UnionBank Launched Trading Program for Bitcoin and Ethereum
METACO, the leading provider of digital asset management technology to complex, global financial institutions, has announced that UnionBank, one of the Philippines’ largest universal banks, has gone live on METACO’s flagship platform, Harmonize, to pilot the launch of cryptocurrency services for its clients.
UnionBank has launched a trading program for Bitcoin and Ethereum custody and trading services for select retail customers. Marking a significant step forward in the bank’s exploration of blockchain technology. This follows other similar digital asset initiatives, such as the launch of its own stablecoin for remittance payments and the establishment of its presence in the Metaverse economy.
Introduction to Pilot Trading Program
UnionBank is one of a select group of institutions granted a cryptocurrency license by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). At the recent opening of UnionBank’s Innovation Campus. The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, emphasized the importance of blockchain and digital asset technologies in furthering financial inclusion in the Philippines.
UnionBank uses Harmonize, METACO’s digital asset custody and orchestration platform, as a fully managed cloud service to manage the pilot’s governance and operations. Working in collaboration with financial regulators and other industry participants. The bank intends to expand the service and create a safe and compliant environment for millions of Filipinos to custody and exchange digital currencies such as Bitcoin directly from their existing mobile banking app, eliminating the need to open or manage separate wallet services.
Harmonize will serve as the foundational orchestration platform for UnionBank. As it prepares for wider rollouts of its digital asset services in order to meet the growing needs of its customers while future-proofing its business model.
Management Quote
Henry Aguda, Chief Technology & Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer at UnionBank, commented,
“UnionBank’s collaboration with its strategic partner METACO has been critical in the bank’s pursuit of realizing its vision of delivering superior, customer-centric services to the Philippine market. We are proud to continue UnionBank’s series of industry firsts, this time being the first regulated bank in the country allowing digital currency exchange feature for clients.”
Seamus Donoghue, Chief Growth Officer at METACO commented:
“As a key strategic partner, we are proud to see METACO Harmonize going live in six months. Since the project effectively commenced, and now supporting the launch of UnionBank’s digital asset pilot with select customers. Our bank-grade digital asset orchestration platform, Harmonize. Provides UnionBank with the optionality to securely explore a range of retail and institutional digital asset use-cases. From crypto custody, investment and trading, to the fast-growing Metaverse economy in the Philippines.”
METACO is a leading technology provider to financial institutions and corporations in the digital asset ecosystem. With significant Tier 1 and Tier 2 bank implementations in various regulatory jurisdictions, including Switzerland, Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States, Turkey, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong.
About METACO
Founded in 2015 in Switzerland, METACO is a technology company whose mission is to enable financial and non-financial institutions. To securely manage their digital asset business and capitalize on the burgeoning digital asset economy.
The company’s core product, Harmonize, is an orchestration system for digital assets. From cryptocurrency custody and trading to tokenization, staking and smart contract management. The platform seamlessly connects institutions to the new world of decentralized finance (DeFi).
METACO has established itself as the Tier 1 banking standard. Tusted by and in live production with global custodians, exchanges, and private and universal banks. Its software, technology and infrastructure solutions enable financial institutions to store, trade, issue and manage digital assets, with the highest possible security and agility.
About Union Bank Philippines
UnionBank has always been among the first to embrace technological innovations to empower its customers. It embraces the future of banking and is committed to being the Philippines’ leading digital bank to best serve the growing needs of Filipinos everywhere. It has consistently been recognized as one of Asia’s leading companies. Ranking among the country’s top universal banks in terms of profitability and efficiency.
UnionBank stands firm in its promise to power the future of banking through “Tech Up Pilipinas”. To best serve the growing needs of Filipinos everywhere, while pioneering innovations for a better world.
SOURCE
UnionBank goes live on METACO Harmonize to launch Cryptocurrency Services
