Beyond merchant adoption, the event sparked vibrant engagement from local entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital nomads, many of whom recognize cryptocurrency’s potential to streamline cross-border transactions and mitigate currency exchange challenges.
Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, held the PayFi x Bitget Wallet event in Siargao, Philippines. The event is part of Bitget Wallet’s PayFi initiative, aiming to connect the traditional financial system with blockchain technology. With overwhelming participation from merchants, entrepreneurs, and residents, the event showed Bitget’s ongoing effort to promote financial innovation and drive cryptocurrency integration among local businesses and communities.
In February 2025, Bitget Wallet launched PayFi Vision and introduced the PayFi Flywheel, changing how we use cryptocurrency from being a passive asset to a dynamic financial tool for everyday transactions. The PayFi Flywheel converts crypto wallets from simple storage solutions into powerful engines of financial empowerment. With its earning, sending, and spending ecosystem, users can deposit crypto assets, such as stablecoins, into savings accounts offering flexible, real-time yields.
The PayFi x Bitget Wallet event achieved significant strides in merchant adoption, with five key businesses across hospitality, retail, and food & beverage sectors now accepting cryptocurrency through PayFi features in Bitget Wallet. This integration enables seamless transactions for both locals and international visitors, bypassing traditional barriers such as high transaction fees and limited banking infrastructure.
Beyond merchant adoption, the event sparked vibrant engagement from local entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital nomads, many of whom recognize cryptocurrency’s potential to streamline cross-border transactions and mitigate currency exchange challenges. As a hotspot for global tourism, Siargao’s embrace of crypto payments highlights the critical role of education in driving adoption. Bitget Wallet will continue to prioritize its PayFi focus in upcoming initiatives.
Central to the event was the theme of financial inclusion, addressing the challenges faced by underserved communities with limited access to traditional banking. By offering accessible digital payments, the event demonstrates that crypto-powered financial solutions can drive real-world change.
Bitget Wallet is poised to expand its PayFi initiatives across the Philippines, targeting high-potential destinations such as Palawan, La Union, Dumaguete, and Boracay. Immediate plans include returning to Siargao to onboard additional merchants and deepen community engagement, followed by nationwide scaling to empower businesses and individuals with Web3 tools.
The success of PayFi x Bitget Wallet in Siargao has set the stage for further expansion, aligning with the rising demand for decentralized solutions and signaling a new era of financial accessibility and technological progress. The PayFi x Bitget journey starts in Siargao, but the vision stretches far beyond, promising a future where crypto payments empower every part of the Philippines.