The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted final approval to BlockShoals Technologies Inc. to begin testing its financial products and services under the agency’s regulatory sandbox, paving the way for Binance-linked onboarding of Filipino users into a regulated crypto environment.
In a statement, the SEC said the approval came after BlockShoals complied with remaining regulatory requirements following the initial clearance of its application under the SEC Strategic Sandbox (Stratbox) in November 2025.
The company will operate under a crypto-asset intermediary model that will allow Philippine-based users to access selected products and services through its global virtual asset service provider (VASP) partner.
“As part of the initial stage of testing, BlockShoals will integrate its systems with its VASP partner over a 90-day period,” the SEC said.
“Upon successful integration, BlockShoals shall proceed with the implementation of its approved testing plan, including user onboarding through its global crypto-asset exchange partner, Binance, subject to applicable safeguards and regulatory oversight.”
The development signals Binance’s return to the Philippine market through a regulated testing framework after the SEC previously moved against unregistered crypto platforms operating in the country.
The SEC said onboarding through the BlockShoals Stratbox is intended to ensure that Filipino financial consumers are protected under Republic Act No. 11765 or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act of 2022.
According to the commission, the initiative forms part of broader efforts to support financial innovation while maintaining investor protection and regulatory compliance.
The agency encouraged the public to monitor official announcements regarding onboarding activities under the BlockShoals platform.
