Crypto PH News Recap: May 05 – 11, 2025

From the subpoenas sent by the police to two local VASPs for the Anson Que Case to GCrypto and BitPinas’ Bitcoin Pizza Day meetup, here are some of the crypto news from the Philippines. Today, we curated some of the news from crypto and blockchain organizations in the Philippines from last week (May 5-11, 2025). PNP Subpoenas Two Local VASPs on Anson Que Case The Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed that unlicensed e-wallets linked to casino junket operators were used to funnel ransom money in the Anson Que kidnapping case, which was then converted into cryptocurrency. Portions of the funds passed through multiple digital platforms and were traced to both registered and unregistered virtual asset service providers (VASPs), leading the PNP to subpoena two locally licensed exchanges. The Anti-Money Laundering Council and PNP emphasized the need for greater regulation, including shutting down illegal junket VASPs, revoking casino partnerships, and extending anti-money laundering laws to cover more entities. They also plan to push for stricter KYC measures and closer collaboration with local and international regulators. Authorities are now working to preserve and potentially confiscate digital assets linked to the crime, while ongoing investigations aim to uncover additional crypto wallets and platforms involved in the laundering process. CryptoBilis Bitcoin Pizza Day 2025 CryptoBilis, in partnership with hardware wallet maker Tangem, will host Bitcoin Pizza Day 2025 on May 30, 2025, at MetroTent Convention Center in Ortigas, Manila, celebrating the historic first Bitcoin transaction in 2010 when 10,000 BTC was used to buy two pizzas. The event, which runs from 3:00 p.m. to midnight with tickets starting at ₱199, promises a bigger and more immersive experience than last year’s gathering, which drew over 500 crypto enthusiasts. SparkPoint x CoinEx Giveaway SparkPoint held a 2,000 $CET token giveaway in partnership with CoinEx Filipino, which was awarded during a special X Space event featuring guests from #CryptoPH communities Airdrop ng mga Bobo and Cryptita Plays. The event, which aimed to explore the role of AI in community building, invited participants to join SparkPoint’s Telegram group, create an account on CoinEx, and submit their best questions for a chance to win. The selected six winners split the 2,000 $CET prize pool, with tokens to be sent directly to their CoinEx accounts. ChainQuest at NU Fairview Web3 Bulacan, a local community initiative, recently hosted its ChainQuest event at the National University Fairview Campus in Quezon City. The event gathered students, faculty members, and tech enthusiasts to delve into the future of Web3 through in-depth discussions on blockchain technology, career opportunities, social impact, and in-demand developer skills—offering attendees meaningful insights and growth prospects in the digital space. Paytaca Releases Wallet Update Paytaca rolled out version 0.22.4 of its Bitcoin Cash (BCH) wallet, delivering a series of enhancements aimed at improving user experience and overall performance. The latest update introduces faster app loading times, more accurate and reliable balance updates, and smoother handling of peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange functions. Paytaca is a fintech company dedicated to facilitating peer-to-peer electronic cash transactions. It offers a non-custodial Bitcoin Cash wallet, giving users complete control over their funds without relying on third-party intermediaries. In addition, Paytaca provides merchant solutions, including a point-of-sale system, Bitcoin Cash-enabled vending machines, and other web3-integrated services. GCrypto x BitPinas BTC Pizza Day Meetup GCrypto and BitPinas are teaming up to celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22, 2025, with a community meetup in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The event, themed “The ₱6.8 Billion Lesson — How Pizza Changed Bitcoin Forever,” pays tribute to the historic 2010 transaction where 10,000 BTC were used to buy pizza. Beyond free pizza, the gathering aims to educate and engage attendees on Bitcoin’s journey and its growing role in the financial landscape. The immersive experience includes “Satoshi Quest” interactive booths highlighting Bitcoin milestones, panel discussions under the #CryptoPH Conversations series, and a special fireside talk from a surprise guest speaker. Participants will also receive educational kits, collectible “pizza tokens,” and take part in community sharing sessions, reinforcing the cultural and technological impact of Bitcoin in the Philippines. This article is published on BitPinas: Crypto PH News Recap: May 05 – 11, 2025 What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?