Nikolas Sargeant
GoTyme Bank, one of the Philippines’ fastest-growing digital banking platforms, has rolled out crypto trading for its 6.5 million users through a partnership with US fintech firm Alpaca. The feature allows customers to buy and store 11 digital assets directly within the GoTyme mobile app, with Philippine peso purchases automatically converted into US dollars. Supported coins include Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, Polkadot and several other major altcoins.
The bank says the product was built specifically for beginners seeking a straightforward way to enter the crypto market without navigating external exchanges or complex tools. CEO Nate Clarke emphasized that the platform prioritizes simplicity and reliability for users who want a “confident, no-friction” buying experience. GoTyme, founded in 2022 as a joint venture between Singapore’s Tyme Group and the Philippines’ Gokongwei Group, has rapidly expanded by promoting seamless onboarding — users can open a bank account and debit card in roughly five minutes, a level of accessibility now extended to crypto.
Philippines Expands Role as a Crypto and Blockchain Testing Ground
GoTyme’s regional ambitions continue to grow, with plans to expand into Vietnam and Indonesia as it chases scale over short-term profitability. Clarke noted that the bank is still firmly in its growth phase, focusing on engagement rather than bottom-line optimization.
The rollout comes as the Philippines continues to rank among the world’s most active crypto markets, placing ninth on Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index. Policymakers are also exploring progressive blockchain initiatives, including a proposal by Senator Bam Aquino to put the national budget on a blockchain ledger to create fully transparent public spending. Aquino argues that such a system could log “every peso” on-chain, potentially making the Philippines the first country to adopt a fully blockchain-based national budget.
In parallel, Congressman Miguel Luis Villafuerte has introduced a bill to establish a national Bitcoin reserve of up to 10,000 BTC over five years, intended for long-term strategic use such as sovereign debt reduction. The push reflects growing interest in leveraging digital assets amid rising national debt, which reached ₱16.09 trillion ($285 billion) as of late 2024.
