Insider Spotlight
The appointment comes as the company works with the Securities and Exchange Commission under a special program that lets crypto firms test new products under regulatory supervision before these are offered to the broader market.
Panlilio said earning the trust of regulators and customers will be central to BlockShoals’ next phase of growth.
“My vision is to build BlockShoals into the country’s most trusted digital asset ecosystem—one that leads in compliance, innovation, education, and financial inclusion,” he said in a text message to InsiderPH.
Panlilio: Consumer protection is ‘paramount’
“Success isn’t measured only by market share, but by the trust we earn from regulators, customers, partners, and the communities we serve,” Panlilio continued.
“At the end, customer protection is paramount for me,” he said.
PH crypto boom
BlockShoals Technologies, led by businessman Anthony Te, has assembled seasoned leaders with local and international experience.
This comes amid a boom in cryptocurrency, which has overtaken domestic stock market trading.
The Philippine cryptocurrency market reached about P6 trillion in gross transaction value as of 2024, with over 10 percent of Filipino adults owning digital assets, a study by intelligence firm Frost & Sullivan showed.
Boardroom veteran
Panlilio brings decades of leadership experience spanning telecommunications, digital banking, energy and corporate governance, having led PLDT and Smart before taking on his current role as chair of Maya Bank.
He remains a director of PLDT and Smart, having previously held senior leadership roles at Manila Electric Co.
In 2025, Panlilio was tapped to lead the Management Association of the Philippines, one of the country’s most influential business organizations.
Regulated path
During a visit to Manila, Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao met with SEC chair Francis Ed. Lim and Finance Secretary Frederick Go before describing the Philippines as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising digital asset markets.
BlockShoals recently secured in-principle approval to participate in the SEC’s StratBox regulatory sandbox, allowing it to test crypto-related products and services under the regulator’s supervision.
The SEC earlier clarified that the current 90-day integration period is limited to technical testing and system integration and does not mark the start of public trading or customer onboarding, with any broader rollout requiring further regulatory approval.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
