Philippines

The Philippines has a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regulating virtual currency exchanges under BSP Circular 944 (2017). Crypto activities are legal and regulated.

Overview

StatusLegal
Risk Score37/100 (Moderate Risk)
Regionsoutheast asia
CurrencyPHP

Tax Information

Capital Gains (Personal)No specific crypto tax; income tax at 0-35% progressive rates may apply
Capital Gains (Corporate)25% corporate tax (20% for SMEs)
VAT on CryptoNo

The regulator page does not provide explicit tax details for cryptocurrencies.

Licensing & Registration

RequiredYes
RegulatorBSP / SEC PH
FrameworkBSP Circular No. 944 (2017) + BSP Circular No. 1108 (2021) - VASP Framework; BSP Memorandum M-2025-031 (VASP moratorium, effective Sept 1 2025); SEC MC 04-2025 (CASP Rules) + SEC MC 05-2025 (CASP Guidelines), effective July 5, 2025
Easemedium
Cost (USD)$200,000 - $1,000,000 (PHP 10M-50M minimum capital)

Licensing is required for virtual currency exchanges under BSP Circular 944.

Enforcement Activity

Level: Moderate

No detailed enforcement information available

AML / KYC

KYC RequiredYes
Travel RuleYes
FATF MemberNo
FATF Statuscompliant_removed_from_grey_list
FATF BodyAPG
Suspicious-Activity ReportingYes

DeFi, Stablecoins & NFTs

Status: unregulated

No explicit regulatory framework for DeFi is mentioned on the regulator page.

Stablecoins

Status: regulated

Stablecoins are regulated under the general virtual currency framework by BSP.

NFTs

Status: unregulated

Mining

LegalYes
Electricity Cost$0.12/kWh
Renewable Energy25%
Infrastructuregood

Mining is legal with moderate electricity costs and 25% renewable energy share.

Geopolitical Risk

Stabilitystable
SanctionsNo
Corruption Index34/100
Banking Accessmoderate

Risk Factors

The Philippines is politically stable with moderate corruption and moderate ease of doing business. It is not under international sanctions.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cryptocurrency legal in Philippines?

The Philippines has a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regulating virtual currency exchanges under BSP Circular 944 (2017). Crypto activities are legal and regulated.

What is the FATF status of Philippines?

Philippines is classified by FATF as: compliant_removed_from_grey_list.

Are VASPs licensed in Philippines?

Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.

What is the AML/KYC regime in Philippines?

KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.

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Last reviewed: 2026-06-01 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map

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