Philippines’ top crypto traders form association to advocate crypto investment literacy

As crypto adoption continues to grow in the country, top cryptocurrency traders have formally announced the formation of the Innovative Movement of the Philippine Association of Crypto Traders (IMPACT).

The group aims to contribute to improving the country’s overall financial literacy by providing a comprehensive and structured approach to educating individuals about the evolving cryptocurrency landscape and building an informed community in the fight against crypto-related scams.

IMPACT founders introduced during an event on October 14, 2023 (L-R) Gilbert Lazaro, Riki Dacanay, Atty. Clarizel King, Arlone “Paul” Abello, Jiro Reyes, and Steve Jimenez

Arlone “Paul” Abello, CEO of Global Miranda Miner Group (GMMG) and Web3 learning platform Elite University and FEASTGold, spearheads IMPACT as its Executive Director and Founding Chair.

The founding members include Jiro Reyes, CEO of edutech firm Bitskwela; Atty. Clarizel King, a corporate, technology, securities, health, and property law expert; Steve “ICesteam” Jimenez, community manager of decentralized multi-chain order book exchange ZKEX.com; Riki Dacanay, an entrepreneur and blockchain tech investor; and Gilbert “TitoVlogs” Lazaro, a stock and crypto market analyst awarded as the best trading advisor in the Philippines for 2022 by Trader’s Fair.

“The Philippines Association of Crypto Traders is formed to equip individuals with the knowledge and understanding of cryptocurrencies and their vast potential. We strive to be the leading authority in the Philippines, providing reliable and unbiased information on crypto trading, use cases, and emerging trends,” Abello said.

The association has also announced a partnership with the Junior Confederation of Finance Associations Philippines (JCFAP), the national umbrella organization for associations of college students in finance or financial management.

Through the “CrypTalk: University Caravan,” which was initiated by GMMG, the IMPACT founders will visit higher education institutions across the Philippines to teach finance students about the fundamentals of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web3, and promote ethical behavior and responsible participation in the decentralized web and cryptocurrency ecosystem.

On October 4, Abello, Jimenez, and Lazaro spoke to students of Citi Global College in Laguna about job opportunities in the Web3 space and shared valuable insights into identifying signs of crypto-related scams. The group is slated to visit 11 more schools, starting with De La Salle University on November 14, 2023.

“Generation Z can get easily hyped when it comes to investing. They have so much risk appetite that they lose focus on the potential risk of losing their money altogether,” Abello explained.

“We formed IMPACT to empower individuals to navigate the complexities of the digital economy confidently and equip the next generation of finance and technology professionals with essential knowledge about cryptocurrency and blockchain as transformative emerging technologies,” Abello added.

IMPACT has also appointed officers with diverse skills spanning various sectors, including Assistant Executive Director Ivy Gutierrez, Committee Chair for Education Aubrie Cinco, Committee Chair for Industry Hygiene Jaspher Poblete, Committee Chair for Memberships and Growth Mike Cruda, Committee Chair for Secretariat Renniel Balisong, and Assistant Chair for Education Chester Flavier.

IMPACT is open to collaborations to create internships and job placement opportunities for aspiring students. Organizations and universities looking to partner with the group can send their inquiry to www.impactph.io.