As the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX) celebrates its seventh anniversary, the platform has, via its social media pages, reflected on a journey marked by innovation, partnerships and a growing user base in the country’s booming crypto industry. In this article, here’s a look at seven major milestones and what’s next.
This article is in collaboration with PDAX. Make your next money move with PDAX by signing up here!
PDAX at 7
PDAX, a BSP-regulated crypto exchange founded in 2018, enables Filipinos to buy, sell and trade digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum directly with the Philippine peso (PHP).
The platform also offers features like low initial investment, multiple payment channels and a user-friendly mobile app for trading and managing digital assets.
As part of its seventh-year celebration, PDAX is giving away a total of ₱300,000 worth of USDT to 35 winners of its Cost Averaging for the Win raffle promo.
To enter, users have to trade using the Cost Averaging feature between March 21 and June 20, 2025. The more trades a participant makes, the more raffle entries they will earn and the higher their chances of winning.
7 Milestones
Treasury Bonds
In late 2024, PDAX and GCash, in partnership with the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), announced the launch of GBonds, allowing GCash’s 83 million users to invest in government bonds easily.
Prior to this, in November 2023, the Treasury Bureau approved the sale of tokenized treasury bonds on the blockchain, allowing PDAX to offer these digital securities. This enabled PDAX users to avail bonds with a minimum investment of ₱500.
Read: [Interview] PDAX Bonds Info – Why The Local Exchange Offer Government Bonds
How to Buy Tokenized Treasury Bonds on PDAX App
- Click the “Bonds” feature on the home page.
- Fill out the required form, which includes the user’s personal information.
- Click the “Proceed” button once the three-page personal information section is complete.
- Answer the “Financial Goals” section. Click “Proceed.”
- Answer the “Investment Experience” section. Click “Proceed.”
- Review the details provided from steps three to six, then click “Submit.”
- Go to the “Trade” section of the app.
- Choose “Bonds.”
- Select the bond pair to be purchased. It usually comes with a PHP pair, such as BILL48/PHP.
- Enter the amount.
- Wait for the email confirmation of the transaction. The coupon to be received will include the coupon date and the maturity date, indicating when interest will be earned.
System Switch
In 2023, PDAX completed a four-phase system switch from April 27 to May 31, aimed at enhancing efficiency and simplifying trading.
User Numbers
In a press release about its collaboration with Coinbase Wallet, the company said it has over 2.7 million users.
Read: PDAX Wraps 2022 As It Achieves 800K Users
Gcash Partnership
GCash partnered with PDAX to launch “GCrypto,” a crypto buy-and-sell service within the GCash app. Initially revealed in 2022, GCrypto underwent internal testing before its full rollout. The partnership allowed GCash users to access cryptocurrency trading without securing its own Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license, instead relying on PDAX’s existing license.
After delays caused by market downturns and the collapse of FTX, GCrypto officially launched nationwide on April 23, 2023. Mark Nunez, Head of Partnerships for Crypto and Web3 at GCash, confirmed the rollout during an event. The feature enabled users to buy, sell, transfer, and learn about cryptocurrencies, positioning itself as a beginner-friendly entry point into crypto.
Coinbase, Base Partnership
Just this January, PDAX partnered with global platforms Coinbase Wallet and Base to enhance onchain adoption in the country. This collaboration allows PDAX users to access a self-custody wallet, enabling full control over their digital assets, participation in DeFi, and interaction with NFTs and other blockchain applications.
PDAX Prime Launch
In 2022, PDAX introduced PDAX Prime, an exclusive service aimed at empowering Filipino crypto investors. The initiative provides enhanced trading opportunities, expert guidance, and educational resources to help users maximize their crypto investments.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Trading.
- Exclusive Access: Prime members can trade 21 in-demand assets (BTC, ETH, USDT, AXS, DOGE, etc.) with a ₱1M minimum transaction, plus 30 additional OTC-exclusive tokens (SOL, SHIB, SAND, etc.) with a ₱250K minimum trade.
- The platform also comes with a dedicated PDAX Treasury Team support via preferred chat apps.
- Prime users will also have priority access to crypto learning content, trading strategies, staking insights, and discussions with industry experts through Zoom conferences and an exclusive YouTube channel.
Mobile App Launch
In December 2020, PDAX officially launched its mobile app, providing users with a secure and convenient way to trade cryptocurrencies on their smartphones. The app initially offered full trading functionality for Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), and Tether (USDT).
The launch came with two-factor authentication (2FA) and institutional-grade hot and cold storage to protect user funds.
The app has been downloaded over 500,000 times on Google Play. Although the Apple App Store doesn’t show the number of downloads, the app currently has 570 ratings.
Looking Ahead
In response to BitPinas’ inquiry, PDAX CEO Nichel Gaba stated his vision for PDAX in 7 years’ time:
“In 7 years, crypto and blockchain technology will underpin most financial services in the Philippines – PDAX will have a made difference in making crypto safer and more accessible.”
This article is published on BitPinas: PDAX Celebrates 7 Years: Key Milestones, Innovations, and What’s Next for the Crypto Exchange
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