Largest Bank in the Philippines Showcases Bitcoin Mining Equipment

Financial institutions all over the world are interested in Bitcoin. UnionBank recently demonstrated its cryptocurrency miners at a business conference. That is an interesting development, considering how the world’s leading cryptocurrency is a legal tender in the country. When the biggest bank in The Philippines gets into Bitcoin, an interesting tone is set.

When the CEO of a top bank in the Philippines runs #Bitcoin miners at a business conference, you know we're headed in the right direction ;) pic.twitter.com/b7dzGMDXVa

— Miguel Cuneta (@MiguelCuneta) May 18, 2018

Unionbank and Cryptocurrency

The Philippines have always been a key region for Bitcoin. It is home to a few remittance services which rely on cryptocurrency. Moreover, the government made it clear Bitcoin can be used for remittance purposes. It is a validation of the world’s leading cryptocurrency being used for real-world use cases. So far, the Philippines is one of the only countries to take this specific step in recent years.

Unionbank, the biggest bank in the country, recently showcased cryptocurrency miners during a business conference.While that may not seem important, it is another nod of approval toward cryptocurrency. While not a Bitcoin mining unit, it does show the institution is interested in cryptocurrencies.

How this venture will pan out exactly, remains a bit unclear. To this date, the bank has not confirmed it is involved in any cryptocurrency mining operation just yet. Even so, they are quite confident cryptocurrencies here to stay. More and more banks are getting on the cryptocurrency bandwagon these days. Ranging from trading desks to mining operations, things are certainly heading in an interesting direction.

Bitcoin and The Philippines

It is not the first time Unionbank shows an interest in cryptocurrency or its underpinning technology. Earlier this year, the institution announced a blockchain payment system. This venture is launched together with Visa. Although that feature does not involve cryptocurrencies, it shows its underpinning technology can effectively transform business models in the Philippines.

Additionally, the Philippines government introduced an “economic zone” for cryptocurrencies. In this zone, cryptocurrency companies are allowed to operate in a licensed environment. Surprisingly, this venture attracted a lot of attention from international firms. Especially companies from Japan, Malaysia, and Hong Kong are interested in this option. The economic zone accommodates all business models, including exchanges, mining, and initial coin offerings.

All of this is in stark contrast with a slight crackdown on Bitcoin users. The Philippine National Police has arrested Bitcoiners before. This was mainly due to allegations regarding running a Ponzi Scheme. Additionally, cloud mining is still somewhat frowned upon in this country. The Bitcoin situation in the Philippines is heading in an interesting direction right now. Unionbank’s recent “endorsement” is another surprising development in this regard.

(Source: https://www.newsbtc.com/2018/05/18/unionbank-showcasing-cryptocurency-mining-hardware-raises-some-interesting-questions/)

Crypto is the Future - Union Bank

Edwin Bautista, head of Union Bank of the Philippines, is a firm believer in cryptocurrencies and blockchain. He says his bank is considering the acceptance of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies as payment options.

Union Bank of the Philippines is the only one of 10 banks in the country to have welcomed blockchain and cryptocurrencies, expecting them to play a major role in the financial market space. When asked why, CEO and president Edwin Bautista told Cryptovest, “It’s the future.”

Blockchain Will Upend Business as We Know It - John McAfee

Politics, race and religion could all be fair game for dinnertime conversation with John McAfee, but if you’re a blockchain skeptic, you might want to keep your mouth shut.

Image credit: Anthony Kwan | Getty Images

McAfee, the computer programmer and businessman behind the once-multibillion-dollar software company that bore his name, fiercely believes that cryptocurrency -- as well as blockchain, the technology that allows most cryptocurrencies to work -- will completely upend life as we know it.

What is the latest BSP Advisory on Virtual Currencies?

In the Philippines, Virtual Currencies has gained a lot of momentum in the past couple of years. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has recognized the revolutionary potential of Virtual Currencies (VCs) for financial services and financial inclusion. The regulator has also taken steps to regulate the operations of VC Exchanges in the country (BSP Circular No 944, Series of 2017), like Coins.ph.

