Filipino-Built AI Payment Solution 'Sniffy' Wins Morph's Hackathon, Boosting Digital Innovation

Sniffy, an AI-powered solution developed by Filipino innovators, has been crowned the grand champion of the Morph Build In! Payments Hackathon in Taguig, recognizing its potential to automate App Store Optimization (ASO) data access for founders and product teams. This victory highlights the Philippines' growing talent in Web3 and AI, contributing to the nation's accelerating digital payments landscape.

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The Build In! Payments Hackathon, a multi-week event hosted by Morph in Taguig City, culminated in the recognition of Sniffy, an innovative AI-powered payment solution, as its grand champion. Developed by Filipino talent, Sniffy is designed to empower founders and product teams by enabling AI agents to autonomously pay for and access critical App Store Optimization (ASO) data. This capability eliminates the need for manual dashboard monitoring, streamlining product research and enhancing app discoverability on major platforms like the App Store and Google Play Store.

The hackathon itself fostered a shared vision to inspire innovation and strengthen the Web3 developer community. It was organized by Morph in collaboration with Bitget’s Blockchain4Youth initiative and DvCode Technologies, Inc., featuring diverse payment tracks including Cross-Border Remittance, SME Payments, Payroll/B2B, FX Treasury, and x402 Agentic Payments. This focus underscores a broader industry push towards integrating AI and blockchain into everyday financial transactions.

Sniffy's success reflects the vibrant and growing Web3 developer community in the Philippines. Other notable projects recognized during the event included Mandate402 for agentic payments, Centrus Sovereign for cross-border remittance, and Ember for SME payments, collectively showcasing the nation's technical expertise and collaborative spirit. Such initiatives are crucial for nurturing local talent and providing platforms for emerging technologies to gain recognition.

The advancements demonstrated by Sniffy and other hackathon winners align with the Philippines' national drive towards digital transformation in finance. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported in its 2024 Status of Digital Payments report that digital transactions now comprise 57.4 percent of the total monthly retail payment volume and 59.0 percent in value. This continued shift towards digital channels highlights the growing trust and adoption of digital financial services among Filipinos, making innovations like Sniffy particularly timely and impactful.

For Filipino founders, product teams, and businesses in the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand, Sniffy represents a new frontier in operational efficiency and market intelligence. By automating ASO research through AI, companies can gain a competitive edge in app discoverability without extensive manual effort. The broader hackathon, by promoting solutions in areas like SME payments and cross-border remittances, also signals potential for improved financial services that could benefit Filipino entrepreneurs and consumers across different markets, facilitating easier transactions and business operations.

The commitment from organizers like Morph and Bitget's Blockchain4Youth to support aspiring builders through learning opportunities and hands-on development further cements the Philippines' position as a hub for digital innovation. These programs provide invaluable mentorship and collaboration, encouraging experimentation and creative problem-solving that are essential for developing future-ready financial solutions that cater to the diverse needs of Filipinos globally.