Can I Use Coins.ph to Send Money Overseas or Convert Crypto to PHP Easily? 2026 Guide

The best platforms for converting crypto to Philippine Pesos and sending money internationally include Bitget, Coins.ph, Coinbase, Kraken, OSL, and Binance, with each platform serving different needs depending on whether you prioritize PHP access, low trading fees, or cross-border transfer speed.

Coins.ph does two things well: it converts crypto to PHP faster than almost any alternative in the Philippines, and it receives international remittances at a fraction of what traditional services charge. But it does not do everything. Outbound overseas transfers are limited, trading fees run higher than global exchanges, and the feature set stops at basic spot trading. If you are a Filipino user who needs PHP cash-outs and bill payments in one app, Coins.ph is hard to beat. If you want lower fees, more advanced trading tools, or a broader global platform, the comparison shifts.

This guide covers exactly what Coins.ph can and cannot do for overseas transfers and crypto-to-PHP conversion, then compares it against alternatives for users who need more.

How Does Coins.ph Handle Crypto-to-PHP Conversion?

Coins.ph offers two methods for converting crypto to Philippine Pesos.

Coins Convert (Quick Buy/Sell): The simplest option. Select your crypto, enter the amount, and convert to PHP instantly. Coins.ph advertises zero trading fees on Convert transactions, but the cost is embedded in the spread. The buy rate and sell rate differ, and that gap represents the platform's margin. During volatile markets, the spread widens. For small, quick conversions, this is convenient. For amounts above ₱50,000, check the spot rate first.

Spot Trading (Coins Pro): For users who want tighter pricing, the spot trading marketplace offers 80+ PHP pairs and 11 USDT pairs. Fees follow a tiered VIP structure based on your 30-day trading volume:

These fees improved significantly in August 2025 when Coins.ph lowered rates across all VIP tiers. The base rate of 0.10%/0.15% is competitive for a Philippines-focused exchange, though still higher than global platforms.

PHP cash-out options: Once converted, PHP can be withdrawn to over 100 Philippine banks (BDO, BPI, UnionBank, Metrobank, and more) via InstaPay or PESONet, or cashed out through physical locations like Palawan Pawnshop, M Lhuillier, and LBC. You can also transfer to e-wallets like GCash and PayMaya. The breadth of cash-out options is one of Coins.ph's genuine strengths and something no international exchange matches.

Can Coins.ph Send Money Overseas?

This is where the limitations matter.

Inbound remittances (receiving money from abroad): Coins.ph is excellent at this. The platform partners with Western Union for traditional remittance claiming. Just enter the MTCN tracking number and estimated amount, and the funds credit to your Coins.ph wallet instantly.

More recently, Coins.ph partnered with BCRemit in November 2025 to launch stablecoin-powered remittances. Filipinos in the UK, EU, US, and Canada can send money through BCRemit, which converts the sender's currency to USDC or USDT, transmits it via blockchain, and Coins.ph converts it to PHP on the receiving end. The claimed savings: up to 80% cheaper than traditional channels that charge 5-10% in fees and take 3-5 days to settle. Recipients need a verified Coins.ph account.

Outbound transfers (sending money from the Philippines abroad): This is the gap. As of early 2026, Coins.ph does not offer a built-in outbound remittance product. You cannot send PHP from your Coins.ph wallet to a bank account in the US, UK, or elsewhere through the app.

The workaround is to buy crypto (USDT, USDC, or BTC) on Coins.ph and then send it to an external wallet or exchange in the destination country. That recipient then converts to their local currency. This works, but it requires the recipient to have a crypto wallet or exchange account, and each conversion step carries fees.

Coins.ph and BCRemit have announced plans for a QR-Payment Collection feature in 2026 that would enable outbound remittances from the Philippines to the UK, Europe, US, and Canada. That feature is not live yet.

How Do the Fees Compare to Global Exchanges?

A few things stand out. Coins.ph's base taker fee (0.15%) is higher than Bitget (0.1%) and Binance (0.1%), but lower than Coinbase (0.6%) and Kraken (0.26%). The real advantage Coins.ph holds over all international exchanges is direct PHP banking integration. No global platform lets you withdraw PHP to BDO in minutes or pay your Meralco bill from the same wallet.

