Thailand is considering a potential Bitcoin pilot project, proposed by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, to be tested in Phuket as a tourism-focused sandbox.
The proposal has received support from the Binance Thailand CEO, who sees it as a positive step for the country’s competitiveness and ability to attract tech-savvy visitors.
However, despite efforts from industry advocates and some political proponents to turn the Kingdom into a digital hub, crypto payments remain outlawed in Thailand by the central bank.
Thailand Warming to Crypto?
The proposal “reflects not only the momentum of global crypto adoption but also demonstrates that leaders at the highest level are embracing these transformative technologies,” Nirun Fuwattananukul, chief executive of Gulf Binance, told the Bangkok Post before adding:
“As more countries adopt digital assets and cryptocurrencies, Thailand must not be left behind,”
He continued to state that given the country’s reliance on tourism and foreign inflows, “integrating cryptocurrencies into Phuket’s economy could align well with Thailand’s strategic strengths, potentially attracting tech-savvy visitors and investors.”
However, there is currently a division of regulatory oversight in Thailand as payment systems come under the central bank’s jurisdiction, while digital assets are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Thailand also operates under a restricted currency system, unlike countries like the United States and Japan, which have already implemented Bitcoin payments.
Before implementation, several key challenges need to be addressed, and the Bank of Thailand, which has been vehemently anti-crypto in the past, will have ultimate oversight.
The central bank needs to thoroughly study the risks, particularly regarding monetary flow and economic stability, and regulatory frameworks need updating through collaboration between the BoT and SEC, which could take time.
Consumer protection and anti-money laundering measures also need to be established, according to the report.
Foreign Access Restricted
The proposal suggests starting with a controlled sandbox environment in Phuket to monitor and assess implications before considering any nationwide adoption.
However, the wheels of bureaucracy rotate slowly in Thailand. Additionally, many local payment systems and platforms, such as PayPal and Binance Thailand, are not available to foreigners visiting or residing in the kingdom.
Moreover, Thailand’s digital assets market is undergoing a transition from retail to a more institutional focus, Fuwattananukul said in October.
At the time, the Thai securities regulator proposed rules that would allow institutional-grade mutual and private funds to invest in crypto products such as US spot crypto ETFs.
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