MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has confirmed that Apple Pay is free to enter the Philippine market at any time now that regulators have clarified its classification and no central bank registration is required before launch.
BSP officials explained that Apple Pay, like Google Pay, is considered a technology service provider rather than an operator of a payment system (OPS) because it does not hold customer funds or directly settle payments. This distinction means Apple’s contactless payment service does not need prior approval or registration from the BSP before operating in the country.
While the regulatory green light removes obstacles, Apple has not yet announced an official launch date or timeline for its rollout in the Philippines. Industry insiders previously suggested a potential launch in 2026 as banks integrate support and tokenization capabilities, but these dates remain tentative.
Local banks are preparing infrastructure to support Apple Pay and other digital wallets, with some institutions expecting to be ready by next year. For consumers and merchants, the anticipated arrival of Apple Pay would further expand cashless payment options alongside existing services like Google Pay, advancing the BSP’s goal of a more digital payments ecosystem.
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