Pepito added. Also aiming to make blockchain more relatable to everyday Filipinos was actor and entrepreneur Marvin Agustin, who introduced a playful campaign called Fishblock . 'They wanted to use fishballs as a representation that blockchain could penetrate even down to the vendors,' Agustin explained. 'It's hard to understand when we just talk about the technology. But if we tie it to something familiar, maybe more people will get it.' The campaign featured digital currency-enabled payments and NFTs. Agustin, a restaurateur, also sees real value in blockchain for the food industry, stating, 'The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is trying to link all suppliers and stakeholders. It's a supply chain solution that can really benefit small business operators.' As the event wrapped up, Lim emphasized the broader vision: 'I want to position the Philippines as the blockchain captain of Asia—because the government is open, and the private sector is investing.' For builders, creators, and investors alike, the future is no longer abstract. It's decoded, and it's already being built. Watch | The Philippines startup boom: Highlights from Sinigang Valley Build Startup Festival
Coin Geek
18-06-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
PH Blockchain Week 2025 highlights growth and well-being in Web3
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Philippine Blockchain Week is back to tackle initiatives in a serious manner with industry movers and the government on Day 2 of the iconic blockchain event at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Global and local experts in the tech space engaged in a day filled with regulatory, innovative, and action-packed discussions. Leading Day 2 was a cultural dance performance by the Philippines Tourism Promotion Board themed on loving the Philippines, which ignited the day before moving forward with an opening spiel from the event hosts: Aya De Quiroz, Maria Saab, and Muneer Al Busaidi. (Left to Right): Maria Saab, Muneer Al Busaidi, and Aya De Quiroz. What really kicked started the conversation was the short but meaningful opening remarks from Janelle Barretto, co-founder of the Philippine Blockchain Week. Baretto recapped the highlights of Day 1 and reminded the audience of their journey in bringing blockchain into the Philippines. This was followed by keynote speeches about blockchain's financial infrastructure from Venom's Christopher Tsu and the 'humannness' in the age of AI from World Foundation's Fabian Bodensteiner. 'The Philippine Blockchain Week is an event; it is a platform, but we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders. We took this on [despite being] normal people who have visions, who have passion, and dedication of pushing the agenda to the Philippines and take it to the next level,' Baretto said in her speech. 'We are a great country with a 20 million population, tech-savvy, energetic, talented, and we're just right to be the hub of everything. We just wanted the world to take notice… we've seen how far we've come… and in such a short time, we've come a long way, yet we still have a lot of potential. That's what all these are all about: unlocking the potential of blockchain in the Philippines and bringing it to the masses.' Philippine Blockchain Week's Co-Founder Janelle Barretto. The PH's digital ecosystem voiced by Filipino exchanges shaping Web3 The day's first panel discussion was moderated by Benjamin Finnigan of B3C Capital, joined by the three representatives of the country's most prominent Web3 players: GCash, Maya, and In this discussion, titled 'The Homegrown Hustle: Filipino Exchanges Shaping Web3,' Country Manager, Jen Bilango; Maya's Head of Growth and Product Strategy/Head of Invest Alvin Wong; and GCash Head of Cryptocurrencies, Luis Buenaventura, touched on the measures and challenges each platforms are taking to cater digital currencies safely and securely to the Filipinos. Delving into security and transparency issues post the FTX dilemma and the crypto winter, Buenaventura says that GCash—as the new kid in the block—maintains a safety protocol and is regulatory compliant. Still, despite this, he reiterated the importance of vigilance and users' due diligence in the space, which was agreed upon by Wong. Meanwhile, Bilango focused on their users' education (Left to Right): Benjamin Finnigan, Alvin Wong, Jen Bilango, and Luis Buenaventura. 