SEC secretary-general Pornanong Budsaratragoon says the changes will recognize crypto as an asset class, promote market inclusiveness, enhance portfolio diversification, and improve investor risk management.

Retail crypto trading remains popular, but payments and consumer stablecoins are restricted by the central bank.

Crypto payments remain prohibited for retail use and consumer stablecoins face restrictions, with the central bank outlawing crypto payments.

Experts say properly structured crypto derivatives could boost hedging, liquidity, and institutional participation, while underscoring investor protection within the rule of law.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission plans to expand its derivatives regulations to digital assets, bringing crypto-based derivatives under a defined regulatory framework.

Industry officials, including Binance Thailand’s Nirun Fuwattananukul, describe the move as a watershed moment that positions Thailand as a forward-looking regional hub for institutional crypto trading.

Regulators emphasize regulated inclusion and investor protection rather than creating parallel market structures.

Observers view the reform as overdue but stress stronger disclosure and higher capital requirements to curb systemic risk.

Guidelines for cryptocurrency ETFs are expected in early 2026 as part of a push to provide easier access without wallet management complexity.

Regulators will impose stricter licensing and supervision on crypto firms and brokers to prevent market instability, signaling a shift toward a regulated asset class and potential Bitcoin ETFs by 2026.

Regulators emphasize risk management, clear pricing, disclosure, settlement, and margin standards to protect investors as tokenization and ETFs expand.

Details on qualifying instruments, trading operations, leverage, contract types, and rollout timelines have not yet been disclosed.