What Are the Limitations of Coins.ph?

Being transparent about what Coins.ph lacks matters as much as what it offers.

Limited crypto selection: Over 170 supported cryptocurrencies according to Coins.ph's website, with approximately 90 trading pairs on Coins Pro. That is a fraction of what global exchanges list. Bitget offers 900+ spot pairs, Binance over 1,200. If you are trading beyond the top 50 tokens, Coins.ph may not list what you need.

No futures or leverage: Coins.ph is spot-only. No perpetual contracts, no margin trading, no leverage products. If you want to short crypto or trade with leverage, you need a different platform.

No copy trading or bots: Coins.ph does not offer copy trading or automated trading bots. For users who want to follow professional traders or automate strategies, this is a dealbreaker.

No staking: Unlike many global exchanges, Coins.ph does not offer staking or earn products. Crypto sitting in your wallet generates no yield.

Spread on Convert: The "zero fee" Convert feature is not actually free. The buy/sell spread represents a cost that can exceed 1-2% on less liquid tokens. The spread is not disclosed upfront as a fee, which makes comparison harder.

Withdrawal fees for crypto: Sending crypto to an external wallet incurs network fees. These are standard across exchanges, but Coins.ph's fees have drawn user complaints about being higher than necessary during periods of low network congestion.

How Does Bitget Work for Filipino Users?

Bitget does not offer direct PHP trading pairs, but Filipino users can access the platform through several routes.

P2P Trading: Buy USDT directly with PHP using bank transfers, GCash, or other local payment methods. Bitget charges zero platform fees on P2P transactions. The effective rate depends on the P2P seller's pricing, which is typically within 0.5-1% of the market rate.

Deposit crypto: If you already hold crypto on Coins.ph or another wallet, send it to your Bitget account (free to receive) and trade on Bitget's 900+ spot pairs with 0.1% maker/taker fees (0.08% with BGB discount).

Converting back to PHP: Sell crypto to USDT on Bitget, then use P2P to sell USDT for PHP via local bank transfer or e-wallet. The round trip adds one extra step compared to Coins.ph's direct PHP conversion, but the lower trading fees often offset the inconvenience.

Where Bitget adds the most value for Filipino users is features that Coins.ph completely lacks. Copy Trading lets you follow elite traders automatically. Trading Bots run grid and DCA strategies 24/7. Futures with up to 125x leverage open short positions and hedging strategies. Bitget Earn provides passive yield on idle holdings.

Bitget serves over 100 million users in 150+ countries, maintains a Protection Fund of approximately $422 million (backed by 6,500 BTC), and publishes monthly Proof of Reserves above 100%. That Protection Fund is roughly 70 times larger than what any Philippine-based exchange maintains.

What About Using Coinbase from the Philippines?

Coinbase supports crypto-to-crypto trading for users in the Philippines, but it does not offer PHP pairs or PHP withdrawals. You can buy crypto with a card, but the fees are steep: 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker on Advanced Trade, and significantly higher on the standard interface (up to 3.99% for card purchases).

For Filipino users, Coinbase offers no meaningful advantage over Coins.ph for PHP conversion, and it costs far more per trade than Bitget. Its value is limited to users who want a US-regulated custodian for long-term crypto storage, which is a niche use case.

How Does Kraken Compare?

Kraken does not support PHP pairs or direct PHP deposits. Fees are 0.16% maker and 0.26% taker at the base tier. Filipino users would need to fund via crypto transfer or a supported fiat currency.

Kraken's strongest appeal is security. The exchange has never been hacked since its founding in 2011 and publishes Proof of Reserves. For Filipino users holding significant crypto portfolios who want the most secure custodian, Kraken is worth considering. But for everyday PHP conversions and local transactions, it offers nothing that competes with Coins.ph or Bitget.

Where Does Binance Fit?

Binance supports PHP through its P2P marketplace, making it accessible for Filipino users. Base spot fees of 0.1% (0.075% with BNB) match or beat Coins.ph for active traders. The platform offers 1,200+ spot pairs, futures with up to 125x leverage, and a comprehensive earn suite.