'One of the things that we're really big on is education. Do not trust people [who ask you] to give them your OTP,' she noted. Bilango also mentioned setting up a threshold that allows users to specify a daily transaction amount. On the question of investment and blockchain adoption, however, Buenaventura claimed that the Philippines is leapfrogging to mobile wallet adoption amid the failed credit card penetration in the country. The GCash head of cryptocurrencies believes wallets are 'way more robust' in terms of financial inclusion and bringing digital currencies closer to Filipinos. As for Bilango and Wong, education and financial literacy must be the top priority before moving forward with investing and adoption. 'The job is mostly to figure out what kind of blockchain projects are out there that would be a good fit in the local market [and] the culture,' Buenaventura remarked. Remembering well-being and mental wealth in this Web3 world Still lingering around the issues of adopting digital currencies, Day 2 touched on an important aspect and probably a controversial issue in the industry: customers' mental well-being. In this discussion, also moderated by Finnigan, Dr. Neeta Bhushan of Dharma Coaching Institute, Erwin Valencia of Mastery, and transformational speaker and coach Sanaiyah Gurnamal viewed the human aspect of Web3 and how users can avoid the FOMO culture in a volatile space like cryptocurrencies. (Left to Right): Erwin Valencia, Sanaiyah Gurnamal, Dr. Neeta Bhushan, and Benjamin Finnigan. Their collective conclusion is most popular digital currency firms capitalize on the vulnerability and peer pressure of delving into the digital currency space, so despite the trend, the three experts reminded everyone of the following: – Regulate your mental health and nervous system in dealing with the space – Have enough bandwidth for research before diving into Cryptocurrencies 'You should always focus on the 'Why am I doing this?' When you get lost, when the FOMO kicks in, when it gets too busy, or when you're high on all of these things happening, remember the reason why you are doing this, and remind yourself why you would stay on course,' Gurnamal said. Dissecting the CASP: A discussion in regulatory compliance On a more serious note, the PBW 2025 also looked into the new guidelines and what's under the thematic sandbox for CASP or crypto-asset service providers. Attorney Mark Gorriceta and Attorney Paolo Ong had a one-on-one discussion dissecting what it is and how it can affect the local digital asset economy in the long run. (Left & Right): Attorney Mark Gorriceta and Attorney Paolo Ong. CASP is an initiative by the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the SEC Memorandum Circulars Nos. 4 and 5. This new rule defines digital assets like cryptocurrencies as a 'digitally secured form of value' running on the blockchain. Atty. Ong noted that not all assets are classified as securities; some are considered financial products that fall under the regulation of the SEC. He explained that the SEC concentrates on three key areas: market conduct, training activities, and marketing. 'We intend the rules to be frictionless to current VASP licensees,' Ong said. Some requirements he shared for obtaining a CASP license include: – Proper registration in the Philippines– Minimal capital requirement – Segregation of customers from exchange funds
Business Insider
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Jackson.io's "The Sharkz Night" Attracts Over 800 NFT Holders, with OKX Airdrop
the decentralized gaming protocol built on the SUI blockchain, made waves during Philippine Blockchain Week on June 10-11 with its headline after-party event, 'The Sharkz Night.' Held on the evening of June 11, the Sharkz-themed gathering drew over 800 participants—far surpassing the original limit of 500 Sharkz NFT holders—marking it as one of the largest unofficial offline events in the SUI NFT ecosystem to date. 800 Sharkz NFT Holders in Attendance Held at XYLO at the Palace, Manila's one of the most iconic nightclubs, the lively atmosphere brought together not only Sharkz community members but also local blockchain influencers and KOLs, elevating the event's energy and reach. Launched just three months ago, the Jackson Sharkz NFT community has quickly gained traction in the Sui ecosystem. This successful gathering brought together holders from around the world and injected new vitality into the Sui NFT space. The event featured an interactive experience presented by OKX Wallet, which attracted a large number of participants to engage and explore. As the event approached its conclusion, the organizer announced that OKX would distribute a special airdrop. Following this announcement, event staff handed out OKX Giveaway cards to each attendee, each printed with a scannable QR code. Sharkz NFT holders simply needed to scan the QR code using the OKX app to claim a $5 USDT airdrop, which was directly credited to their OKX wallet accounts. The announcement was met with an enthusiastic