Malaysia’s Zetrix AI Berhad will provide the blockchain infrastructure for the Philippines’ national public blockchain after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Information and Communications Technology of the Philippines, marking a major step in the country’s push to digitize public services, government records and cross-border verification systems.
The agreement will see the Zetrix Layer-1 public blockchain used as the primary platform for verified digital transactions and credential issuance in the Philippines. The deal was signed by Zetrix Philippines Inc., My Blockchain Infrastructure Sdn. Bhd. and the DICT. My Blockchain Infrastructure is a joint venture between Zetrix AI and MIMOS Berhad, Malaysia’s government research and development agency.
Under the partnership, the parties will work to establish and operate a public blockchain network for the Philippines using the Zetrix protocol. The network is expected to support government-issued digital credentials, authentication of official documents, national digital ID interoperability and digital trade facilitation.
The agreement gives Zetrix a larger regional role in national digital infrastructure. The blockchain already serves as the core chain of Malaysia’s national blockchain infrastructure, known as MBI, which was launched in April 2025. With the Philippine adoption, Zetrix will now be linked to a second government-grade blockchain ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
The arrangement also creates a direct technology bridge between the Philippines and Malaysia, while extending Zetrix’s broader international reach through its connection to China’s national Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure. Zetrix has said that link enables authentication capabilities that could potentially reach about 20% of the global population.
What the agreement covers
The MOU is focused on building a blockchain layer that can be used by Philippine government agencies for secure, verifiable and tamper-resistant digital transactions. The initial areas of work are expected to include cross-border interoperability for national digital IDs, authentication of government-issued documents and support for digital trade.
For the public sector, that means official records could eventually be checked through blockchain-based verification rather than relying solely on paper documents or isolated databases. In practical terms, credentials issued by one agency could be validated by another agency, or even by a foreign counterpart, without requiring repeated manual checks.
The same principle applies to trade. Blockchain-based verification can help confirm the authenticity of permits, customs documents, certificates and other records that are often required in cross-border commerce. If implemented at scale, this could reduce delays, improve audit trails and make it harder to alter official data after issuance.
The DICT has been pushing a broader digital transformation agenda under Secretary Henry R. Aguda. One of the most closely watched initiatives has been the plan to place the entire 2026 national budget on a blockchain, a move intended to improve transparency in public spending. The new agreement with Zetrix fits within that wider policy direction, where blockchain is being positioned not as a speculative tool but as infrastructure for governance.
The MOU does not by itself complete the rollout of a national blockchain system. It sets the framework for cooperation, system design, deployment and agency-level integration. The key test will be how quickly the Philippine government can move from agreement to working services that are used by agencies, businesses and citizens.
Why Zetrix matters
Zetrix is a Layer-1 public blockchain, meaning it operates its own base network rather than functioning as an application built on another blockchain. It supports smart contracts, cross-chain operations, blockchain identifiers and verifiable credentials.
Those features are central to the type of government use cases being targeted in the Philippines. Smart contracts can automate certain processes when predefined conditions are met. Verifiable credentials allow documents and identities to be issued in a digital format that can be checked cryptographically. Cross-chain capability allows systems to communicate with other blockchain networks, which is important when different countries or institutions use different infrastructure.
Zetrix AI, formerly known as MY E.G. Services Berhad, is headquartered in Malaysia and has focused on combining blockchain and artificial intelligence for digital transformation in the public and private sectors. Its proprietary Zetrix protocol is designed to support secure cross-border data validation, automation and identity interoperability.
The company has also had a long presence in the Philippines. Zetrix AI has operated in the country for nearly a decade, providing digital service platforms for agencies including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Ports Authority and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
That existing footprint may be important for implementation. National blockchain projects depend not only on the technology itself but also on the ability to integrate with existing government workflows, legacy databases and agency procedures. A provider with prior exposure to local public-sector systems could have an advantage in navigating those requirements.
Malaysia’s blockchain model expands
Zetrix’s role in Malaysia provides a model for what the Philippines may seek to build. In Malaysia, Zetrix supports the issuance and validation of trusted digital credentials and is used in areas such as customs clearance, digital ID verification and government-linked digital services.
Malaysia’s national blockchain infrastructure was launched in April 2025, with Zetrix operating as the core chain. The platform has also been in operation for government-related applications since 2022, giving it several years of deployment experience before being selected for the Philippine public blockchain initiative.
The Malaysia-China connection is another significant part of the story. Zetrix is connected to China’s Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure, a national-level blockchain network that has been used for large-scale industrial and digital authentication purposes. Through that connection, Zetrix positions itself as a bridge for verified data exchange across borders.
For the Philippines, this could support future interoperability not only with Malaysia but also with broader regional and international systems. Cross-border digital ID verification, trade documentation and official credential recognition are all areas where governments increasingly need secure and standardized digital infrastructure.
The connection to China’s blockchain ecosystem may also attract attention from regional traders and technology firms because it suggests that the Philippine deployment could eventually plug into larger commercial and administrative networks. However, the value of that connection will depend on regulatory approval, technical integration, data governance rules and the actual use cases adopted by Philippine agencies.
