AI, Tokenization, and the Future of Finance Took Center Stage at ASEAN Tech Summit

The two-day ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 opened in Manila, bringing together government heads, regulators, and financial and technology leaders to discuss Southeast Asia’s digital economy^{. The event, hosted by FinTech Alliance PH under the theme “Building ASEAN’s Digital Economy: Secure. Sustainable. Inclusive. Borderless,” focuses on artificial intelligence, digital assets, cybersecurity, and cross-border payments.}

Keynote Presentations and Regional Proposals

In his opening address, FinTech Alliance PH Founding Chairman and RCBC Executive Vice President Lito Villanueva stated that agentic AI, digital assets, and cybersecurity are converging to redefine financial services. Villanueva projected that by 2030, a majority of transactions may no longer involve human intervention.

To strengthen regional financial security, Villanueva proposed the establishment of a private sector-led ASEAN Resiliency Wealth Fund alongside a regional Network Anti-Scam Hub to address cross-border financial crime^.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda delivered a keynote message on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reaffirming government support for regional digital transformation initiatives^.

Digital Asset Discussions and Industry Presentations

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao participated in a fireside chat with Villanueva, marking Zhao’s first public event appearance in the Philippines. Zhao discussed the role of regulated stablecoins, stating that a Philippine peso-pegged stablecoin is important to the country’s fintech ecosystem.

Zhao also floated the concept of a “regulatory passport” for cryptocurrency firms, noting that Binance holds licenses across multiple international jurisdictions^.

During the summit, Binance Philippines, operated by BlockShoals, hosted a roundtable event led by APAC Head SB Seker, General Manager Jen Bilango, SEC Assistant Director Paolo Ong and Blockshoals Head of Legal Marie Antonette Quiogue. A separate Summit on Digital Assets was also conducted alongside the main event.

Government Initiatives and Regional Partnerships

DICT Undersecretary David Almirol presented four use cases for the government’s EGov Super App during the summit. Almirol announced that the application will integrate 911 for crime reporting, adding that simplification in government operations can save between 50% and 60% of operating budgets.

The summit highlighted a long-term collaboration between the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) and Philippine institutions^{. Key initiatives include bringing the GFTN Select Series to Manila, launching the ASEAN Financial Health Challenge 2026 with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and establishing the five-year AI Horizon Philippines Programme.}

Organizers also launched the 2026 Philippine FinTech Report, which provides an assessment of the national digital finance ecosystem^.

Day 1 Recap and Local Industry Presence

Announced during the Summit, Binance appointed fintech veteran Jen Bilango as General Manager for the Philippines as part of its regulatory compliance efforts in the country. Additionally, Philippine-incorporated fintech firm BlockShoals Technologies, Inc., which operates Binance PH under the Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory sandbox, officially joined FinTech Alliance PH.

Several local digital asset service providers set up exhibition booths at the summit. Exhibitors included Binance PH by BlockShoals, GCash through its in-app spot crypto platform GCrypto, licensed crypto exchange Coins.ph, and digital bank Maya.

This article is published on BitPinas: AI, Tokenization, and the Future of Finance Took Center Stage at ASEAN Tech Summit

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