Most cryptocurrency transactions still happen behind complex wallet apps, seed phrases, and exchange interfaces. And while it is true that traditional fintech apps are slowly integrating crypto, the user experience in majority of native crypto wallet are still designed in such a way that keeps decentralized digital money firmly inside speculative trading circles.
Tacloban-headquartered fintech startup Paytaca wants to change that by turning Bitcoin Cash into an everyday retail payment tool. During the Cash 3.0 Conference held in Cebu City from July 31 to August 2, the company showcased a range of practical applications designed to make peer-to-peer crypto transactions as fast and intuitive as traditional electronic cash.
Bringing Self-Custody to Tap-to-Pay
The primary highlight of the showcase was the Paytaca NFC Card, a physical card that allows users to tap and pay at retail outlets while retaining full control over their private keys.
Standard contactless payment systems rely on centralized clearinghouses and banks to approve transactions. In contrast, Paytaca’s system pairs Near Field Communication (NFC) hardware with Bitcoin Cash smart contracts. This setup allows consumers to execute self-custodial transfers in seconds without exposing seed phrases or requiring smartphone navigation at the checkout counter.
Alongside the NFC hardware, developers demonstrated a ecosystem of utility-driven services built on top of the network:
- Point-of-sale systems and automated cash machines built for brick-and-mortar merchants.
- Wagey: A automated decentralized payroll platform designed for businesses.
- WorkHippo: A peer-to-peer freelancing marketplace utilizing smart contract escrows.
- Paytaca AI: A pay-per-use artificial intelligence framework powered by micro-payments.
- PurelyPeer: A gamified peer-to-peer advertising and rewards protocol.
“Technology creates lasting value when ordinary people can actually use it,” said Paytaca President and CEO Joemar Taganna. “Our objective with Cash 3.0 was to bring together people who are building practical solutions and then put those solutions in front of real users.”
From Protocol to Market: A Live Consumer Testbed
Rather than confining the technology to a presentation they could have done during the event, the organizers paired the three-day conference with a live public bazaar at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
- Attendees, merchants, and local shoppers used Bitcoin Cash to buy food, goods, and services directly from regional vendors using Paytaca’s payment stack.
- The event also featured the Cash 3.0 Hackathon, where student developers built smart contract applications using CashScript, a high-level domain-specific language for Bitcoin Cash.
The University of Cebu–Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue secured the overall championship. Other notable achievements included ACLC College of Ormoc winning Best CashTokens Project for ProofPass, University of San Jose–Recoletos taking Best Use of CashScript for eSahod, STI College Ormoc winning Best UI/UX for Pasada, ACLC College of Tacloban earning Best Merchant Solution for SmartClipCash, and University of Cebu Main Campus receiving Most Promising Startup Idea for Hermes.
Regional Innovation Outside Metro Manila
Founded in Tacloban City in 2018, Paytaca operates outside the country’s primary financial hub of Metro Manila. By leveraging Cebu’s established business and academic community, the team aims to establish the Visayas region as an active hub for decentralized software engineering. (Read More: Tacloban-Based Paytaca to Host Blockchain Smart Contract Workshops in 7 Philippine Universities)
“We wanted people to experience Bitcoin Cash not simply as something they hear or read about, but as technology they can actually build with, accept in their businesses and use in everyday transactions,” said Aaron James Almadro, Chief Marketing Officer of Paytaca.
This article is published on BitPinas: Cash 2.0 Conference Turns Cebu Shopping Mall into a Bitcoin Cash-Powered Bazaar
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