Managing money in the Philippines has long been a pain point for international platforms and local marketplaces alike.
Payments often pass through multiple intermediaries, driving up fees and slowing settlement times, while payouts to merchants or freelancers can take days. For businesses operating at scale, that friction directly hits margins and cash flow.
A new partnership between global payments provider Starpago and leading digital asset exchange and e-wallet Coins.ph aims to change that equation.
The companies have launched an all-in-one payment and payout solution that consolidates collections and disbursements into a single, streamlined flow for the Philippine market.
Under the collaboration, businesses can accept Philippine peso payments through QR Ph, the country’s national QR standard, using any compatible app. At the same time, they can push near-instant payouts to local bank accounts and e-wallets via established rails such as InstaPay and PESONet. The result is a true “in-and-out” system that reduces reconciliation headaches and improves liquidity.
The timing is notable. As gig platforms, e-commerce marketplaces, and SMEs continue to expand in Southeast Asia, the ability to move money quickly and cheaply has become a competitive differentiator. By bundling payments and payouts, Starpago and Coins.ph are effectively positioning themselves as infrastructure rather than just another payments option.
Trust and compliance are central to the pitch. Coins.ph is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and holds both Virtual Asset Service Provider and Electronic Money Issuer licenses. Starpago adds ISO 27001 certification and enterprise-grade security, addressing concerns that often slow enterprise adoption.
The service is live with a focus on Philippine peso transactions, but the ambition is broader. A second phase planned for mid-2026 will add currencies such as the Thai baht and Brazilian real via Coins.xyz, pushing the platform toward a full multi-currency payments engine built for emerging markets.
