Crypto news

The Central Bank of the Philippines (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) has officially approved an updated digital asset listing regulation for all licensed Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). The key innovation is a direct ban on the addition and support of cryptocurrencies focused on enhanced privacy (privacy coins).

According to the new requirements, before listing any coin or token, providers must conduct a comprehensive review across six key areas. First and foremost, this includes data on the issuer and project team, an assessment of market maturity, and real-world use cases for the asset. Special attention is given to code transparency and security, as well as the level of liquidity and the presence of confirmed reserves. The final point is strict compliance with current Philippine legislation.

In addition to the initial listing procedure, the regulator requires platforms to conduct ongoing monitoring of already added assets. Each VASP must predefine clear criteria for suspending trading or fully delisting a token in the event of deteriorating performance or emerging regulatory risks.

Analytical commentary from Cryptalist: This move by Manila is not isolation, but an evolution of regulation. The ban on privacy coins (such as Monero or Zcash) is an expected measure within the global trend of combating money laundering (AML). For the Philippine market, where a high proportion of remittances exist, this is a signal: the regulator aims to preserve innovation but strictly control risks. The six-factor review will become a serious filter for small projects, but for large liquid assets, it is merely a formality. Investors should expect exchanges to begin mass-cleaning lists of junk tokens, which in the long term is a positive factor for the market.