The crypto-native digital wallet announced the rollout of its QRPh stablecoin payment functionality on April 21, enabling millions of users to complete transactions using Philippine pesos (PHP), or supported stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, within a single checkout flow.
Unified payments
QRPh, developed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), is the country’s standard QR code system designed to make digital payments more seamless and interoperable. It allows users to pay across banks and e-wallets using a single QR code, eliminating the need for merchants to display multiple payment options.
With the integration, Coins.ph becomes the first e-wallet in the Philippines to support stablecoin payments within the QRPh network. The feature is compatible with nearly 700,000 QRPh-enabled merchants nationwide, from small businesses to large retail chains.
The company said in a statement that the move effectively bridges digital asset holdings with everyday spending, allowing users to tap into their crypto balances without needing to convert funds manually before making a purchase.
Market scale
Coins.ph’s existing footprint underscores the potential impact of the feature. In December 2025 alone, the platform processed nearly P30 billion in QRPh transactions, reflecting a broad and active payment network now expanded to include crypto.
For the initial rollout, the platform supports two of the most widely used stablecoins globally—USDT and USDC—both pegged to the US dollar. These assets are commonly used for their relative price stability compared to other cryptocurrencies, making them more suitable for everyday transactions.
Coins.ph said additional tokens may be integrated in future updates.
Seamless flow
The new payment system is designed to streamline transactions through automated conversion at the point of sale. Users can choose between three modes: paying entirely in pesos, using stablecoins that are converted to pesos during checkout, or combining both if one balance is insufficient.
Real-time conversion rates are displayed during the transaction, ensuring transparency before payment is confirmed. Once approved, the system completes both the conversion and the merchant payment in a single process.
Refunds for QRPh transactions are issued in pesos, regardless of whether the original payment involved crypto.
Coins.ph Chief Executive Officer Wei Zhou said the feature aims to simplify how users spend digital assets in everyday scenarios.
“We expect this new feature to transform how our users make payments, whether it’s for daily purchases or larger retail transactions,” Zhou said. “This is part of our broader effort to make crypto more usable and accessible.”
Everyday use
The rollout addresses a long-standing barrier in crypto adoption—limited real-world utility. By embedding stablecoin payments into an existing national infrastructure, Coins.ph is positioning digital assets as a practical option for daily spending.
“As QRPh adoption continues to grow, we want to give Filipinos more flexibility in how they use their funds,” Zhou added.
With digital payments on the rise and crypto ownership expanding, the integration signals a step toward blending traditional finance and blockchain-based systems into a more unified payment experience. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
