Regulators in Thailand have decided to limit the use of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. The authorities consider the country’s current payment system efficient and insist cryptos would only bring risks for the financial system, economy, people and businesses.
Thailand’s SEC issues regulations limiting the use of digital assets for payments
Financial regulators in Thailand are taking action to prevent the use of cryptocurrencies in payments for goods and services, citing various financial and economic threats. On Wednesday, the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced rules aimed at discouraging operators of digital assets from offering and supporting such services.
The move comes after discussions with the Bank of Thailand (BOT) on the benefits and risks of digital assets, during which the two institutions recognized the need to adopt regulations preserving the stability of the nation’s financial system and economy, and preventing risks for its citizens and companies. Price volatility, personal data leaks, and money laundering were listed among these risks.
The Thai SEC will closely monitor industry providers in the future to ensure that they do not offer digital assets as a form of payment. At the same time, the new regulations are not intended to block crypto trading and investing. The regulator explained:
All types of digital asset business operators must not provide services or act in a manner that encourages or promotes the payment of goods and services with digital assets, such as advertising, soliciting or presenting itself to be available to pay for goods or services to merchants.
Companies should not implement systems and tools to facilitate crypto payments or open wallets for this purpose, the commission explained. If a crypto platform finds that its clients are using trading accounts for payments, it must notify clients of the misuse and take other action, if necessary, including temporarily suspending or terminating services.
The newly adopted rules will take effect on April 1, 2022, the SEC said. Companies that have been providing services affected by the introduced restrictions will have 30 days to comply with the regulations, the body noted in its statement.
The SEC and the BOT unveiled their crypto payments regulatory plan in January. The regulatory update comes despite previous attempts to facilitate such payments in Thailand, a popular tourist destination. For example, the tourism industry recently held talks with the central bank to find alternative payment methods, including crypto, for Russian visitors whose country was placed under sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.