A push toward digital government
The Philippines has been moving steadily toward greater digitalization of public services. Government agencies have adopted online platforms for taxation, business registration, licensing, port services, investigations, fisheries management and securities regulation. The new blockchain initiative sits on top of that broader transition.
The country’s digital economy has become a meaningful part of national output. Figures cited in connection with the sector place the Philippine digital economy at 9.8% of gross domestic product in 2025, valued at about 2.74 trillion pesos, or roughly $48 billion. Government digital services are one component of that wider digital economy.
While growth in the overall digital economy has moderated in some areas, public-sector digitalization remains a priority. The DICT’s “Digital Bayanihan Chain” initiative and other blockchain-related proposals show that the government is looking at distributed ledger technology as a tool for transparency, verification and administrative efficiency.
The agreement with Zetrix moves that policy direction closer to implementation. Instead of discussing blockchain only as a future possibility, the government is now selecting a protocol and infrastructure partner for national-level use.
That is an important distinction. Many governments have explored blockchain through pilots, proofs of concept or limited trials. A national public blockchain, if actively used across agencies, would represent a more direct commitment to making the technology part of public administration.
Digital IDs and cross-border workers
One of the most practical early applications is digital ID interoperability between the Philippines and Malaysia. Both countries have large cross-border movements of workers, businesses and service providers. A secure system for verifying identity credentials could reduce friction for people who need to prove their identity, qualifications or records across jurisdictions.
For overseas workers and mobile professionals, document verification can be slow, repetitive and vulnerable to fraud. A blockchain-based credential system could allow an authorized party to confirm whether a document is valid without exposing unnecessary personal information or relying on manual authentication.
The same concept could apply to education records, professional licenses, employment certifications and government permits. If these credentials are issued in a verifiable digital format, agencies and businesses can check their authenticity more quickly.
This does not mean personal data is automatically placed on a public blockchain. In well-designed credential systems, the blockchain usually stores proofs, identifiers or verification records rather than full sensitive documents. The actual design chosen by the Philippine authorities will matter greatly for privacy, cybersecurity and compliance with data protection laws.
Trade facilitation and official records
Digital trade facilitation is another early target for the network. Trade depends on trust in documents, including certificates of origin, customs forms, inspection reports, shipping records and regulatory approvals. When these documents are paper-based or spread across disconnected systems, verification can become slow and costly.
A blockchain layer can create a shared record of issuance and validation. Once a government document is issued, other authorized parties can verify whether it is genuine and whether it has been altered. This can help reduce fraud and improve confidence in digital trade processes.
The Philippine Ports Authority is among the agencies for which Zetrix AI has previously provided digital service platforms. That past work may become relevant if blockchain-based trade and port documentation are eventually integrated into logistics workflows.
Customs clearance is also one of the areas where Zetrix has already been used in Malaysia. If similar systems are adapted for the Philippines, the network could support faster verification of trade documents between agencies and trading partners.
What traders will watch next
For traders and technology market watchers, the agreement changes the profile of Zetrix from a commercial blockchain platform into infrastructure with official government use in two Southeast Asian countries. That does not guarantee adoption at scale, but it does create a clearer path for real transaction activity if government systems begin moving onto the network.
The most important factor will be execution. A public blockchain only becomes economically significant when it handles meaningful volumes of transactions, credentials, verifications or automated processes. Announcements and MOUs can establish direction, but day-to-day government usage will determine the practical value of the infrastructure.
Traders will likely watch several areas closely: how fast Philippine agencies begin pilot programs, which documents or credentials are moved first, whether digital ID interoperability with Malaysia becomes operational, and whether trade-related transactions produce measurable on-chain activity.
The connection to Xinghuo may also remain a focal point. Since that network has already processed activity at scale, it offers a reference point for what cross-border blockchain infrastructure could eventually look like. Still, the Philippine deployment will have its own legal, technical and administrative requirements.
A regional blockchain corridor
The MOU points to a bigger regional trend: Southeast Asian governments are increasingly testing blockchain for public administration, identity systems and trade. The Philippines’ decision to work with a Malaysia-linked blockchain provider suggests a move toward regional interoperability rather than isolated national systems.
If successful, the project could create a corridor connecting Philippine, Malaysian and selected Chinese digital verification systems. That would be especially relevant for trade, labor mobility and cross-border public services.
The challenge will be balancing interoperability with sovereignty. Governments want faster data exchange, but they also need control over national records, identity systems and citizen data. The architecture of the Philippine public blockchain will need to address those concerns clearly.
For now, the agreement gives the Philippines a defined blockchain infrastructure partner and gives Zetrix a larger role in Southeast Asia’s public-sector digital transformation. The next phase will determine whether the project becomes a widely used government utility or remains a limited technology deployment.
The central question is no longer whether the Philippines is interested in blockchain for governance. With this MOU, the question has shifted to how quickly the country can turn blockchain infrastructure into working public services that citizens, agencies and businesses use every day.
Explore how institutions tap real-world blockchain value in Toobit’s tokenized RWAs megatrend analysis for deeper infrastructure insights.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not represent the views or financial advice of Toobit. We make no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and shall not be held liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from its use. Investing in digital assets involves risk; users should independently evaluate their financial situation and the risks involved. For further details, please consult our Terms of Service and Risk Disclosure.
