The move follows Globe Telecom’s May restoration and extends Binance’s return under BlockShoals Technologies Inc. and the SEC’s StratBox framework after a 2024 block.
PLDT has restored access to the Binance Philippines website across its network, extending coverage to the country’s two dominant internet providers after Globe Telecom restored access in May. The development marks a further step in Binance’s return to the market through BlockShoals Technologies Inc., which is operating under the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission’s Strategic Regulatory Sandbox, or StratBox, after Binance was blocked in 2024. Philippine authorities had moved against Binance after the SEC found the exchange was offering investment and trading services without the required local registration. The SEC asked the National Telecommunications Commission to restrict the website in March 2024, and authorities also sought the removal of Binance applications from local Google and Apple app stores. Binance’s return is being handled through BlockShoals rather than by the exchange directly. The localized Philippine website identifies BlockShoals as the introducing intermediary, while Binance services are supplied by entities regulated in the Abu Dhabi Global Market. BlockShoals received in-principle SEC approval in November 2025 and a Notice to Proceed with Testing on April 14, 2026, allowing Binance-linked services to be tested under regulatory supervision rather than fully launched. Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said in a July 29, 2026, X post that “Binance has a very special sandbox license in the Philippines. Website is unblocked in the country. Fiat channel coming soon, I hear.” His comments came after an appearance at the ASEAN Tech Summit in Manila with FinTech Alliance Philippines founding chairman Lito Villanueva. The return remains incomplete. BlockShoals is still in a 90-day integration phase with a local virtual asset service provider and is connecting Philippine peso payment channels while completing anti-money laundering systems. Customer onboarding is expected after that work is finished. The Binance app could also return to local app stores if regulators update Apple and Google on the platform’s status, though no timetable has been announced. BNB traded near $592 at the time of writing, up roughly 4% over the previous close, but there was no clear evidence tying that move directly to the Philippine access restoration.