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Thailand is taking a major step toward integrating digital assets into its traditional financial system, with regulators preparing to allow cryptocurrencies to underpin regulated derivatives products.
The country’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it will expand the list of permissible underlying assets under existing derivatives laws to include digital assets and carbon credits. The move follows Cabinet approval of reforms aimed at aligning Thailand’s derivatives framework with international standards while preserving strict supervision and investor safeguards.
Under the updated approach, digital assets — including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin — would be formally recognized as legitimate underlying investment assets. This could open the door for regulated futures, options, and other derivatives contracts tied to crypto to be listed on platforms like the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX).
SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon said the expansion is designed to modernize the market and support new asset categories. According to the regulator, the changes are expected to enhance diversification opportunities, improve risk management tools, and broaden market access for a wider range of investors.
To implement the plan, the SEC will draft supporting regulations, including amendments to derivatives business licenses. These changes would allow licensed digital asset operators to offer contracts referencing cryptocurrencies. The regulator also intends to reassess licensing and supervisory frameworks for derivatives exchanges and clearing houses to ensure they can properly accommodate crypto-linked products.
In coordination with TFEX, authorities will finalize contract specifications for digital asset-based derivatives, focusing on practical risk management and real-world trading applications.
The initiative forms part of Thailand’s broader strategy to position itself as a regional digital economy hub. Earlier this year, the SEC signaled its intention to roll out comprehensive rules covering digital asset products and activities, including crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), underscoring the country’s accelerating push into regulated crypto finance.