Maya Crypto is the cryptocurrency trading feature offered by Maya — the Philippines' first BSP-licensed digital bank, formerly known as PayMaya. Integrated directly into the Maya banking app used by millions of Filipinos for savings accounts, loans, and everyday payments, Maya Crypto offers a unique proposition: crypto trading within a fully licensed digital bank, rather than a standalone exchange or e-wallet.
About Maya and Maya Crypto
Maya was formerly known as PayMaya, the e-wallet product of PLDT (the Philippines' largest telecoms company). In 2022, PayMaya transformed into Maya after receiving a digital bank license from the BSP — making it the first fully digital bank in the Philippines. This banking license is a significant differentiator: Maya users hold actual bank deposit accounts (PDIC-insured up to 500,000 PHP), not just e-wallet balances.
The parent company, Voyager Innovations, is backed by PLDT, KKR (a global private equity firm), Tencent, and other major investors. This institutional backing and telecoms distribution (PLDT/Smart subscribers) gives Maya a reach comparable to GCash across the Philippine market.
Maya Crypto is powered in partnership with Coins.ph, which provides the underlying crypto exchange infrastructure and BSP VASP compliance layer. The arrangement mirrors GCrypto's partnership with PDAX — Maya provides the user base and banking infrastructure; Coins.ph handles the crypto mechanics.
Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Operator | Voyager Innovations (PLDT subsidiary) |
| Former Name | PayMaya |
| BSP License | Digital Bank License (first in Philippines) |
| Investors | PLDT, KKR, Tencent, IFC |
| Crypto Partner | Coins.ph |
| Supported Coins | BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, XRP, and others |
| Minimum Buy | 50 PHP (~$1 USD) |
| Bank Accounts | PDIC-insured savings up to 500,000 PHP |
Key Features
Crypto Within a Licensed Digital Bank
The most distinctive feature of Maya Crypto is its context: it operates inside a BSP-licensed digital bank. This matters for risk-averse Filipino investors who are more comfortable keeping their savings and investments within a regulated bank than an exchange or e-wallet. Maya account holders can hold PHP savings earning competitive interest rates, take out loans, and trade crypto — all within a single, bank-grade regulated environment.
Maya Savings Integration
Maya's savings account offers some of the highest interest rates among Philippine digital banks — historically offering 6%+ per annum in promotional periods. Users can park PHP in Maya Savings while keeping a portion in crypto, managing their entire investment portfolio within a single app. This seamless integration between high-yield savings and crypto investing is a compelling proposition for the financially literate Filipino retail investor.
PLDT/Smart Distribution Network
Maya benefits from PLDT's nationwide distribution network, including Smart telecommunications subscribers and the Smart Padala remittance network. This infrastructure gives Maya reach into rural areas where financial services penetration is lower, enabling Maya Crypto to potentially serve first-time crypto investors in provinces that other exchanges have difficulty reaching.
KKR and Tencent Backing
KKR's investment in Voyager Innovations brings global private equity expertise and signals institutional confidence in Maya's business model. Tencent's involvement — the company behind WeChat Pay — is strategically significant, potentially enabling cross-border payment capabilities and technological knowledge transfer from China's highly advanced digital payment ecosystem.
Fee Structure
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Crypto Buy/Sell spread | ~1.5%–2% (embedded in price) |
| Minimum transaction | 50 PHP (~$1 USD) |
| PHP funding | Maya bank account (free internal transfer) |
| Crypto withdrawal | Not available — held within Maya |
| PHP withdrawal | Free to linked bank accounts (Instapay) |
| Maya Savings APY | Competitive rates (check current promotions) |
Maya vs GCash for Crypto
| Feature | Maya Crypto | GCrypto (GCash) |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory status | Digital Bank (BSP) | E-Wallet (BSP) |
| Savings account | Yes — PDIC-insured | No bank account |
| Crypto partner | Coins.ph | PDAX |
| User base | ~30M+ | ~90M |
| Backing | PLDT, KKR, Tencent | Globe, Ant Group, Ayala |
| PDIC insurance | Yes (bank deposits) | No |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Only crypto feature within a BSP-licensed digital bank
- PDIC-insured PHP savings alongside crypto
- High-yield savings + crypto in one app
- Backed by KKR, Tencent, PLDT
- 50 PHP minimum — highly accessible
- Coins.ph-powered infrastructure
Cons
- Wide spread — not for active traders
- No crypto withdrawals to external wallets
- Limited coin selection
- Smaller user base than GCash
- No order book trading
- Crypto remains custodied within Maya
Summary
Maya Crypto occupies a unique position in the Philippine fintech landscape: it is the only crypto product embedded within a BSP-licensed digital bank. For Filipinos who value the security and familiarity of banking regulation, the ability to hold PDIC-insured savings alongside crypto — all in one app — is a compelling proposition that neither Coins.ph nor PDAX can replicate.
Like GCrypto, Maya Crypto is not designed for serious trading — the spreads are wide and there is no order book. But as a tool for long-term crypto accumulation alongside a high-yield savings account, Maya Crypto offers a thoughtfully integrated experience that aligns well with the financial habits of the Filipino mass market. For users who want to grow their wealth through both traditional savings and crypto exposure, Maya provides a genuinely elegant solution.