Key Takeaways
- Thailand SEC allows institutional and ultra-high-net-worth investors to access US Bitcoin ETFs.
- Only accredited investors can invest in private Bitcoin ETF funds in Thailand.
- Retail investors remain excluded from investing in spot Bitcoin ETFs.
The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has amended its regulations to allow institutional investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals access to US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs.
This change enables private funds in Thailand to invest in these ETFs.
Access restricted to accredited investors
The new rules permit only accredited investors to invest in private Bitcoin ETF funds. SEC secretary-general Pornanong Budsaratragoon emphasized the high-risk nature of Bitcoin ETPs, stating:
Asset management firms asked the SEC for exposure in digital assets, especially Bitcoin and spot Bitcoin ETFs, but we need to consider carefully whether to allow asset management firms to invest in digital assets directly due to the high risk.
Retail investors excluded
Retail investors in Thailand remain excluded from investing in spot Bitcoin ETFs.
While retail crypto trading is popular, its usage is restricted, with digital assets for payments outlawed since March 2022 and cryptocurrencies for lending and investment banned since July 2023.
