In a revealing conversation, Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph, shared his vision for the country’s pioneering licensed crypto exchange. From infrastructure overhauls and regulatory compliance to international expansion and Web3 innovation, Zhou outlined a bold roadmap rooted in strengthening the platform’s crypto-native identity.
As the Philippine fintech landscape evolves, Coins.ph is positioning itself not just as a digital wallet, but as a gateway to decentralized finance and blockchain-powered services. Here’s a deep dive into what’s next for one of Southeast Asia’s most influential fintech platforms.
Reviving a Sleeping Giant
When Wei Zhou joined Coins.ph, he saw untapped potential in what he described as a "sleeping giant." Under previous ownership — notably Gojek — the company had maintained operational stability but lacked strategic focus on crypto.
“It didn’t have a lot of product offerings. But it was functional. It was working.”
Zhou’s first move was to apply “shock therapy” — a rapid yet careful transformation to awaken the platform’s dormant capabilities. He brought in a full-stack team, many of whom were former Binance executives, ensuring strong technical and operational leadership.
This revival strategy mirrors his investment philosophy seen in projects like ON1 Force, an anime NFT collection he co-acquired. In both cases, the thesis is identical: invest in undervalued assets with strong brand equity and revitalize them through expert management and capital infusion.
👉 Discover how leading platforms are reinventing digital finance with next-gen tools.
Major Infrastructure Upgrade: Pain Now, Gain Later
One of the most pressing topics in the interview was Coins.ph’s ongoing infrastructure overhaul. The legacy system, dating back to 2016, relied heavily on outdated architecture and single-vendor dependencies — including a critical OTP (one-time password) provider.
To modernize securely without service disruption, the team began rebuilding core components such as:
- The order book matching engine
- Wallet management systems
- Backend API integrations with external vendors for bill payments, mobile load, and cash-in/cash-out services
However, as backend migrations reached user-facing features, issues emerged. Users reported missing buttons and temporary service outages.
“I think that’s where the upgrade gets a little bit tricky… each one of those payments is a different API into an external vendor.”
Zhou admitted the communication around these disruptions fell short:
“I think what we’ve done a poor job on is communicating… ‘hey, there might be issues over the next 48 hours. Don’t worry, your money’s there.’”
The team now aims to resolve any identified issues within 24–48 hours and improve transparency during future transitions.
The Roadmap: Crypto-First, Web3-Focused
Coins.ph is shifting from being a general e-wallet to becoming a premier crypto reward platform for fiat services. Zhou envisions partnerships with offline merchants who want to use crypto as part of loyalty programs or marketing campaigns.
“We want to help them enable that.”
This includes integrating Web3 features like Coins Arcade, which already operates with non-custodial wallet principles — allowing users to interact with games and digital assets without sacrificing control.
Despite this capability, Coins.ph hasn’t heavily promoted its non-custodial functionality because, as Zhou noted:
“Normal users don’t really care… as long as I can move my money whenever I want.”
Still, the foundation is being laid for deeper Web3 integration in the months ahead.
Regulatory Leadership and Compliance
Coins.ph holds licenses from key Philippine regulators, including:
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Monthly audits, cold wallet inspections, and strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols ensure trust and accountability.
Zhou praised local regulators for their sophistication:
“You can’t BS them. I’ve met regulators worldwide — ours are impressively knowledgeable.”
He anticipates the next phase of Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) regulations will shift from AML-centric rules to frameworks governing actual trading activities.
KYC and the Travel Rule
- KYC updates are mandatory periodically — not just one-time verification.
- The Travel Rule is enforced more strictly than FATF guidelines: all transactions require beneficiary identification, regardless of amount. This is to reassure regulators of proactive compliance.
While user experience suffers slightly, Zhou acknowledges the friction and promises lighter-touch solutions soon.
Expanding Token Listings and Liquidity
Despite being a single-market exchange, Coins.ph maintains a rigorous token listing process involving legal, research, and compliance teams — all reviewed by regulators.
However, scaling listings is challenging:
“The work to support Solana or Optimism is the same whether you’re serving 1 million or 150 million users.”
Unlike global platforms like Binance, Coins.ph must be selective. Still, Zhou aims to build the deepest PHP-to-crypto liquidity pool in the region.
Competition: GCash and Maya Enter Crypto
The entry of GCash and Maya into crypto is welcomed by Zhou. He sees it as market expansion rather than direct competition.
“For them, crypto is part of a financial service. For us, it’s the core.”
He believes users who start with mainstream wallets will eventually seek more advanced options — like altcoins only available on Coins.ph — creating a natural funnel to their platform.
👉 See how top exchanges are building liquidity and user trust in emerging markets.
Staking, NFTs, and the Coins Token
- Staking: Regulated in the Philippines; Coins.ph is actively seeking SEC approval.
- NFTs: No immediate plans for an NFT marketplace. Focus remains on providing access to major platforms or first-mint opportunities.
- Coins Token: When asked directly, Zhou gave a diplomatic “no comment” — then hinted at inevitability:
“It’s very natural for exchanges to have an exchange token… to reward users and attract more participants.”
Given his experience launching exchange tokens at Binance, expectations are high.
What’s Next? Integration, Games, and Global Ambitions
Over the next three months, expect:
- Full integration of Coins and Coins Pro, bringing competitive fees to all users
- Launch of an affiliate program
- A new web3 game developed exclusively for Coins users
- Leadership expansion with Jen Bilango as Philippines Country Manager
Zhou’s ultimate goal?
“To become the first international company coming out of the Philippines hitting a home run globally.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Coins.ph safe and regulated?
A: Yes. Coins.ph is licensed by the BSP and SEC, undergoes monthly audits, and has its cold wallets inspected regularly.
Q: Why does Coins.ph enforce the Travel Rule on all transactions?
A: To exceed regulatory expectations and demonstrate compliance rigor, even beyond FATF’s $1,000 threshold.
Q: Can I use a non-custodial wallet on Coins.ph?
A: While Coins.ph is primarily custodial, features like Coins Arcade operate on non-custodial principles — though this isn’t heavily advertised.
Q: Will Coins.ph launch its own token?
A: No official confirmation yet. However, CEO Wei Zhou strongly implied it's a natural step for exchange growth.
Q: Does Coins.ph plan to expand outside the Philippines?
A: Yes. International expansion is part of the roadmap, with infrastructure upgrades paving the way for global scalability.
Q: When will staking be available?
A: The team is actively seeking SEC approval. Launch depends on regulatory clearance.
👉 Explore global crypto innovations shaping the future of finance.
Coins.ph is no longer just a local e-wallet — it's evolving into a crypto-first financial ecosystem built for the Web3 era. With strong leadership, regulatory compliance, and a clear vision, Wei Zhou is steering the platform toward regional influence and international relevance.