The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand is preparing novel regulations to support cryptocurrency funds (ETFs), cryptocurrency futures trading and tokenized investment products.
SEC deputy secretary general Jomkwan Kongsakul said the regulator plans to issue formal guidance supporting the creation of cryptocurrency ETFs in Thailand “early this year,” according to the Bangkok Post reported on Thursday.
“The key advantage of cryptocurrency ETFs is ease of access; they eliminate concerns about hacking and wallet security, which have been a major barrier for many investors,” Kongsakul said.
The SEC will also regulate and enable cryptocurrency trading on the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX), while other key initiatives include establishing market makers for liquidity and recognizing digital assets as an official asset class under the Derivatives Law.
Thailand is keen to become a regional cryptocurrency hub for institutional investors as retail trading remains popular even after a ban on cryptocurrency payments, with the country’s largest exchange, Bitkub, reporting daily turnover of around $60 million.
Stricter rules for financial influencers
Kongsakul said the SEC board has approved cryptocurrency ETFs in principle and is in the process of finalizing investment and operating rules.
The SEC said that cryptocurrencies will be treated as a “different asset class” and investors will be able to allocate up to 5% of their diversified portfolio to digital assets.
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The SEC is also tightening its oversight of so-called “financial influencers,” with Kongsakul saying that “any recommendations regarding securities or investment returns will require appropriate authorization as an investment advisor or introducing broker.”
The agency is also working with the Bank of Thailand on a tokenization sandbox, and the SEC “will encourage bond token issuers to enter the regulatory sandbox,” Kongsakul added.
KuCoin Thailand seeks to resolve SEC suspension
Meanwhile, the Thai SEC suspended KuCoin’s operations in Thailand in early January after its capital fell below minimum requirements for five consecutive days, local news site The Nation reported on Wednesday.
The company linked this issue to a shareholder dispute between Singapore’s CI Group and KuCoin Global, which prevented the approval of the planned capital raise, rather than actual cash flow problems.
KuCoin, which entered the Thai market in June 2025, also plans to have its local entity apply for a digital asset broker license, which it believes will enable it to offer a wider range of financial products.
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