What new crypto rules is the Philippines introducing?

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is requiring licensed Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to follow stricter standards for listing, monitoring and delisting cryptocurrencies. The goal is to improve transparency, investor protection and anti-money laundering compliance.

Has the Philippines banned privacy coins?

Yes. The BSP has reportedly prohibited licensed VASPs from listing or supporting privacy-enhancing cryptocurrencies that make transaction tracing difficult. The move is intended to reduce risks linked to money laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit activities.

Why is the BSP targeting privacy-focused cryptocurrencies?

Privacy coins can make it harder for regulators and blockchain analytics firms to trace transactions. The BSP believes stricter controls will strengthen anti-money laundering safeguards and improve oversight of the country's digital asset sector.

What are VASPs required to do before listing a cryptocurrency?

VASPs must conduct enhanced due diligence before offering a digital asset to customers. This includes reviewing the issuer, use cases, market maturity, liquidity, transparency, security features and regulatory compliance of each token.

What factors will exchanges consider when reviewing crypto assets?

The BSP said providers may assess factors such as market capitalisation, trading volume, market share, tokenomics, project documentation and liquidity. Exchanges must also evaluate legal risks and the asset's ability to meet compliance requirements.

What happens if a listed cryptocurrency no longer meets BSP standards?

VASPs must maintain ongoing monitoring systems and establish clear delisting procedures. Assets that no longer satisfy regulatory, security or compliance requirements may be removed from trading platforms.

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Philippines tightens crypto rules and bans privacy coins

Written by Liezl GambePublished Jun 15, 2026, 2:35 AM

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has introduced stricter cryptocurrency listing requirements that prohibit licensed Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) from offering privacy-enhancing digital assets while tightening compliance standards across the sector.

According to reports, the new framework is designed to strengthen anti-money laundering controls, combat terrorist financing and improve transparency in the country's digital asset market.

Under the updated rules, licensed VASPs must conduct enhanced due diligence before listing cryptocurrencies, continuously monitor assets for compliance risks and establish clear procedures for delisting tokens that no longer meet regulatory standards.

The BSP has also instructed providers to assess digital assets across several categories, including the issuer's background, market maturity, use cases, transparency, traceability, security, liquidity, reserves and legal compliance.

The measures reportedly follow a memorandum between the central bank and industry participants that seeks to create more consistent standards for evaluating and monitoring crypto assets offered to Philippine investors.

The BSP said exchanges may consider factors such as market capitalisation, trading volume, market share and token liquidity when reviewing assets, while project whitepapers must be readily accessible and include information on tokenomics, risks and intended use cases.

The framework also requires providers to evaluate the underlying blockchain infrastructure, including consensus mechanisms, interoperability, security vulnerabilities and the availability of blockchain analytics tools capable of tracing transactions.

The prohibition on privacy-focused cryptocurrencies aligns the Philippines with a broader global regulatory trend in which authorities are placing greater scrutiny on assets that limit transaction traceability, particularly as regulators seek stronger oversight of anti-money laundering compliance in digital asset markets.

For crypto exchanges operating in the Philippines, the rules are expected to increase compliance obligations while potentially reducing the range of assets available to local investors, particularly privacy-focused tokens that fail to meet the BSP's transparency requirements.