Dash Packs Its Bags for Manila 🏝️ — But Philippine Crypto Permits Take the Scenic Route

Dash is weighing the Philippines as a new market for its payments network, pointing to consumer demand for lower fees and the country's appetite for digital finance tools. Speaking with Cointelegraph at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026, Daria Chernozub, global adoption lead at Dash Blockchain, said the project targets emerging markets where users face high transaction costs and need straightforward payment options. "We believe that Dash brings the technology and the payment solutions for people who are suffering from high commissions [and] who need something easy to use," Chernozub said, adding that the Philippines fits that profile because consumers there are open to learning about new technologies.

Chernozub said Dash is still evaluating the local market and prioritizing legal compliance before any rollout. She said the project has begun communicating with major market participants and has prepared a legal opinion letter for talks with regulatory and financial industry bodies. The assessment comes as the Philippines seeks to attract foreign technology companies, though industry participants have noted that the regulatory process for crypto firms remains significantly more demanding than basic corporate registration.

Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo said during a separate interview at the same event that foreign investors can register a corporation online from anywhere in the world in about 20 to 30 minutes. Quevedo described the SEC's online registration system as part of a broader push toward digitization and innovation and said the government stands ready to assist foreign investors. His remarks suggest that setting up a local entity has become easier, even as crypto companies may still face additional licensing and compliance requirements before they can operate.

Marie Antonette Quiogue, BlockShoals' head of legal and CEO of Arden Consult, said the SEC has established a framework for foreign crypto exchanges willing to enter a regulated environment, though the path carries substantial obligations. She cited the roughly two years BlockShoals spent developing its arrangement with Binance as an example of the timeline involved. Quiogue also pointed to the Philippines' young population, high mobile usage and widespread English proficiency as factors that could draw overseas crypto companies to the market.