Binance Partners With BlockShoals to Join Philippine SEC's StratBox Regulatory Sandbox

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned on November 28, 2023, that Binance was not authorized to sell securities in the country and moved to block its website in 2024. Those promoting the platform in violation of the rules could face fines of up to 5 million Philippine pesos. Binance's entry into StratBox through local company BlockShoals is therefore seen as a key step toward a regulated return to the Philippine market.

BlockShoals announced the partnership on May 26, 2026. The company received the SEC's in-principle approval on November 21, 2025, and a testing notice on April 14, 2026, with a 90-day initial integration phase. The Philippine central bank said on June 11 that neither company held a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license. BlockShoals said it could provide access to Binance's trading platform but could not process peso transfers, adding that it had selected a licensed VASP partner.