Stablecoin Firms Build Fiat Nodes to Increase Access and Lower Costs

Chef Executive of Coins.ph Wei Zhou spoke about the challenges facing emerging markets in accessing capital and managing the cost of that capital. He highlighted that banks have to partner with companies like Coins.ph to access stablecoin liquidity, saying 'Banks have to plug into us to basically get stablecoin liquidity.'

Coins.ph operates in several countries under the coins.xyz brand, including Thailand, Brazil, Mauritius, Australia, and has a small team working towards a license in Nigeria. The company has an order book that trades around $100 million a day of USDT and USDC to pesos, which exists outside of existing banking systems.

Zhou mentioned the GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, as the point when stablecoin flows moved from 'below ground' to 'above ground.' This led to regulated financial institutions moving into the market. He stated that what foreign investors worry about is getting their money out, and said the cost of capital is a significant challenge for emerging markets.

Clients can collect in various currencies, but all come in as USDC, simplifying accounting. Zhou mentioned 10 to 15 million Filipinos working overseas and his goal is to help businesses that serve them. He believes stablecoins will continue to grow, especially among unbanked individuals who need them.