Thailand opens door to locally listed bitcoin and ether ETFs
Thailand's SEC is allowing locally listed bitcoin and ether ETFs to trade on the Stock Exchange of Thailand starting October 16. The move aims to provide domestic investors with regulated access to crypto assets while implementing strict custody and disclosure requirements.
Why it matters
This represents a significant regulatory shift in Southeast Asia, integrating cryptocurrency into the traditional financial framework to protect retail investors.
The rules take effect Oct. 16. Crypto ETFs must trade on the Stock Exchange of Thailand and track a single cryptocurrency, with at least 80% of a fund’s net asset value exposed to that asset. Bitcoin and ether will be the only initial eligible cryptocurrencies, the regulator said.
Investors will have to confirm they understand the risks before buying the ETFs. Brokers cannot lend clients money to buy crypto, and the funds’ crypto holdings must be held with custodians regulated by Thailand’s SEC.
The change gives Thai investors a domestic ETF option rather than relying on foreign products or direct crypto trading. Until now, Thailand has allowed only institutional and wealthy investors to invest in foreign crypto ETFs, while the regulator said last year it wanted to broaden the market beyond bitcoin.
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