Philippines

Lack of capital hinders farmers' adoption of agri-tech -- DOST

Many Filipino farmers are willing to adopt new agricultural technologies, but a lack of capital remains a major obstacle to their continued use, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Central Luzon said Monday.

finance

Fintech News PH

BancNet Maintenance Takes Some GCash Services Offline Tonight

Some GCash services will be unavailable overnight as BancNet, the Philippines’ interbank payments network, undergoes scheduled system maintenance, according to ABS-CBN News. The maintenance runs from 11:30 PM tonight to 1:30 AM on September 29, according to GCash’s own Help Cent…

14 days ago

BSP Sets PHP 1 Billion Capital Floor for Banks Acting Like Digital Banks

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued capital and other requirements for thrift, rural and cooperative banks shifting to digital bank business models. The move aims to ensure these banks operate safely and soundly. Under Circular No. 1240, dated September 21, 2026, BS…

Former DOKU CEO Chris Yeo Takes Over Antom Philippines

Antom, Ant International’s merchant payment and digitisation services provider, has announced a series of leadership appointments across Southeast Asia. The moves aim to strengthen synergy among its regional brands and offer merchants more unified, AI-native payment solutions. A…

DragonFi Securities Gets SEC Nod to Test US Stock Access

DragonFi Securities Inc., the stock brokerage arm of DoubleDragon Corp, has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to test a product letting Filipino investors access pre-approved US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) without opening an account…

Lawmaker Proposes Congressional Franchise Requirement for Social Media Companies

A proposed bill in the Philippine House of Representatives would require major social media platforms to obtain a congressional franchise to operate legally in the country.

DragonFi Securities Enters SEC Sandbox to Test Over-the-Counter U.S. Stock Depositary Receipts

DragonFi Securities receives SEC sandbox approval to test over-the-counter depositary receipts for U.S. equities and ETFs linked to local investor portfolio limits.

Baguio City Deploys Blockchain Records System Katibayan Covering P275M in Contracts

Baguio City launches Katibayan, an AI- and blockchain-powered system securing 246 city ordinances and 106 infrastructure contracts worth over P275.5 million.

OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Ads to Philippines, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan

According to the company, advertisements will appear exclusively for users on the Free and Go subscription plans.

15 days ago

Bill Gates joins calls for AI safeguards, including legislation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) requires safeguards that go beyond self-regulation, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said in an interview that aired on Sunday, calling for legislation to be passed in Congress.

15 days ago

ICT rights group: Child safety no excuse to block Discord

An internet and information and communications technology (ICT) rights advocacy group on Sunday said child safety should not justify violating the public's right to information and freedom of speech following the temporary blocking of Discord.

15 days ago

OpenAI's models accessed public US Census, SEC data, Bloomberg News reports

Sept 25 (Reuters) - OpenAI's models accessed publicly available information from US government websites, including those of the Census Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

Scientists map gene activity in brain's prefrontal cortex

WASHINGTON - Scientists have created a detailed map of gene activity within a crucial part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, gaining insight into normal development and major brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.

PhilSA team trains for 2027 rocket launch in Cagayan

A 10-member team from the Philippine Space Authority (PhilSA) is undergoing training in the development, assembly and testing of a liquid-fueled rocket in preparation for a planned rocket launch in Lal-lo, Cagayan, in 2027.

Microsoft integrates Word, Excel deeper into Copilot

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Microsoft on Friday unveiled a new vision for how it will integrate Word, Excel and Powerpoint into its AI-powered assistant Copilot, in an effort to make AI the entry point for its famous suite of productivity software.

Ondo Finance: How Its Tokenized Asset Platform Works

Ondo Finance is a blockchain platform that turns assets like US Treasuries and public stocks into tokens you can hold, trade, and earn yield on, around the clock. So, I started digging into it because my brokerage account locks up every Friday at 4 pm like it’s still 1985. Ondo’…

Crypto IRA Explained: How to Hold Bitcoin in a Retirement Account

Bitcoin has spent almost two decades as the asset people either love or dismiss. What has changed lately is where people are allowed to keep it. A growing number of savers in the US are no longer treating crypto as a side bet sitting on an exchange app – they’re folding it into…

blockchainPHBitPinas

Bitget Suspends Withdrawals Following $351.6 Million Hot Wallet Security Breach

The company also stated that Bitget Wallet, its decentralized wallet application, operates independently from the exchange infrastructure and was not impacted.

17 days ago

blockchainPHBitPinas

How You Can Take Advantage of Web3 Game EVE Frontier’s Galaxy Reset to Start Fresh

A complete galaxy reset in EVE Frontier on September 29 gives space survival players and Filipino gaming guilds a fresh slate to conquer space.

17 days ago

Study reveals evolutionary history of bats, dating back 65 million years

Bats first appeared in Europe about 65 million years ago, after the mass extinction event that doomed the dinosaurs, before spreading around the world, the largest bat genome study found.

Archaeological 'breakthrough' could confirm origins of Paris

PARIS, France -- An ancient wall discovered in central Paris was hailed as a "major breakthrough" on Wednesday, as the archaeological find may have settled a long-standing debate about the location of the city's original settlement.

Discord 101: What to know about the online platform

Discord is facing scrutiny in the Philippines due to concerns over the use of online platforms to allegedly exploit minors and spread violent extremist content and ideologies.

Meta launches AI gadget Charm as race for post-smartphone hardware heats up

MENLO PARK, California - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday unveiled a small handheld gadget called Meta Charm for using its new Muse AI assistant, taking the company's hardware efforts beyond its successful smart glasses.

For Pope Leo, the risk of an AI apocalypse is a major concern

The Vatican warned about the risk of an apocalypse spurred by artificial intelligence years before major American firms sounded the alarm at the United Nations Security Council.

CICC Lifts Discord Ban in the Philippines Following Regulatory Compliance Meeting

The Philippine government has ordered local internet service providers (ISPs) to unblock Discord following an emergency dialogue between platform representatives and cybercrime regulators on Thursday.

IFC Plans US$70 Million Investment in Mynt IPO

GCash parent Mynt could secure US$70 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) ahead of its planned Philippine IPO. BusinessWorld reported that IFC plans to participate as a cornerstone investor by acquiring Mynt common shares from its own account, with the propos…

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Laguna Network: How to Earn Up to 48% Crypto Cashback on TikTok Shop, Lazada, Shopee, VPN, and More

Learn how to earn up to 48% crypto cashback in Bitcoin and Solana on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop purchases in the Philippines.

How to Use the Crypto Fear and Greed Index Without Getting Tricked by Market Sentiment

When I checked the crypto fear and greed index for the first time, I looked at it just like a trading signal. If the score’s under 25, we buy. And if the score’s over 75, we sell. Though it took me a few cycles of watching that number being stable in “extreme fear” for weeks […]…

What Is a Crypto Index Fund? A Beginner’s Guide

People are looking for simple ways to invest in digital assets without researching and managing individual cryptocurrencies. And one such way is to get broader exposure through a crypto index fund. A crypto index fund is an investment product that gives you exposure to a group o…

Crypto Credit Cards Explained: How They Work and What to Watch For

A friend of mine paid for a round of drinks last month, and it was settled in Bitcoin when he checked his statement the next morning. His card didn’t ask him anything. It just converted the balance on the spot, at whatever price BTC happened to be at that second. That’s the stra…