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The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), in partnership with GCash and the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), officially launched GBonds, a blockchain-powered investment product, making it easier and more affordable for Filipinos to invest in government securities through the GCash app.
GBonds Launch
In a Facebook post, BTr announced the official release of GBonds. Starting at just ₱500, fully verified GCash users can now access and invest in GBonds by navigating to the GInvest section of the app and completing a short registration process with PDAX.
The GBonds initiative aims to expand access to low-risk investment instruments and promote financial inclusion by leveraging digital platforms already widely used by Filipinos.
Prior to this announcement, BTr, PDAX and GCash teased the planned launch of GBonds.
On July 23, the Bureau of the Treasury announced on social media the anticipated release of GBonds, the bureau described it as an accessible and low-risk investment opportunity. PDAX released its teaser a day after by sharing the post from the bureau. Ahead of BTr’s and PDAX announcement, GCash released its own teaser on July 22 which promotes GBonds and encourages users to stay tuned for its launch.
“Looking for a low-risk investment? Invest in government bonds with GBonds!”
GCash
The release of GBonds follows an earlier announcement made in November 2024 by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto during the Bureau of the Treasury’s 127th anniversary. At the time, the initiative was initially targeted for a December 2024 rollout.
How to Invest
For fully verified (identity verified within the past 3 years):
Step 1: Open the GCash app
Step 2: Tap GInvest
Step 3: Select GBonds
Step 4: Complete the registration process with PDAX
If not yet fully verified:
Step 1: Open the GCash app and start the verification process
Step 2: Fill out your personal information
Step 3: Upload a valid ID
Step 4: Take a selfie
What Are GBonds?
GBonds are designed to bring government-issued bonds to Filipinos through digital platforms.The initiative will utilize PDAX’s blockchain technology and GCash’s large user base to enable easy, secure, and low-cost access to government bond investments.
According to the GCash website, investing in GBonds is free for basic actions like cashing in or withdrawing. However, trading activities (buying or selling bonds) include two small fees:
The platform noted that these fees help cover platform and partner service costs.
- Convenience Fee:
- 0.50% per annum for primary market (pre-sale) products
- 0.75% per annum for secondary market (issued) products
- Transaction Fee:
- 0.25% of the transaction amount, capped at ₱5 per transaction
What are treasury bonds?
Treasury bonds are fixed-interest securities issued by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) to fund government projects.
- Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) are long-term investments designed for individual investors. It offers fixed interest rates, quarterly payouts, and maturities ranging from 5.5 to 30 years.
- Treasury Bonds (T-bonds) have maturities of 2 to 25 years and typically provide regular coupon payments. Some may be issued as zero-coupon bonds, which pay the full amount only at maturity.
Bonds are considered low-risk fixed-income investments. For example, a ₱10,000 bond at a 6% annual interest rate would yield ₱600 after 12 months, the investor will then receive a total of ₱10,600 at maturity.
Last year, the Philippines raised a record-breaking $10.5 billion (₱585 billion) through Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs), which surpassed its $7 billion target and marked the highest amount raised in such an offering. The funds will support key government initiatives in agriculture, infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
In 2023, PDAX launched the country’s first blockchain-tokenized treasury bonds, with minimum investments starting at just ₱500 and interest rates around 6.2%.
Worth reading:
This article is published on BitPinas: Bureau of Treasury Teases Blockchain-Based Bonds on GCash in Partnership with PDAX
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