Western Union Integrates With Crypto Wallet to Expand Philippines Remittances

Money transfer giant Western Union has teamed up with blockchain startup Coins.

Ph to enable residents of the Philippines to more easily receive cash remittances.

The newly inked deal will see both international and domestic payments made via Western Union's network arrive directly into the digital wallets held by Coins.

Ph said, adding that linking with Western Union's digital and retail networks enables customers to receive payments from virtually all nations and territories worldwide.

With possibly 10 million Filipinos working and living outside their home nation, the Philippines is one of the top destinations globally for remittances.

Ph cited Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the country's central bank, as saying that monthly personal remittances from Filipinos living abroad had reached $2.7 billion last July and grown 3 percent year-on-year.

Ph offers financial services for Philippines residents, including those who do not have a bank account, offering a mobile wallet enabling services such as remittances, bill payments and cryptocurrency purchases.

"There are many overseas Filipino workers who send money back home regularly and are always looking for additional remittance options that will make it most convenient for their loved ones to receive money," said Coins.

The firm noted that users of the service must first complete an online Know Your Customer verification process and, after successful completion, can then receive Western Union transfers into their wallets.

While Western Union has previously teased possible relationships with both Ripple and Coinbase, neither came to fruition.