The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Philippines has introduced new rules allowing companies and other registered entities to digitally sign and authenticate regulatory documents through a blockchain-powered platform. The initiative is aimed at modernizing the filing process, strengthening document security, and improving the efficiency of interactions with the regulator through trusted digital verification.

VERITAS to Integrate With Existing SEC Online Filing Platforms

Under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 23, Series of 2026, the regulator has established the Verification of Electronic Records and Information Trust and Authentication System (VERITAS). The platform will be integrated with the SEC’s Electronic SEC Universal Registration Environment (eSECURE) and the Electronic Submission Authentication Portal (eSAP), forming a more secure digital ecosystem for corporate filings.

The SEC said VERITAS will bring blockchain technology into its eSECURE and eSAP platforms, supporting digital governance, regulatory innovation, fraud prevention, and investor protection. According to the circular, the initiative is aligned with internationally recognized digital governance practices and is intended to improve the integrity of electronic submissions while reducing the risk of document fraud.

The system will allow credentialed eSECURE users, including incorporators, directors, corporate officers, and other authorized representatives, to digitally execute documents required by the SEC. Eligible filings include articles of incorporation, corporate bylaws, certificates of authentication, and other documents the regulator may later designate for digital authentication.

The SEC said documents digitally signed and authenticated through VERITAS will be recognized as properly executed and authentic for transactions involving the commission. It added that, under the Electronic Commerce Act, electronically authenticated documents will have the same legal validity and enforceability as traditionally signed and notarized documents, except where existing laws specifically require notarization or another prescribed form of authentication.

While digitally authenticated documents will serve as the official records for SEC transactions, the regulator noted that existing regulations may still require physical copies in some cases. The move therefore continues the transition toward fully digital documentation alongside current compliance requirements where applicable, giving registrants a clearer path toward electronic filing without removing legal exceptions already built into the framework.

VERITAS records each document-signing event on a blockchain ledger and requires users to complete the eSECURE credentialing process before obtaining digital signing certificates generated exclusively within the platform. By keeping blockchain-based records of authentication activities, the system is designed to provide a transparent and tamper-resistant audit trail for regulatory filings.

The SEC said use of VERITAS will initially remain optional. Organizations that prefer the existing authentication process may continue using the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI)-based verification system through eSAP. The regulator added, however, that it may require VERITAS for specific filings or categories of registered entities in the future through a separate issuance after public consultation.

The circular also highlighted user responsibilities in safeguarding digital signing certificates and private cryptographic keys. The SEC warned that access to eSECURE could be suspended for individuals found to have misused digital credentials, manipulated blockchain records, or submitted falsified documents, underscoring the commission’s focus on preserving the integrity of its digital filing environment.

The SEC also said VERITAS will initially be provided at no cost, while reserving the authority to introduce reasonable service fees in the future to support network infrastructure and application maintenance if needed.

The launch of VERITAS marks another step in the SEC’s broader digital transformation strategy, combining blockchain technology with existing electronic filing systems to improve regulatory efficiency, strengthen document authenticity, and enhance trust in digital corporate transactions.