Micronesia vs Philippines
Crypto regulation comparison
Micronesia
Philippines
No Regulation
Legal
Micronesia has no specific cryptocurrency regulation. Uses the US dollar as its official currency.
The Philippines is one of the largest crypto markets in Southeast Asia. The BSP licenses Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) under Circular 1108 (2021), and the SEC regulates crypto as securities where applicable. The Philippines saw massive adoption through play-to-earn games (Axie Infinity) and remittances. Crypto income is taxed at progressive income tax rates.
Tax Type
None
Tax Type
Income
Tax Rate
N/A
Tax Rate
0-35%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
Department of Finance and Administration
Regulator
BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), SEC Philippines
Stablecoin Rules
No stablecoin regulation
Stablecoin Rules
BSP regulates virtual asset service providers including stablecoin operations
Key Points
- No specific cryptocurrency legislation
- Uses the US dollar as official currency
- Very limited financial infrastructure
- Minimal crypto adoption
- No licensing framework for crypto services
Key Points
- BSP Circular 1108 (2021) provides comprehensive VASP licensing framework
- BSP has licensed major exchanges including Coins.ph and PDAX
- SEC Philippines regulates crypto securities and has issued warnings on unregistered offerings
- Crypto income taxed at progressive rates (0-35%); 12% VAT may apply to exchanges
- Play-to-earn gaming (Axie Infinity) drove massive adoption, especially in rural areas