Coins.ph vs SimpleSwap: Custody and Asset Selection
Coins.ph is a centralized Philippine exchange and digital wallet regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Founded in 2014, it pairs order-book trading with local fiat banking rails, utility bill settlements, and national QR Ph merchant payments. In contrast, SimpleSwap is an instant swap aggregator launched in 2018 that executes wallet-to-wallet trades across more than 20 liquidity venues without requiring account registration.
The structural difference centers on custody and asset depth. Coins.ph holds user funds in centralized custody, lists 170 digital assets, and runs a standard spot order book with base fees of 0.10% maker and 0.15% taker. SimpleSwap operates non-custodially, routing funds directly between external wallets. While SimpleSwap covers more than 2,800 cryptocurrencies across networks like Bitcoin, Solana, and Monero, it embeds network costs and partner margins directly into swap rates rather than offering order books.
Quick verdict
Traders who need Philippine banking rails choose Coins.ph, while those seeking account-free swaps across rare tokens use SimpleSwap. Coins.ph is a custodial financial hub tied to the Philippine Peso, whereas SimpleSwap is a non-custodial bridge across disparate blockchain networks.
Choose Coins.ph if you need direct Philippine Peso integration through InstaPay or PESONet, settle local utility bills, or want order-book trading with clear maker and taker schedules. It requires identity verification and excludes United States residents.
Choose SimpleSwap if you prefer wallet-to-wallet execution without account registration, trade across networks like Monero and TON, or want access to more than 2,800 digital assets without depositing funds onto a centralized platform.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Our score | 4.0/5 | 4.1/5 |
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Fees | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Security & trust | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Asset selection | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Support | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Specs | ||
| Markets | Spot, OTC | Spot |
| Maker fee | 0.1% | Not disclosed |
| Taker fee | 0.15% | Not disclosed |
| Coins listed | 170 | 2,800 |
| Fiat deposit methods | Bank transfer | Card |
| KYC required | Yes | No |
| Accepts US customers | No | Not disclosed |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Licenses & registrations | BSP Virtual Asset Service Provider, BSP Electronic Money Issuer, BSP Advanced Electronic Payment and Financial Services, BSP Remittance and Transfer Company, BSP Money Changing / FX Dealing | Not disclosed |
| Security features | Cold storage, Encryption, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 | Non-custodial architecture, Direct wallet settlements |
| Futures & perpetuals | No | No |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| P2P market | Not disclosed | No |
| Referral program | Yes | Yes |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2014 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Philippines | — |
| Investors | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Best for | Philippine crypto traders, Filipino remittance recipients, Retail users paying bills with crypto | Registration-free crypto-to-crypto swaps, Non-custodial cross-chain transfers, Trading rare altcoins without CEX balances |
Highlighted cells show the stronger value in each row. Data comes from each provider's site and public sources; check details before you sign up.
FAQ
Which platform has lower trading fees?
Coins.ph offers lower, more predictable pricing for standard trades with order-book maker fees starting at 0.10% and taker fees at 0.15%. SimpleSwap does not publish separate maker and taker fees, instead embedding liquidity partner margins and network costs directly into its floating and fixed swap rates.
Do Coins.ph and SimpleSwap require identity verification?
Coins.ph requires mandatory identity verification before users can deposit fiat or execute trades. SimpleSwap allows standard crypto-to-crypto swaps without account registration, though transactions flagged by automated anti-money-laundering systems can trigger identity checks.
How do asset catalogs compare between Coins.ph and SimpleSwap?
SimpleSwap lists over 2,800 cryptocurrencies across multiple chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Monero. Coins.ph maintains a catalog of over 170 digital assets paired with the Philippine Peso and major stablecoins.
Which exchange supports fiat currency deposits?
Coins.ph natively handles Philippine Peso deposits through bank transfers, InstaPay, PESONet, and local cash partners. SimpleSwap does not accept direct fiat bank deposits, routing card purchases through third-party payment providers under its SimpleBuy feature.