Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines—As $BTC surged past ₱111,000 last week, the message at the Bitcoin Pizza Day 2025 Meetup was clear: look beyond short-term profits, and think long-term.
Co-organized by crypto publication BitPinas and GCash’s in-app trading platform GCrypto, the event celebrated the 15th anniversary of the historic pizza purchase in 2010, the first real-world $BTC transaction, which is now famously worth over ₱6.8 billion.
It welcomed over 200 attendees from across the local crypto ecosystem, including traders, blockchain developers, educators, and newcomers.
The CryptoPH Conversations: Bitcoin Pizza Day Edition was held at the GCash Office in W Global Center in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
Beyond Just HODLing
In his keynote speech, Luis Buenaventura, vice president at GCash and head of GCrypto, introduced the concept of “Buy, Borrow, Die,” a strategy where investors hold onto their Bitcoin, using it as collateral rather than selling it.
“Bitcoin is not just a speculative asset… It is a store of value — something you can borrow against, pass on to the next generation, and build real wealth with over time.”
Luis Buenaventura, GCrypto Head and Vice President, GCash
He explained how the “Buy, Borrow, Die” strategy, which is commonly used by the wealthy, can also apply to Bitcoin: treat $BTC as an asset to hold, borrow against for liquidity, and pass on as a generational legacy.
While not immediately accessible to everyone, Buenaventura emphasized that understanding these wealth-building strategies is key.
His talk marked a pivotal moment in an evening that blended celebration with deeper conversations on crypto’s role in the Philippines.
Satoshi Quest
As a major part of the event, the “Satoshi Quest,” a booth-hopping game, featured trivia, wallet-check challenges, and community reflections.
Guests participated in a gamified Satoshi Quest, completing five booth activities:
- Satlayer Booth: Bitcoin trivia with $BABY token rewards
- GCrypto Booth: Buy a slice of pizza for ₱1 using USDT
- BitPinas Booth: Share what Bitcoin means to you
- Photobooth: Snap and share your #GCRYPTOPIZZADAY moment
- Panel Attendance: Learn from key voices in the space
“Bitcoin Pizza Day is not just a fun event; it is a symbol of how far we’ve come. It is amazing to see hundreds of Filipinos showing up not just for the pizza, but for the conversations that matter.”
Michael Mislos, Editor-in-Chief, BitPinas
Building Wealth, Not Just Hype
One of the night’s highlights was the panel under BitPinas’ #CryptoPH Conversations series, titled “Will I Make More Money on Bitcoin or Altcoins in This Cycle?”
Panelists:
- Harry Santos of local crypto exchange PDAX
- Macky Cruz of $USDT-issuer Tether
- Joseph Lejarde of trading education platform Whizkid Academy
- Icesteam Jimenez of Innovative Movement of the Philippine Association of Crypto Traders (IMPACT)
The discussion highlighted financial strategy, education, and responsible investing. Speakers also explored $BTC’s growing role in finance, learning, and empowerment rather than focusing on short-term hype.
This emphasized the value of $BTC beyond mere trading.
A Platform for Builders
The event also highlighted these initiatives, which also sponsored the meetup:
- Satlayer, a Bitcoin restaking platform built on Babylon, offered insights into unlocking yield opportunities using BTC.
- CryptoBilis promoted their mission of simplifying crypto access in the country, giving away a hardware wallet to one lucky attendee.
- Mansa, a stablecoin liquidity provider, powered the event’s $USDT giveaway, with 22 participants receiving prizes.
Tether, via liquidity provider Mansa, distributed $USDT prizes to 22 lucky winners, while CryptoBilis raffled off a hardware wallet. SatLayer also rewarded participants with $5 worth of $BABY tokens.
Looking Ahead
Between free pizza, live booths, and open mic segments, the Bitcoin Pizza Day 2025 Meetup was more than just a party: it was a snapshot of a growing movement in the Philippines.
Whether through restaking innovations, stablecoin adoption, or long-term investment narratives, one message echoed loud and clear: Bitcoin is here to stay, and it is evolving. Just like its community.
Following their second successful hosting of Bitcoin Pizza Day, GCrypto and BitPinas plan to make it an annual tradition.
About GCrypto:
GCrypto is the crypto platform built into GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance app, making it easier for millions of Filipinos to safely access digital assets.
About BitPinas:
BitPinas is the country’s top crypto and fintech media site, covering blockchain innovation, policy developments, and the expanding web3 ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
This article is published on BitPinas: Bitcoin Pizza Day 2025: GCash Exec Urges Filipinos to Rethink Bitcoin as Long-Term Wealth, Not a Quick Flip
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