Thailand Introduces Crypto-to-Baht Pilot for Tourists

Thailand’s government will introduce the “TouristDigiPay” pilot in late 2025, enabling tourists to convert cryptocurrencies into Thai baht for spending, aiming to revitalize the declining tourism sector.

The program, focusing on regulated conversions, could influence global crypto tourism trends, though immediate market impacts remain minimal in the tourism recovery effort.

Lede: Thailand has announced an 18-month pilot program, TouristDigiPay, allowing tourists to convert cryptocurrencies into Thai baht for local spending. The initiative aims to revive the nation’s tourism sector and begins in late 2025.

Nut Graph: The project involves the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. The exchanges play a key role in converting crypto into baht.

Capped Conversions and Impact

Tourism efforts focus on increasing visitor spending through official exchange channels. Politically, the program aligns with Thailand’s efforts to remain competitive in global tourism. Financially, regulations include a 550,000 baht cap to control potential risks like money laundering.

“Conversions will initially be capped at 550,000 baht per visitor during the pilot phase… the cap is intended to curb potential risks such as money laundering, though the limit may be reassessed once the trial period ends.” – Lavaron Sangsnit, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Industry stakeholders anticipate potential increases in tourist traffic. Key regulatory measures ensure compliance and mitigate financial risks.

Technological Outcomes

Future financial and technological outcomes could reshape how cryptocurrencies integrate into tourism. On-chain data will be essential in assessing lead results, with historical precedents suggesting limited scale at initial phases.

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