Philippines Regulators Prepare to Publish Crypto Trading Rules

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission is planning to release new trading rules for cryptocurrency exchanges in the coming days, according to local media.

The Manila Times reports that SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong told journalists that the rules are set to be published "By the end of next week," though an exact date hasn't been specified.

Regulators in the country have been mulling various ways of regulating the cryptocurrency space for the better part of two years, a process that has seen officials putting together a framework for initial coin offerings as well as the actual registration of cryptocurrency exchanges.

The coming ruleset is focused on exchanges that offer trading services.

"We see the need to regulate them as trading platforms," Amatong was quoted as saying.

Further, the proposed rules for ICOs are also expected to be released in their final form next week.

There's another reason that the Philippines is looking to formalize its exchange rules: the potential for millions of dollars worth of revenue in the form of license fees.

As CoinDesk reported earlier this summer, the authority that governs the Philippines Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport is aiming to earn $67 million through such issuances.

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies.

CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.