MANILA, October 22, 2026 — Filipinos are increasingly turning to digital channels to send and receive money across borders, while interest in stablecoins is growing despite concerns about trust and security, according to a new report commissioned by Visa.
The Money Travels: 2026 Digital Remittances Adoption report surveyed more than 45,000 remittance senders and receivers across 20 markets, including the Philippines. It examines how consumers move money internationally and what influences their choices, with speed, convenience and trust emerging as key factors.
Philippines stands out as a remittance market
The Philippines ranked as the most receiver-led market among six Asia-Pacific markets surveyed, with 45% of Filipino respondents saying they had received money from overseas in the past 12 months.
The findings reflect the importance of remittances to Filipino households. Some 72% of respondents said they sent or received money several times a year, while around 35% did so monthly.
Family support remains a major reason for cross-border transfers. About 34% of respondents cited helping cover essential expenses, while 33% pointed to family or cultural obligations to provide financial support. Another 30% said they sent or received money for holidays and special occasions.
The report found that these motivations were particularly strong in the Philippines compared with the other Asia-Pacific markets surveyed.
Digital transfers gain ground
Convenience and speed are influencing how Filipinos send and receive money. Mobile wallets ranked highest for instant access to funds, with 44% of respondents saying transfers through these services made money available immediately.
Bank-account transfers followed at 31%, while 20% cited debit or credit card transactions through apps and websites. By comparison, only 18% said in-person transfers through banks, money transfer agents or physical stores provided instant access to funds.
The shift toward digital channels may also reflect the limitations of traditional services. More than one in four respondents (27%) said they found it difficult to make transactions outside regular banking hours, while just 19% reported using physical money transfer agents or stores.
Stablecoin awareness grows, but trust remains a hurdle
The study also examined consumer awareness and perceptions of stablecoins, digital assets typically designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference asset, such as a currency.
In the Philippines, 42% of respondents said they had some awareness of stablecoins. However, confidence in using them for remittances remains considerably lower than trust in established methods.
Only 38% said they trusted stablecoin transfers, compared with 81% for cash remittances and 79% for digital remittances.
The gap suggests that greater familiarity alone may not be enough to encourage wider use. Nearly four in five Filipino respondents (79%) said they wanted more education about stablecoins and how they work.
Government agencies and established payment networks were among the institutions respondents trusted most to handle digital currencies. The government ranked first at 70%, followed by global payment networks such as Visa at 68%.
For Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, building confidence in emerging payment technologies will be important as consumer expectations change.
“Visa continues to be at the forefront of shaping global money movement and enabling faster as well as more secure and seamless money transfers will help build trust in emerging digital remittance methods and technologies such as stablecoins,” Navarro said.
“With the Philippines becoming one of the most dynamic remittance markets in the region, we will continue to work with regulators as well as our bank and fintech partners to make money movement solutions more responsive to the evolving needs of Filipino consumers across the globe,” he added.
The report points to a growing role for digital services in cross-border money movement, while highlighting the need for greater consumer understanding and confidence before newer technologies such as stablecoins can gain wider acceptance.
The full Money Travels 2026 report is available on Visa’s website.
About the study
Morning Consult conducted the Money Travels 2026 survey on behalf of Visa from February 24 to March 2, 2026. The global study covered more than 45,000 remittance senders and receivers across 20 markets. Its Asia-Pacific coverage included Australia, mainland China, India, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore.
The findings are based on self-reported consumer responses. Participants were given definitions of key terms, including stablecoins, before answering questions. Scenarios involving bank-equivalent protections were hypothetical. Stablecoins are not currently covered by deposit insurance, such as that provided by the FDIC or CDIC. The findings reflect consumer awareness, attitudes and stated intentions, rather than legal status or operational availability, and do not constitute financial or legal advice.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a global digital payments company facilitating transactions among consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories. Its payment network aims to provide convenient, reliable and secure ways to move money worldwide. More information is available at Visa.com.