IMAGE SOURCE: Business World

In light of the recent surge in interest into Virtual Currencies, the BSP has issued a new advisory (as seen below) in which it outlines and cautions of the risks involved in Virtual Currency transactions and suggests security measures for VC users.

3 Truths and Myths About Cryptocurrency in PH, According to BSP Governor Espenilla

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s policy stance towards cryptocurrencies in the Philippines has evolved alongside the spread and widening use of virtual money for transfers, payments and investment.




Referring to digital, decentralized and unregulated currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, cryptocurrencies are touted to disrupt traditional fiat or legal money as medium of exchange, unit of account and store of value.

UnionBank does a world’s first, pilot tests Visa’s new B2B payments system

As the rise of digital money threatens to disrupt global payments system, traditional financial institutions are fighting back by riding on the same game-changing technology that enables the trading of cryptocurrencies, making cross-border funds transfers easier and cheaper, especially for small and medium enterprises.

Visa’s Vikram Kshettry and Union Bank’s Justo Ortiz

Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines—an institution that deems itself as a bank and a technology company rolled in one—has become the first bank in the world to pilot test with global payments solutions firm Visa a new platform for cross-border B2B (business-to-business) payments using the blockchain technology.

How To Tell If You Have An Acidic Body, And What To Eat To Alkalize It Fast

Acidic bodies are unhealthy bodies. When the body is acidic, it creates an unwanted environment where illness, bacteria, and yeast thrive.

When the body is overly acidic, the body takes minerals from vital organs and bones to neutralize the acid and remove it from the body. Because of this, the body’s mineral reserves such as calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium can run dangerously low and cause damage that can go undetected for years, until it reaches unhealthy levels, causing acidosis.

Most of us are already consuming enough acid-forming foods, such as dairy, grains, meats and sugar. Since the body is constantly generating acidic waste products from the metabolism, those waste products need to be neutralized or excreted in some way. In order to neutralize the constant acid generation, we need to supply the body with more alkaline foods.

MSG (Vetsin): A Silent Killer

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popular flavor enhancer which is often added to Chinese food. However, newest studies suggest that it is also involved in numerous foods we eat on a daily basis!

Apparently, MSG and its detrimental effects are difficult or impossible to be prevented. This chemical flavor enhancer has been related to a numerous health conditions, like obesity, fibromyalgia, fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, neurological and brain damage, as well as high insulin and blood sugar levels.

The Health Dangers Of Drinking Iced Water

When eating out, I always ask my server for water with no ice and they often look at me like I am crazy. But I am not, and below I explain why.

First, take a minute to close your eyes and imagine the following:

It is spring and you are standing on a wooden dock that extends into a high mountain lake. While the temperature in the air is fairly warm, the top layer of the lake has only recently melted and you can tell by the color of the crystal clear blue water that it is anything but warm. You close your eyes and dive in.

What does your body do? What does your skin do? Are you relaxed and open, or tight and constricted?

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a problem that does not go away by itself. Cockroaches are our uninvited and unwelcome guests.

Therefore, anyone with a cockroach in his home, wants to get rid of them. There are a lot of products to fight this menace, but most of them have certain drawbacks: cockroaches disappear, but for a short time, an unpleasant odor remains in the house, the chemical products are also dangerous to the health of humans and animals.

Vitamin Water: Perhaps One of the Most Toxic “Health” Drinks of the Century!

Every major beverage company in the world has started focusing on promoting healthy products and Coca Cola is certainly not an exception. This beverage corporation is especially proud of their VitaminWater and they advertise it as a very healthy and incredibly hydrating beverage.

According to the Coca Cola Company, this drink also lowers the chances of developing eye diseases, protects us from chronic diseases, supports our bones and joints and improves our immunity, too. But, it turns out that all these promises are false.

A recent article published in the reputable Mat Hoffman Post, written by John Robbins, PhD, MD, has debunked these claims.

According to Robbins, VitaminWater is nothing more that sugar-water with traces of synthetic vitamins. What is even worse is that the quantity of sugar found in this beverage is relatively high.

One regular bottle of VitaminWater comes with about 33 grams of sugar which makes this beverage closer to a soft drink family than to a healthy drink family.

