Visa eyes stablecoin rollout in PH 

MANILA, Philippines — Global payments firm Visa is exploring stablecoin use cases with Philippine banks and fintechs as it seeks to reduce the cost and friction of cross-border payments, amid still limited awareness and trust in the emerging digital currency among Filipino consumers.

This comes as Visa’s Money Travels 2026 study found that roughly four in 10 Filipinos have yet to hear of stablecoins, while only about a third of those aware of the technology clearly understand how it works.

READ: Visa Inc. footprint at SM’s MOA complex balloons

Stablecoins are digital currencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically by being pegged to an asset such as the US dollar.

They are being explored as a way to move money across borders faster and potentially at lower cost.

Currently, stablecoins are still mainly used for buying or selling crypto assets or making payments across borders.

READ: GCash taps Visa to cut extra wallet top-ups

It is expected, however, that with more clarity on its benefits and the policy environment, stablecoins may become part of everyday life.

“We do see there’s a lower level of awareness or trust in stable coins. But that also gives an opportunity for market practitioners, the government, the central bank, payment networks and traditional commercial banks to increase (Filipinos’) education and awareness in the usage of stable coins,” Qinwen Xiao, head of Visa Direct, said in a media briefing.

“It’s a conversation that Visa will continue to explore with the banks and fintechs here, as well as the regulator, to continuously engage with all these parties to see when a stablecoin use case can be deployed in the Philippines,” he added. INQ