Visa Pushes the Boundaries of AI-Driven Digital Payments in the Philippines

Visa brings next-gen AI-powered commerce and payment technologies to the Philippines, aiming to make transactions faster, safer, and more flexible for consumers and businesses.

Visa is setting the pace for the future of payments in the Philippines, unveiling a range of AI-driven products and services that aim to enhance digital transactions for both consumers and businesses. As the country hits a major milestone 50% of retail payments now digitized, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Visa’s newest innovations are arriving at a time when digital adoption is growing faster than ever.

These new solutions aren’t just about keeping up, they're designed to lead. Visa has introduced a wide set of tools powered by artificial intelligence to make everyday payments smarter, faster, and more secure. One of the standout developments is Visa Intelligent Commerce, a platform that supports developers and tech platforms in integrating Visa’s secure payments directly into AI-powered applications. Visa is already in talks with major regional players like Ant International, Grab, and Tencent to bring these capabilities to more users across Asia Pacific.

For example, imagine an AI assistant that not only knows your favorite coffee order but can place it and pay for it before you even open your app. Or one that automatically books travel, concert tickets, and accommodations in real time. This isn’t a futuristic pitch, this is what Visa’s AI-driven approach to commerce is enabling.

Visa’s massive $3 billion investment over the last decade in AI and data infrastructure is now translating into real impact. The company is making sure its systems remain trustworthy, with advanced tools for fraud prevention, tokenization, and digital identity verification. In today’s environment where cyber threats continue to evolve, this focus on security is more important than ever.

Another key highlight is Visa Pay, a new service that lets any participating digital wallet connect to Visa-accepting merchants, whether in-store or online. In the Philippines, Visa is working with Maya, making it easier for users to tap, scan, or shop online with confidence. This move reflects the growing dominance of digital wallets in the region and Visa’s commitment to making payments seamless across platforms.

Visa also introduced Digital Identity tools to help identify and authenticate users more securely. These include features like Tap to Confirm and Passkeys, which help reduce friction in transactions while improving fraud detection and authorization accuracy. These services are being rolled out with new partners like Maybank and Coles, with more to follow.

For micro-entrepreneurs and informal sellers, Visa launched Visa Accept, a tool that turns any NFC-enabled smartphone into a payment terminal. While it’s first being introduced in Vietnam, this is a game-changer for street vendors, freelancers, and small-scale sellers who want to receive digital payments without expensive equipment.

One of the most flexible new features in Visa’s ecosystem is the Flex Credential. Originally launched in Japan with SMBC and SMCC under the Olive brand, the Visa Flex Credential allows users to switch between debit, credit, and rewards using a single card. More than 5 million Olive users are already seeing benefits, and Visa is now expanding this offering to small businesses and new markets, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

As crypto and blockchain-based solutions become more common, Visa is also stepping into the stablecoin space. The company is enabling consumers to use stablecoin-backed cards to make everyday purchases or convert digital assets into fiat currency. Through partnerships with players like DCS Singapore, StraitsX, and DTC Pay, Visa is facilitating secure and regulated use of stablecoins for both spending and settlement.

Supporting this growth is the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP), which helps partners issue and manage fiat-backed tokens while connecting to public and private blockchains. This opens up new possibilities for cross-border payments, programmable finance, and token trading, an especially important step as digital finance becomes more global and interconnected.

According to Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Philippines Country Manager, these technologies are not just about the future, they’re about making real, tangible changes in how people and businesses in the Philippines interact with money. From ride-hailing to retail, Visa is working closely with banks, fintechs, and merchants to ensure these innovations translate into real convenience and better experiences for Filipino users.

As the digital economy in the Philippines continues to grow, Visa is positioning itself as not just a service provider, but a key enabler of smarter, AI-powered commerce. Whether you’re a business owner looking for better tools to manage transactions or a consumer wanting more flexible ways to pay, Visa’s latest offerings are shaping a more connected and intelligent payment ecosystem for everyone.