On August 18, 2025, Thailand launched “TouristDigiPay,” enabling foreign tourists to convert digital assets into Thai Baht for spending. This initiative promotes tourism and integrates digital asset regulations with e-money systems.
Bangkok, 18 August 2025 – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, today has launched “TouristDigiPay,” a sandbox project that enables the conversion of digital assets (DA) into Thai Baht for spending via e-money. This initiative allows foreign tourists to use DA as a source of funds for their spending in Thailand, while promoting the use of innovation and DA to support the economy and tourism industry.
Key Points
- TouristDigiPay: Enables foreign tourists to convert digital assets (DA) into Thai Baht.
- 📲 Usage: Tourists pay for goods/services via e-money after converting DA.
- 🧾 Process:
- Tourist completes KYC and opens a wallet.
- Transfers DA, sells it, receives Thai Baht.
- Pays by scanning via smartphone.
- 💳 Spending Limits:
- Up to ฿50,000/month for small merchants.
- Up to ฿500,000/month for KYM-verified merchants.
- 🔁 Conversion Back: Thai Baht can be reconverted to DA, within original limits.
- 🏁 Launch: Expected Q4 2025.
- 🏛️ Partners: SEC, Ministry of Finance, AMLO, Ministry of Tourism.
The TouristDigiPay sandbox opens for DA business operators regulated by the SEC to collaborate with e-money service providers regulated by the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to offer services for foreign tourists holding DA to convert them to Thai baht for spending in Thailand via electronic payment systems (e-money) efficiently. This initiative runs for 18 months and aims to provide an additional option for foreign tourists to convert DA to Thai baht. It is expected to help attract foreign capital inflows and strengthen Thailand’s economic system.
Under the TouristDigiPay sandbox, foreign tourists can make payments by scanning (e.g., via smartphone applications) at various merchants across Thailand, including both large-sized retailers and small vendors. Importantly, DA are not allowed to be used directly as a means of payment for goods and services, and merchants will receive payments in Thai baht.
Mrs. Pornanong Budsaratragoon, SEC Secretary-General, said: “The TouristDigiPay project builds upon the existing ecosystem that integrates the DA trading system regulated by the SEC with the e-money system regulated by the Bank of Thailand (BOT). The project includes appropriate risk management measures and follows Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) procedures in accordance with the standards set by the AMLO and other relevant authorities. These procedures apply to both DA business operators and e-money service providers.”
The SEC is revising relevant regulations and has opened a pre-consultation phase for businesses to engage in discussions and make necessary preparations, starting from early August 2025. The TouristDigiPay sandbox is expected for launch in the fourth quarter of 2025. Once the project concludes, there will be an evaluation of its effectiveness, which will inform further development and expansion of the initiative.
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