GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app, is doubling down on its push for greater digital inclusion with the launch of two major fintech innovations — PocketPay and the GCash Virtual US Account — designed to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and Filipino freelancers alike.
The twin rollouts reflect the company’s continuing effort to make financial services more accessible, flexible, and affordable, amid the country’s accelerating shift toward a cashless, borderless economy.
Turning phones into payment terminals
Through PocketPay, GCash now allows MSMEs to turn their mobile phones or smartphones into instant payment terminals — enabling them to accept credit and debit card payments without needing a traditional point-of-sale (POS) machine.
Launched by Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), GCash’s parent company, PocketPay aims to lower the barriers to digital transactions for smaller businesses that often find existing payment systems too costly or complex to adopt.
“PocketPay meets MSMEs where they are — with a solution that’s flexible, reliable, and incredibly easy to use,” said Jong Layug, Mynt’s General Manager for Business-to-Business. “Our goal is to provide simpler and more affordable digital payment tools that allow them to do more with less.”
The new feature caters especially to mobile entrepreneurs — from food stall owners and pop-up retailers to online sellers — who frequently operate on lean budgets and need fast, secure ways to process payments.
By letting customers tap their cards directly on a merchant’s smartphone, PocketPay eliminates common payment verification hassles such as screenshot confirmations or receipt checks.
Layug added that PocketPay will be available with zero fees until December 3, giving MSMEs a risk-free opportunity to test the new service. Businesses can register through the GCash for Business portal.
The app also complements SoundPay, another GCash innovation that enables QR payments with voice confirmation, ensuring a smoother checkout experience and reducing transaction errors.
Empowering freelancers with the GCash virtual US account
In another major milestone, GCash introduced the GCash Virtual US Account on November 5, 2025, a new feature that allows Filipinos to receive payments and remittances in US dollars directly through their GCash wallets — without needing a US-based bank account or paying costly remittance fees.
Powered by global payments network Meridian1, the new service lets users hold US dollars in their GCash app and convert funds to Philippine pesos at their preferred time and exchange rate.
“With the GCash Virtual US Account, users can hold US dollars and only convert to pesos when they need to,” said Paul Albano, GCash General Manager for International. “This gives them flexibility, avoids unnecessary fees, and ensures they get the best conversion rates.”
The innovation addresses a long-standing pain point among freelancers and remote workers, who often lose income to high international transaction and withdrawal fees. By removing intermediaries and hidden costs, the Virtual US Account lets gig workers keep more of what they earn while gaining instant access to their funds.
The feature also benefits overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families by simplifying the remittance process. The United States remains the Philippines’ top remittance source, accounting for about 40% of total cash inflows from January to August 2025, according to BSP data.
Fully verified GCash users are eligible to open Virtual US Accounts, which are issued and maintained by Meridian Payments US under a “for benefit of” arrangement.
Driving financial inclusion and innovation
Both PocketPay and the Virtual US Account mark another leap in GCash’s mission to democratize access to financial technology in the Philippines.
PocketPay aims to help MSMEs thrive in an increasingly digital marketplace, while the Virtual US Account bridges the gap between global earnings and local access — a move seen to boost cross-border payment efficiency and foreign currency inflows.
As the Philippines continues its rapid digitalization, GCash’s latest innovations underline a broader trend in the country’s fintech ecosystem — one where technology, inclusivity, and empowerment converge to redefine how Filipinos pay, earn, and grow their livelihoods.
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Ralph, the Editor-in-Chief of FintechNewsPH.com, brings over 15 years of writing and editorial experience that make him a strong fit to lead the publication’s mission of delivering credible and compelling fintech stories.
Before joining FintechNewsPH.com, he served as editor of Hello Philippines, a UK-based news magazine for the Filipino community abroad, where he covered stories on culture, business, and the global Filipino experience. He also contributed as a writer for The International Filipino, profiling Filipinos making an impact worldwide, and later worked as copy editor for Malaya Business Insight, one of the country’s respected business newspapers, where he refined his eye for accuracy, clarity, and style.
Ralph’s editorial journey began at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he was Editor-in-Chief of Kampus Dyornal. There, he developed a keen sense for storytelling that informs and connects — a passion that continues to define his work today.
Through the years, Ralph has written across diverse subjects, from finance and technology to culture and communication, consistently weaving insight with narrative depth. His solid newsroom background and commitment to quality journalism position him to guide FintechNewsPH.com in highlighting the stories that shape the country’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape. Discover more about Ralph's professional journey on his LinkedIn profile.