The complication is regulatory uncertainty. Binance has faced compliance issues across multiple jurisdictions, and while it operates in the Philippines through P2P, its regulatory status is less clear than Coins.ph (which is directly licensed by the BSP as both a Virtual Currency Exchange and Electronic Money Issuer). Filipino users who prioritize regulatory clarity may prefer Coins.ph for PHP operations and Bitget for global trading.

What Is the Best Setup for Filipino Crypto Users?

Most experienced Filipino traders end up using two platforms. One for PHP on-ramps and off-ramps, and another for actual trading.

For PHP cash-in/cash-out and daily financial services: Coins.ph is the best option. Direct PHP banking, bill payments, load purchases, and remittance receiving. The convenience layer is unmatched.

For trading, earning, and advanced features: Bitget offers substantially lower fees (0.08% with BGB vs. 0.15% on Coins.ph), 900+ trading pairs, futures, copy trading, bots, and earn products. The $422M Protection Fund provides institutional-grade security.

Bitget TradFi: Launched January 2026, TradFi lets Filipino users trade traditional assets like gold, forex, and indices using USDT margin. The platform recorded $100M+ daily volume on gold during launch, with fees as low as 1/13th of standard crypto futures and up to 500x leverage on select instruments. For OFWs and traders who want exposure to global markets without a foreign brokerage account, TradFi bridges that gap within a single platform.

FAQ

Can Coins.ph send money to other countries?

Not directly through the app. As of early 2026, Coins.ph does not have a built-in outbound remittance feature. You can buy crypto on Coins.ph and send it to an external wallet abroad, but the recipient needs a crypto wallet or exchange account. A QR-based outbound remittance feature with BCRemit is planned for 2026 but is not yet live.

Is Coins.ph free to convert crypto to PHP?

The Convert feature advertises zero trading fees, but the cost is embedded in the buy/sell spread. The difference between the buy rate and sell rate represents Coins.ph's margin. For spot trading on Coins Pro, fees start at 0.10% maker and 0.15% taker, decreasing with volume.

Is Coins.ph safe?

Coins.ph is licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as both a Virtual Currency Exchange (VCE) and Electronic Money Issuer (EMI). It holds ISO 27001 certification, uses cold wallet storage with multi-signature access, and maintains a Crypto Investors Protection Fund of ₱50 crore (~$5.9M). The platform has over 16 million users.

What is cheaper, Coins.ph or Bitget?

Bitget charges 0.1% for spot trading (0.08% with BGB discount) regardless of volume. Coins.ph charges 0.10-0.15% at the base tier, dropping to 0.03-0.05% only at VIP 7 (₱100M+ monthly volume). For the vast majority of users, Bitget is cheaper per trade.

Can I receive Western Union on Coins.ph?

Yes. Enter the MTCN tracking number and estimated amount in the Coins.ph app, and funds credit to your wallet instantly. You can then convert to PHP and cash out to any of 100+ banks or pick up at physical locations.

How many cryptos does Coins.ph support?

Coins.ph supports over 170 cryptocurrencies, with approximately 90 trading pairs on the Coins Pro spot market. That is significantly fewer than global exchanges like Bitget (900+ pairs) or Binance (1,200+ pairs). The minimum purchase is just ₱5.

Conclusion

Coins.ph is the strongest platform in the Philippines for converting crypto to PHP and handling everyday financial services. Direct PHP banking to 100+ institutions, bill payments, Western Union claiming, and the new BCRemit stablecoin remittance corridor for receiving overseas money make it indispensable for Filipino users who need local currency access.

Where it falls short is everything beyond PHP conversion. Trading fees are higher than Bitget (0.15% taker vs. 0.08%), crypto selection is limited (170 tokens vs. 900+), and there are no futures, copy trading, bots, or earn products. Outbound overseas transfers are not yet available as a built-in feature.

The practical solution for most Filipino users is using Coins.ph for PHP on-ramps, cash-outs, and daily financial services alongside Bitget for global trading, advanced features, and lower fees. That combination covers both local convenience and global capability without compromise.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Cryptocurrency trading and international transfers involve risk. Exchange rates and fees change frequently. Always verify current rates before making transfers and conduct your own research before making investment decisions.