The Crypto Roundtable brings together industry leaders and participants to discuss market literacy and the Philippine digital asset market
Thinking about trying crypto, or already trading it? The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is tightening the rules around it, and the Philippine crypto trading community says that is good news. It is not, however, a promise that you cannot lose money.
That was the message from Arlone Abello, CEO of Global Miranda Miner Group (GMMG) and Founding Chairman of the Innovative Movement of the Philippine Association of Crypto Traders (IMPACT), at The Crypto Roundtable on 30 September 2026. He said the BSP’s proposed freeze on new payment system operator registrations and its tighter controls on virtual asset service providers (VASPs) show that the local crypto market is maturing.
So what is the BSP actually proposing? Its draft circular, released for consultation earlier in September, would suspend new registrations of Operators of Payment Systems (OPS) for 12 months while the central bank reviews its licensing framework. It would also require payment firms to deal with regulated VASPs only through direct arrangements, with enhanced due diligence, monitoring, and transaction and settlement limits.
What does that mean for you as a user? Abello put it this way: “When every payment can be traced to a real business, users, banks and partners can deal with crypto platforms with the same confidence they have in any other financial service.” GMMG supports this kind of accountability and traceability.
Does it make crypto safe? Not on its own. Abello said regulation can strengthen safeguards, but it cannot make people better investors, and users can still face losses in a regulated market. That is why GMMG is pushing for stronger market literacy, especially as users are projected to reach nearly 12.8 million this year and about 10% of Filipinos already use crypto.
Why are so many people joining? Part of the answer is that about 76% of the population is unbanked or underbanked, so digital-first financial services are in demand. The crowd is also changing. Abello pointed to traders moving across from gold and equities, professionals bringing familiar investment approaches to crypto, and younger Filipinos building crypto into their wider financial plans.
If you are new, the takeaway is simple: learn how to understand risks, manage exposure and make decisions before you put money in. GMMG will keep expanding education in technical analysis, risk management, market behavior and disciplined trading, and the next edition of The Crypto Roundtable is set for November 2026. You can follow announcements at globalmirandaminer.com.
GMMG CEO Arlone Abello shares insights in a panel discussion on crypto identity, financial and market literacy
[L-R] Arlone Abello (Coach Miranda Miner), CEO of Global Miranda Miner Group; Patrick Lao, Head of Retail at PDAX; John Garcia, Head of Strategic and Market Education Ventures at GCash; and Alden Yburan, Head of GCrypto, at The Crypto Roundtable