A new Visa report highlights the growing role of digital payment technologies in the Philippines, where mobile wallets are seen as a fast way to receive remittances, while limited trust and awareness remain barriers to stablecoin adoption.
The Money Travels: 2026 Digital Remittances Adoption report surveyed more than 45,000 remittance senders and receivers across 20 markets. It found that 45% of Filipino respondents received money from overseas in the past 12 months, making the Philippines the top receiver-led market among selected Asia-Pacific economies.
Digital channels are gaining importance for cross-border transfers. Mobile wallets ranked highest for speed, with 44% of respondents saying they provide instant access to funds. Direct bank transfers followed at 31%, while debit or credit card transfers through apps and websites accounted for 20%.
The report also identified a trust gap around stablecoins, digital tokens designed to maintain a stable value, typically by referencing a currency such as the US dollar. While 42% of Filipino respondents had some awareness of stablecoins, only 38% expressed trust in stablecoin transfers. By comparison, trust levels stood at 81% for cash remittances and 79% for digital remittances.
Consumer education could help address this gap, with 79% of respondents saying they want to learn more about stablecoins and how they work. Government institutions and global payment networks such as Visa were identified as trusted entities for handling digital currencies by 70% and 68% of respondents, respectively.
Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Philippines country manager, said collaboration with regulators, banks, and fintech partners would be important in developing faster, more secure, and seamless money transfer solutions.
The findings highlight the need to strengthen consumer education, security, and confidence as digital remittances evolve and emerging payment technologies gain attention.
Read the full report through Visa’s Money Travels 2026 findings.
