More than 12,000 local and international delegates gathered at the SMX Convention Center Manila for Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2026, transforming the venue into a hub for technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, gaming, entertainment, and public policy.
Held over three days under the theme Decoded: Deployed, the fourth edition marked a turning point in the country’s digital transformation. Rather than explaining what blockchain, artificial intelligence, and digital assets can do, PBW 2026 demonstrated how these technologies are already being deployed across government, finance, business, and everyday life.
The event featured over 150 speakers from around the world, with more than half representing international markets, sharing insights on blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, governance, and entrepreneurship.
PBW opened with Future of Trust: A Leaders Forum on Technology and Governance, bringing together senior government officials, regulators, business leaders, and technology pioneers to discuss how emerging technologies can strengthen transparency, governance, and public trust. The forum reinforced a central message: innovation succeeds not only through technology, but through the institutions and partnerships that enable its responsible deployment.
From Vision to Movement
For PBW Co-Founder Chezka Gonzales, the event reflected a vision that began five years ago.
“My personal goal has always been simple: to put Filipinos on the world stage and the Philippines on the global blockchain map—to showcase Filipino talent, innovation, and resilience to the world,” she said.
“Philippine Blockchain Week is more than a conference. It’s a platform where conversations become partnerships, partnerships become companies, and companies create opportunities for Filipinos,” she added.
That vision came alive as startups met investors, enterprises connected with innovators, regulators exchanged ideas with industry leaders, and communities explored new opportunities in the digital economy.
Upper Left: Chezka Gonzales, Co-Founder of Philippine Blockchain Week, inaugurates PBW 2026 with a welcome address.: Upper Right: Smash Pay Fight Night caps off Philippine Blockchain Week 2026 with an action-packed finale on June 20. : Lower Left: P-pop girl group KAIA takes the Viral Stage with a live performance at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026.: Lower Right: Rise In and Stellar Philippines host the “Build on Stellar” workshop, bringing together developers and Web3 builders at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026.
A Global Platform
The event welcomed speakers and delegates from across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America to contribute insights on emerging technologies and digital transformation.
Among the most anticipated speakers was Michael Terpin, widely known as the “Godfather of Crypto.”
“The Philippines has been a leader in innovation for many years. Social media has played a major role in incubating new platforms here, and Axie Infinity became a global phenomenon because of the Philippines,” he said, further proving that the Philippines is no longer simply participating in the global technology conversation—it is increasingly helping shape it.
PBW 2026 also highlighted the convergence of technology, culture, and community. The launch of Viral PH spotlighted the creator economy, while the ALT+TAB Gaming and Music Festival brought together gaming, esports, music, creators, and live entertainment. Attendees also joined hackathons, startup showcases, esports tournaments, networking sessions, and the Founders Arena, where startups connected with investors and ecosystem partners.
From Conversation to Deployment
The conference theme came to life through discussions on tokenized real-world assets and practical blockchain applications. Varun Chugh, External Financial Advisor of BiGod Token, explained how tokenization is modernizing traditional assets.
“Gold has served as a store of value for centuries, yet it remains one of the most difficult assets to transact. At BiGod, we aim to make that asset simple, accessible, and cross-border. We have already demonstrated this by using our token to facilitate payments here at Philippine Blockchain Week,” he said.
His remarks captured the essence of Decoded: Deployed: emerging technologies are no longer future concepts but practical solutions addressing real-world challenges today.
Upper: Moderator Benjamin Fletcher leads a panel discussion with (from left) Raj Nandwani, Global Head of BD and IMA at Binance; Alice Truong, Vice President at Nuvei; and Chengyi Ong, Director of APAC Policy at Circle, on Scaling the Future of Finance: Payments, Stablecoins & Global Adoption at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026. Lower: Moderator Vit Jedlička, President of Liberland, facilitates a candid exchange with (from left) Varun Chugh, External Financial Advisor at Bingold Inc.; Rebecah Dausen, PH Country Lead at XDC Network; Jessica Wu, Head of APAC at Bitpanda Enterprise; and Kritesh Tripathi, Co-Founder of XPHERE, during the From Physical to Digital: Bringing Real-World Assets On-Chain panel at PBW 2026.
Building the Future Together
Philippine Blockchain Week 2026 was made possible through the support of its sponsors, exhibitors and ecosystem partners, including BiGod Token, Binance by Blockshoals, Vaulnox International, Smashpay Inc., Predict Protocol, Creatachain, Coins.PH, KMC Solutions, MEXC Ventures, O2 Ramp, Orca, Universe Pro, Meteon Run, NSpire, The Executive Centre, Comm&Sense PR, DvCode Technologies, Inc., Naheal, Lumina Events, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and San Miguel Beer.
With more than 12,000 attendees, over 150 speakers, and countless collaborations formed, PBW 2026 demonstrated that the Philippines has evolved from an emerging participant into a growing force in the global digital economy.
Decoded: Deployed was more than a theme. It reflected where the industry stands today.
The future is no longer being imagined. It is already being built.