Ovarian Cancer Case Linked to Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder

Wow! This is just really shocking! Something as innocent as a baby powder is now linked to cancer! They are just dry applications to our skin, not even taken internally! How much more the lotions, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc?

Do you remember liberally applying this to your baby brothers and sisters with this powder? Even to toddlers when they are sweating after playing right?!

How Exercise Makes You Smarter, Happier, and Less Stressed

I confess, I am definitely a sedentary, a "taong bahay" person. I'm happy at home, even when my wife and daughter is at my home province.  My hobby is playing computer games and watching movies at home.

I know I need to exercise, not just to slim down, but also for my health. I do walk a bit, as well as ride my bike to work, but I know its not enough. I barely even perspire. Why is it so hard for most of us to exercise?

"We need to move," says Ratey of our evolutionary baggage, early in the talk. "It's only 10,000 years ago that we were hunter-gatherers and we moved anywhere from 10 to 14 miles a day."

Eliminate Your Stress Simply by Burning the Leaves of This Herb!

Hello fellow Call Center agents! Today I stumbled upon an article that can help us fight anxiety and stress from our hectic shift. What is surprising is that the ingredient is very accessible to everyone, especially those who love to cook and eat adobo! It is none other than bay leaf, or in tagalog, dahon ng laurel!

Here's the article, enjoy!

Eliminate Your Stress Simply by Burning the Leaves of This Herb!

Modern people have accepted the fact that their lives are filled with anxiety, tension and stress. However, their bodies have not accepted this situation and this is why there are so many cases of so-called “modern diseases”.

White Food Are Cancerous

The "whiter" the food, the more cancerous it is...

You probably didn’t know how dangerous and harmful these 5 “poisons” can be, and this is why you consumed them every day. But, now we are going to tell you and you won’t have any excuses. White rice, refined salt, pasteurized cow’s milk, refined sugar and white flour are the five white poisons, because they contain very few nutrients, protein and vitamins. If you consume these 5 products every day, you will increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes and other common diseases. Did you know that people who eat white rice 5 times a week, have up to 17% increased risk of getting diabetes? This is just one example of how dangerous and harmful these products can be. You need to know them better, before you eat them every day.

Big Pharmacies Don't Want Us Healed, They Just Want To Make Money

I have been seeing a lot of Conspiracy Theories about successful natural medicine or cure for Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Attack and other degenerative diseases. They sometimes imply that it was being hidden or that the Big Pharmacies doesn't want us to know about these Alternative Medications because they will lose a lot of money.

I think this is true based on this news article published last Sept 18, 2015:

Energy Efficient Bulbs Cause Anxiety, Migraines, and Even Cancer. Be Careful Not To Break It!

Lots of people are struggling to save electricity and money in different ways. For instance, they start using environmentally- friendly bulbs, which are proved to use less electricity, instead of the standard ones.

Nevertheless, due to the toxic substances found in these energy efficient light bulbs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published an emergency protocol which has to be followed in case the bulb has broken in order to protect people from the poison and toxins released from it.

Unsweetened Salabat (Ginger Water) for Weight Loss

Lose Weight with Ginger Water: The Healthiest Drink to Successfully Burn Excess Fat on Your Waist, Hips and Thighs! (Recipe)

Although you may have heard of many effective weight-loss recipes, this one is probably the most health beneficial of all. Apart from burning the excess fat that’s built up on you waist, hips and thighs, ginger infused water can improve your health on several different levels.

Why You Should Consider Not Eating Pork

13 Problems With Pork

1) A pig is a real garbage gut. It will eat anything including urine, excrement, dirt, decaying animal flesh, maggots, or decaying vegetables. They will even eat the cancerous growths off other pigs or animals.

2) The meat and fat of a pig absorbs toxins like a sponge. Their meat can be 30 times more toxic than beef or venison.

You Should Plan On Switching Jobs Every Three Years For The Rest Of Your Life

The stigma of being a flaky job-hopper is quickly becoming a thing of the past, and that's a good thing. - Vivian Giang

Changing jobs every couple of years used to look bad on a resume. It told recruiters you can’t hold down a job, can’t get along with colleagues, or that you’re simply disloyal and can't commit.