US EditionThailand to Launch Crypto-to-Baht Conversion for Foreign Tourists
The 18-month pilot aims to revive tourism by letting foreign visitors convert crypto into baht with monthly spending capped at 500,000 baht to prevent financial crime.
- On August 18, 2025, Thailand introduced the TouristDigiPay program, which enables foreign travelers to exchange their cryptocurrencies for Thai baht to make payments within the country.
- The initiative comes after Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission completed a feedback period on leveraging digital assets to boost economic growth in response to declining tourism.
- Foreign tourists can open accounts with digital asset firms authorized by the SEC or with e-money providers licensed by the central bank to exchange cryptocurrency into baht, provided they hold temporary visitor status and comply with anti-money laundering verification procedures.
- The 18-month pilot caps monthly spending at 500,000 baht for larger merchants and 50,000 baht for smaller ones, and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said it aims to support tourism and boost spending.
- This program represents Thailand's effort to revive its struggling tourism sector after a drop in Chinese visitors by integrating crypto payments within a regulatory sandbox framework.
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Bitcoin to baht: digital assets sandbox in offing for foreign tourists
The government’s latest initiative allowing foreign tourists to convert digital assets into baht for spending during their time in the country is expected to boost foreign tourist spending by an additional 10%, says Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.
·Bangkok, Thailand
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 17%
C 50%
R 33%
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