Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2026 drew more than 12,000 delegates to the SMX Convention Center Manila, highlighting how blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital assets are moving beyond discussions and into real-world use across business, finance, and government.
Held over three days under the theme Decoded: Deployed, the fourth edition of the event featured more than 150 speakers from around the world, with over half coming from international markets. Sessions focused on blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, governance, entrepreneurship, and practical business applications.
The conference opened with Future of Trust: A Leaders Forum on Technology and Governance, bringing together government officials, regulators, business executives, and technology leaders to discuss how emerging technologies can improve transparency, governance, and public trust.
PBW also served as a meeting place for startups, investors, enterprises, regulators, and developers looking to build partnerships and expand the country’s digital economy.
“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,” said Chezka Gonzales, co-founder of PBW. “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.”
One of the event’s featured speakers, Michael Terpin, known as the “Godfather of Crypto,” said the Philippines continues to play an important role in technology adoption.
“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.
The conference also highlighted how blockchain is being applied to traditional industries. Varun Chugh, external financial advisor of BiGod Token, discussed the tokenization of physical assets, using gold as an example.
“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.
Beyond the conference sessions, PBW hosted startup showcases, hackathons, esports tournaments, networking events, and the Founders Arena, where startups met potential investors and ecosystem partners. It also introduced Viral PH, which focused on the creator economy, and the ALT+TAB Gaming and Music Festival, reflecting the growing overlap between technology, entertainment, and digital communities.