Thailand's SEC Approves Domestic Bitcoin and Ether ETFs for Local Stock Exchange
Thailand's new crypto ETF rules take effect Oct. 16
Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission issued new rules on Oct. 9 that allow domestic asset managers to create and list exchange-traded funds tracking bitcoin or ether on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The rules take effect Oct. 16.
An ETF is a type of investment fund that trades on a stock exchange like a regular stock. Instead of buying the underlying assets directly, investors buy shares of a fund that holds those assets. This means Thai investors would be able to buy bitcoin or ether exposure through their existing brokerage accounts without going through a crypto exchange.
The rules also let Thai mutual funds and private funds invest in these new crypto ETFs, subject to existing investment limits.
Key details from the announcement
- The crypto ETFs must trade on the Stock Exchange of Thailand and track a single cryptocurrency, with at least 80% of the fund's net asset value invested in that asset.
- Bitcoin and ether are the only cryptocurrencies eligible in the initial phase.
- Investors must acknowledge and confirm they understand the risks before purchasing the ETFs.
- Brokers cannot lend clients money to buy crypto.
- All crypto holdings must be kept with custodians that are regulated by Thailand's SEC.
- Thai asset managers may outsource crypto investment management to licensed digital-asset fund managers, and regulated custodians can register as fund supervisors.
- Products that give non-institutional clients indirect access to foreign crypto ETFs, such as depositary receipts, are not allowed in the initial phase.
What changed for Thai investors
Before this update, Thailand had allowed only institutional investors and wealthy individuals to invest in foreign crypto ETFs. The new rules open a domestic, regulated option for a broader set of investors through the local stock exchange.
The SEC followed up on a 2025 plan to expand its ETF offering beyond bitcoin, which had been the sole eligible crypto asset under earlier guidance.
Thailand's crypto market context
Thailand reportedly leads all countries in crypto adoption by population share, with approximately 20% of its population owning or using cryptocurrency. That figure is higher than the United States at 13% and above Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa, which each sit at about 19.4%, according to data cited from World.org.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.