Bitcoin in Thailand: rules, tax and how it's priced
Thai exchanges quote bitcoin as the price of 1 BTC in baht (฿), and most buyers purchase a fraction of a coin. The figures on this page are the international BTC/USD price converted at today's USD/THB exchange rate. They are before exchange fees, spreads and any local premium, so a Thai exchange's baht price may differ slightly.
Is bitcoin legal in Thailand?
Yes, you can legally own and trade bitcoin in Thailand, but it is not legal tender and you cannot use it for everyday payments. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) licenses digital asset exchanges, brokers and dealers. Since 1 April 2022, SEC rules have stopped licensed operators from helping customers use digital assets to pay for goods and services. The SEC also blocks unlicensed foreign platforms. From 28 June 2025, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society cut off local access to Bybit, OKX, CoinEx, XT and 1000X for serving Thai users without a licence.
How is crypto taxed in Thailand?
Ministerial Regulation No. 399 was published on 5 September 2025. It exempts individuals from personal income tax on capital gains from selling cryptocurrency or digital tokens from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029, as long as the sale goes through a Thai SEC-licensed exchange, broker or dealer. Gains made on foreign or unlicensed platforms are not covered, and nor is income from mining, staking or airdrops. These are taxed at normal progressive rates of up to 35%. Under Royal Decree No. 788, transfers of cryptocurrency through licensed exchanges, brokers and dealers have also been exempt from VAT since 1 January 2024. Companies do not get the income tax exemption.
Buying bitcoin in baht
Thai residents buy bitcoin through SEC-licensed digital asset exchanges and brokers, funding accounts by baht bank transfer after identity checks. The SEC publishes a list of licensed operators. Trading on a licensed platform also matters for tax: only sales through licensed operators qualify for the 2025–2029 income tax exemption and the VAT exemption. New rules from the SEC took effect on 16 October 2026, allowing bitcoin and ether ETFs to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Each fund must hold its crypto with an SEC-supervised custodian. Fund approvals and listings are still needed before any of these ETFs can trade.
TouristDigiPay: crypto to baht for visitors
Thailand bans crypto payments but has opened a narrow route for tourists. In August 2025 it began testing TouristDigiPay, an 18-month sandbox run with the SEC, the Ministry of Finance and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. It lets verified foreign visitors convert crypto into baht through SEC-supervised digital asset operators, then spend the baht through e-money systems regulated by the Bank of Thailand. Merchants never receive crypto directly. Spending is capped, with an overall limit of ฿500,000 a month.
Legal and tax information last reviewed October 2026. Crypto rules change quickly — check with the regulator or tax authority, or a qualified adviser, before acting. This is not tax, legal or investment advice.