Thailand is moving its focus to a more mature institutional-focused crypto sector, according to Binance Thailand’s CEO.
Thailand’s digital asset market is shifting focus from retail investors to institutional ones, with the country setting its sights on becoming Southeast Asia’s leading fintech hub, according to Binance Thailand’s CEO.
In an October 25 opinion piece for the Bangkok Post, Nirun Fuwattananukul, CEO of Binance Thailand, described a recent regulatory step by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as essential for advancing the country’s crypto landscape.
On October 9, the SEC proposed regulations to enable institutional-grade mutual and private funds to invest in crypto assets like U.S.-based spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
“By allowing more institutional funds to participate, the SEC is enabling a diverse range of investment strategies and helping digital assets gain broader acceptance in the mainstream,” said Fuwattananukul.
He emphasized that this initiative is “not just about legitimizing Bitcoin” but about fostering a “more mature ecosystem” where traditional finance and crypto assets can coexist.
This change, he suggested, could open doors for Thai financial institutions to diversify their portfolios with crypto exposure, “positioning Thailand as a regional digital asset hub.”
As stated by the Thai SEC, the new fund allocations will be limited to high-net-worth investors, with retail investor access restricted.
Moreover, Thailand’s central bank still bans crypto payments.
Fuwattananukul also noted that beyond this proposal, the SEC is “considering new regulations for other crypto activities,” without providing additional details.
The trend of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is also on the rise in Thailand, he added, with traditional banks starting to explore converting assets like bonds, real estate, and stocks into blockchain-traded digital assets.
According to research by Tren Finance, RWA tokenization could see fifty-fold growth by 2030.
Concluding, Fuwattananukul said the “SEC’s regulatory updates ensure that Thailand can continue its progression as a digital asset hub, providing a secure and dynamic ecosystem for all participants.”
Despite this institutional shift, retail crypto trading remains popular in Thailand. Bitkub, Thailand’s largest crypto exchange and competitor to Binance Thailand, reports about $33.5 million in daily trading volume, per CoinGecko data.
