Blockchain is no longer just about charts and trading. It is steadily becoming part of the Philippines’ financial, regulatory, and even political discourse. Just this month, Senator Bam Aquino filed a bill proposing that the national budget be recorded on a blockchain for real-time public tracking—a bold move that brings the technology into the heart of governance. For years, platforms like Bitskwela held on to the vision of educating Filipinos about blockchain, proving that the push for literacy is not only a legislative matter but a civic service already underway.

Blockchain technology is no longer a distant concept for traders and technologists—it is fast becoming a national concern that Filipinos must be ready to understand and use.

Why Blockchain Literacy Matters Now

The Philippine regulatory landscape is shifting rapidly. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced new guidelines for Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs), setting compliance standards for exchanges and wallet providers. Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has piloted BayaniChain, a blockchain-based system designed to improve transparency in fund disbursement.

Senator Bam Aquino’s proposed “Blockchain the Budget Bill” takes this one step further, suggesting that entire national budgets be logged on-chain for citizens to verify in real time. Such a move highlights the urgency of literacy now more than ever. Laws and systems can be put in place, but without a public that understands the mechanics, their potential will fall short.

From Whitepaper to Barangay

When Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin in 2008, the idea of a peer-to-peer financial system sounded radical. Sixteen years later, the ripple effects are being felt even in Philippine barangays; whether through OFWs using crypto remittances, small businesses experimenting with digital assets, or grassroots events demystifying blockchain for first-time learners.

Bitskwela has become a key player in this space, bridging complex concepts with everyday life. Through more than 50 events across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, it has shown that blockchain education is not confined to corporate boardrooms or policy debates, it is something that can be understood at the community level.

Promise and Obstacles

Blockchain could transform public finance by making spending records tamper-proof and instantly verifiable. Yet implementation will not be simple. Sensitive expenditures raise privacy concerns, technical capacity is still uneven, and political resistance remains a formidable barrier. Most of all, even a well-designed system will face the trust question: if government agencies control the ledger, will citizens see it as truly independent oversight?

The Road Ahead

From Sen. Bam Aquino’s bold proposals in the Senate, DBM’s pilot initiatives, or the grassroots education spearheaded by Bitskwela; the current circumstances surrounding the matter leads us to conclude that blockchain education is no longer an optional learning field, it is now a matter of  public good.

If Filipinos can master blockchain’s uses and limitations, the technology could become a tool not only for financial growth but also for building accountability in governance. But if education lags, the obstacles—technical, political, and cultural—will overshadow its promise.

The real question is not whether blockchain will shape the Philippines, but whether Filipinos will be prepared to shape it in return. The future belongs to those who can read the code, understand the system, and demand that it works for the people, not just for profit.

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