response, creating an electrifying atmosphere filled with cheers and excitement, marking the climax of the evening's event. Adding to the significance of the occasion, the entire OKX Philippine Team, along with some SEA OKX Leaders, participated and celebrated with the Sharkz NFT holders, making the event even more special. Announces Future Plans During the event, shared major updates, including: Round 3 of the Points Competition launches on June 16 A car giveaway event is scheduled in the Philippines in Q4 A goal to surpass $100 million in total trading volume by the end of the year Over the two-day Philippine Blockchain Week, the booth drew thousands of visitors and hosted live Sharkz NFT raffles, generating buzz and widespread attention. Committed to Growing the Sui Ecosystem Since its inception, has been dedicated to advancing the SUI ecosystem. The team expresses sincere gratitude to every Sharkz community member for their ongoing support. will continue to organize offline events in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and more, building stronger bonds with Sharkz holders around the world. is a decentralized gaming protocol built on the SUI blockchain, aiming to create a player-driven Web3 gaming ecosystem. Through a points system, NFT integration, and transparent on-chain gameplay, offers a highly engaging and innovative blockchain gaming experience. Contact Marketing Manager Jayden Smith
Coin Geek
03-06-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
Beyond Web3: PH Blockchain Week 2025 set to raise standards for innovation
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Mark your calendars as we prepare to light up the stage for the return of the Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City, from June 10 to 11. Witness a bigger and bolder PBW 2025 with the participation of hundreds of speakers, industry pioneers, influencers, and community partners working to drive the Philippines' blockchain revolution. Carrying the theme 'DECODED,' the third installment of the PBW will focus on breaking down blockchain's complexities and its synergy with other emerging technologies in promoting innovation in diverse industries as the country maps its digital future. The two-day event will also feature immersive activities that will give participants a glimpse of the future fueled by blockchain. Be prepared to engage in in-depth discussions on the future of technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and market trends, and get insights on how the government is working with public and private institutions in adopting blockchain and the initiatives being laid out in support of the Philippines' digital transformation. The panel discussions are not the only ones to look forward to, as numerous exhibits from leading tech companies—both local and international—will be set up on the floor, bringing attendees an opportunity to explore advanced technologies and state-of-the-art solutions. Similar to previous years, PBW 2025 will be a chance for participants to connect with fellow tech enthusiasts and industry leaders, hear from members of the academe, and learn how they're rallying for the youths' involvement in blockchain adoption. Organizers of PBW 2025 will also spotlight the growing local startup ecosystem and how innovative technologies are creeping into Filipino culture while honoring the tech scene's movers and shakers. Who's leading the charge? Master the art of blockchain and Web3 with hosts crypto thought leader Aya Dequiroz, investor and entrepreneur Chantel Elloway, and seasoned corporate trainer Muneer Al Busaidi, together with some of the most influential figures in the emerging technology sector, including PBW regulars Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Director Emmy Lou Delfin, Women in Blockchain Philippines Founder Gail Macapagal, $KIKI CEO Ian Utile, Datagram CEO Jason Brink, and W3GG Ida Mok. Find out the full list of speakers here. Be part of the story In recent years, we've witnessed how the Philippines ride the wave of innovation, from crafting policies following the massive popularity of digital currencies to rediscovering gamers and the youths' potential in the country's digitalization drive during the era of play-to-earn (P2E) gaming and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). But the movement does not stop there. This year's PBW will serve as a testament to the Philippines' vigor in propelling the country into a blockchain hub and how collaborative efforts could spark a massive transformation. Seize this chance to become part of this momentum and get your tickets here. See you there! Watch: Web3 is natural progression of technology title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
