Skip to content
buybitcoinsmart
Menu

Coins.ph review

4.3Last reviewed 2026-08-23

Coins.ph is where most Filipinos who own bitcoin actually keep it, and it is the cheapest legitimate way to buy in the country if you use the right screen.

It is licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification, and has operated in Manila since 2014. That licence matters more than usual here: the SEC has blocked access to several large offshore platforms, so using a BSP-licensed provider is the difference between a working peso on-ramp and none.

The product is a peso wallet first and an exchange second. You can cash in at convenience stores and remittance counters, pay bills, and send money, which is why so many people already have an account. Buying bitcoin in the main app is simple and priced through a spread.

Coins Pro, the order-book tier, is the part worth knowing about: fees start at 0.10 percent maker and 0.15 percent taker, the cheapest published rates available to a Philippine resident. Most users never switch to it and pay the app spread instead. As with any custodial wallet, move long-term holdings to a wallet you control.

Visit Coins.phOpens coins.ph
Founded
2014
Headquarters
Manila, Philippines
Fees
Coins Pro starts at 0.10 percent maker and 0.15 percent taker, the cheapest published rates in the Philippines. The main app prices through a spread instead.
KYC
Required
Payment methods
InstaPay, PESONet, Credit or debit card, GCash
Status
Operating

How you can pay on Coins.ph

Every deposit rail Coins.ph supports in at least one market.

Domestic bank rail
InstaPayPESONet
Card
Credit or debit card
Local e-wallet
GCash
Cash
Over-the-counter cash at retail partners

As published by Coins.ph: InstaPay, PESONet, Over-the-counter cash, Credit or debit card.

Pros and cons

What works

  • BSP-licensed as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, with ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification
  • Coins Pro fees start at 0.10 percent maker, the cheapest published rate available to a Philippine resident
  • Cash-in at convenience stores and remittance counters, which reaches buyers without a bank account
  • Already installed by millions of Filipinos as a peso wallet, so onboarding is familiar

What to watch

  • The main app prices through a spread that costs far more than the Pro tier for identical bitcoin
  • Most users never find Coins Pro and overpay by default
  • Custodial: the wallet holds your keys until you withdraw

Fees in detail

maker
From 0.10 percent on Coins Pro
taker
From 0.15 percent on Coins Pro
spread note
The standard app prices through a spread rather than a published fee, and costs materially more than the Pro tier for the same bitcoin.
deposit note
Peso funding through InstaPay and PESONet bank transfers, plus cash-in at convenience stores and remittance partners.
withdrawal note
Pesos return to a local bank or the Coins.ph wallet; bitcoin withdrawals to self-custody are supported.

Where we recommend Coins.ph

Countries where Coins.ph ranks in our local guide. Availability beyond these is possible but unverified by us.

Frequently asked questions

What does Coins.ph cost?

It depends which screen you use. Coins Pro starts at 0.10 percent maker and 0.15 percent taker. The standard app charges a spread instead, which is meaningfully more expensive for the same purchase.

Is Coins.ph licensed in the Philippines?

Yes. It holds a Virtual Asset Service Provider licence from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and carries ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification. That covers conduct and security obligations rather than guaranteeing your balance.

Can I fund an account without a bank?

Yes. Coins.ph supports cash-in at convenience stores and remittance partners, which is the main reason it reaches buyers that bank-only platforms cannot.

Should I keep bitcoin in the Coins.ph wallet?

Only what you need for spending. It is a custodian, so it holds the keys. Withdraw long-term holdings to a wallet you control.

Worth comparing

Sources