In collaboration with the upcoming 2025 run of the Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW), actor and restaurateur Marvin Agustin has introduced “FishBlock,” a blockchain-themed fishball dish bundled with non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
FishBlocks: Food with a side of NFT
Unveiled at the PBW 2025 press launch, FishBlock is a blockchain-inspired take on iconic Filipino street food fish balls.
- Unlike traditional fish balls, Agustin noted that FishBlocks are cube-shaped to reflect blockchain technology, which was recommended to him during conceptualization stage. (The context of this later in the article.)
“Fishballs ang comfort food ko growing up, pero naisip ko paano kung gawan natin ng high-tech version? Meet FishBlock, powered by blockchain.”
Marvin Agustin, Restaurateur
[Translation:”Fishballs were my comfort food growing up, but I wondered—what if we created a high-tech version? Meet FishBlock, powered by blockchain.]
Fishblock Details
- Each order comes with an NFT, created by Filipino artists and minted on Bayanichain.
- The dish is available at Agustin’s restaurants Cochi, located in Taguig, and Kondwi, situated in Makati, for 1,000 KIKI cryptocurrency (around ₱356.9 at the time of writing), payable via GCash and Maya, according to an online report.
- [Editor’s Note: The $KIKI token is not available on either GCash or Maya at the time this article is edited.]
- KIKI is a Solana-based memecoin and is the title sponsor of Philippine Blockchain Week 2025.
Origin of FishBlocks as per Agustin
During the launch, Agustin stated that he aims to make blockchain more relatable by merging Filipino street food with digital innovation.
“I find this collaboration, this assignment, very exciting. So when Janelle [Baretto] approached me to elevate our favorite fish balls, parang ‘ano pa bang dapat baguhin sa fish balls? Sobra na natin itong favorite; we enjoy this not just here in Manila but in the entire Philippines.’ So yun fish balls, sabi niya gawin mong high-tech, gawin mong block. I guess when you bring in passionate and intelligent minds, everything is possible.”
Marvin Agustin, Restaurateur
Agustin shared that his team brainstormed ideas and found that changing the shape from a ball to a block was a simple adjustment. However, their main goal was to elevate the concept into something special without making it feel “gimmicky”. He emphasized that while the innovation is unique, the priority remains the taste, ensuring that people will find it delicious.
He highlighted that the FishBlock flavors represent distinct regional tastes from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
- Luzon: Inspired by Pampanga’s sisig, featuring battered and fried clam oysters topped with calamansi caviar.
- Visayas: Based on humba from Cebu, made with mushrooms and topped with pineapple caviar.
- Mindanao: Inspired by chicken pastil, traditionally wrapped in banana leaves with rice, but elevated using duck and topped with coconut caviar.
“So I guess you guys would enjoy our creation, the way we are actually very excited creating this innovation in a collaboration with Philippine Blockchain Week,” he concluded.
Blockchain for Business
In an introductory video about FishBlock, Agustin and PBTI Co-Founder and Managing Partner Janelle Barreto shared how blockchain technology can benefit businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to large corporations.
“Blockchain can really be intimidating to some people. I know it was for me, pero it does not have to be naman. That’s why this year’s Philippine Blockchain Week is all about “decoded”. It’s where we break down the tech para every Filipino can understand and benefit from it.”
Janelle Barreto, Philippine Blockchain Week
In the video, Agustin admitted that he didn’t fully understand blockchain at first, but when he saw its potential to support small businesses, he became excited.
”When you’re part of a big enterprise, a professional or even a small fish ball vendor, blockchain can make your business more secure and efficient. There’s no jargon, just real-world benefits, decoded for everyone.”
Janelle Barreto, Philippine Blockchain Week
What are NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which are identical and interchangeable, each NFT is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replicated.
NFTs, however, are on a downward trend. As per token terminal, even just data from December suggests a 95% decrease in volume. Meanwhile, companies like LG and crypto platforms like Bybit are shutting down their NFT marketplaces citing few demand.
PBW 2025
The “Philippine Blockchain Week 2025: Decoded” is a blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity conference in the Philippines, set to take place from June 10–14 at SMX Convention Center Manila.
Themed “DECODED,” the event aims to demystify blockchain and highlight its real-world applications across fintech, healthcare, gaming, music, arts and entertainment.
Side Events and Highlights:
- Conferences – Global experts discuss the future of blockchain, AI and cybersecurity.
- Innovation Expo – Showcasing cutting-edge tech solutions and interactive demos.
- Networking & Side Events – Connect with industry leaders through parties and meetups.
- MetaStar Idol Quest – A global K-pop and P-pop talent competition.
- Nexus Academia by Tier One – A hub for students to collaborate on Web3 projects.
- Meme Fiesta – A fun conference exploring crypto and meme coin trends.
- Government Collaborations – Discussions on blockchain adoption in policymaking.
- Philippine Block Awards – Recognizing excellence in blockchain innovation.
- Founders Arena – A startup pitch event connecting entrepreneurs with VCs.
This article is published on BitPinas: Celebrity Marvin Agustin Turns Fishballs into NFTs
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