Weekly Recap: From Subpoenas to Bitcoin Pizza Day

From the subpoenas sent by the police to two local VASPs for the Anson Que Case to GCrypto and BitPinas’ Bitcoin Pizza Day meetup

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed that they are investigating the use of e-wallets in the recent Anson Que case, where the son of billionaire Enrique Que was kidnapped and e-wallets were used to collect ransom money which was then converted into cryptocurrency.

The e-wallets were allegedly linked to casino junket operators who were involved in siphoning off portions of the funds through multiple digital platforms, including registered and unregistered virtual asset service providers (VASPs).

This led the police to subpoena two local exchanges, which are still being identified by authorities.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council and PNP also discussed the urgent need for greater regulation in the VASP industry, highlighting the importance of shutting down illegal junket VASPs, quickly revoking casino partnerships with those convicted of serious crimes, and extending the anti-money laundering law to cover more entities like prepaid cards and crowdfunding platforms.

They also plan to push for stricter ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) measures and closer collaboration with foreign counterparts to combat cross-border cybercrime.

CryptoBilis, in partnership with hardware wallet maker Tangem, will be hosting Bitcoin Pizza Day 2025 on May 30, 2025. The event will be held at MetroTent Convention Center in Ortigas, Manila, from 3:00 p.m. to midnight. Tickets for the event are priced at ₱199.

The event will be celebrating the historic first Bitcoin transaction in 2010, where 10,000 BTC was used to buy two pizzas.

This year’s event promises to be an even bigger and more immersive experience than last year’s gathering, which drew over 500 crypto enthusiasts. It will feature a host of activities and attractions for attendees to enjoy.

SparkPoint has teamed up with CoinEx Filipino to host a special X Space event. During the event, 2,000 $CET tokens will be given away to six lucky participants. The event will be hosted by members of the #CryptoPH communities Airdrop ng mga Bobo and Cryptita Plays.

To enter the contest, participants are invited to join SparkPoint’s Telegram group, create an account on CoinEx, and submit their best questions for the X Space panel. The panel will be discussing the topic of ‘How Can AI Help Build Better Communities?'

The six selected winners will have the 2,000 $CET tokens deposited directly into their CoinEx accounts.

Web3 Bulacan, a local community initiative, recently organized the ChainQuest event at the National University Fairview Campus in Quezon City.

The event brought together students, faculty members, and tech enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds for an engaging afternoon session focused on the future of Web3.

The session featured in-depth discussions on various aspects of blockchain technology, cutting-depth insights into promising career opportunities in the field, and the broader societal impact of this transformative technology.

In addition, the program included valuable tips and advice on developing in-demand skills for forging successful careers in the rapidly evolving realm of web3 development.

Paytaca has released version 0.22.4 of its Bitcoin Cash (BCH) wallet, which brings a host of new features and improvements to the popular cryptocurrency wallet.

The new update promises faster app loading times, more accurate and reliable balance updates, and smoother handling of peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange functions.

Paytaca is a fintech company that is focused on facilitating efficient and convenient electronic cash transactions. The company offers a non-custodial Bitcoin Cash wallet, which grants users complete control over their cryptocurrency assets without relying on third-party intermediaries.

In addition to its flagship wallet service, Paytaca provides merchants with a seamless point-of-sale system, enables Bitcoin Cash integration in vending machines, and offers an array of other web3 services.

GCrypto and BitPinas will be joining forces to host a special Bitcoin Pizza Day community meetup on May 22, 2025. The event will be taking place at the GCrypto office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig at 3:00 p.m.

The event will be celebrating the 13th anniversary of the historic transaction in 2010, where 10,000 BTC was used to buy two pizzas. The event will also be a great opportunity to learn more about Bitcoin and its role in the financial world today.

The event will be focusing on the theme of ‘The ₱6.8 Billion Lesson — How Pizza Changed Bitcoin Forever.’

The event will be featuring a variety of activities, including:

* Free pizza from Papa John’s.

* An introduction to Bitcoin with GCrypto.

* A special #CryptoPH Conversations panel discussion.

* An exclusive fireside chat with a surprise guest speaker.

* Educational kits and