Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a new phase for the country’s digital-asset market, with crypto ETFs expected to arrive in early 2026. SEC deputy secretary-general Jomkwan Kongsakul said the regulator is finalizing operating and investment rules before the products are formally introduced.
The ETF plan is designed to give investors exposure to digital assets without the direct custody risks tied to wallets, hacking, and private-key management. By channeling access through regulated investment products, the SEC is trying to make market entry easier while keeping investor protection at the center of the rollout.
TFEX Set to Add a Regulated Crypto Futures Framework
Thailand is also moving to bring crypto futures trading onto the Thailand Futures Exchange, or TFEX. The SEC is preparing rules that would allow digital-asset derivatives to trade inside a supervised structure rather than in a regulatory gray zone.
The plan includes the introduction of market makers to improve liquidity. The regulator also wants digital assets to be formally recognized as an asset class under the Derivatives Act. That change would give the market a clearer legal foundation as trading activity expands.
Retail demand remains active in Thailand, especially on Bitkub, the country’s largest exchange. The report said the platform handles about $60 million in daily volume. The SEC has also issued portfolio guidance allowing investors to allocate up to 5% of a diversified portfolio to digital assets, setting a cap intended to balance opportunity with risk control.
Rules Tighten for Financial Influencers
The regulator is not only focusing on products and exchanges. It is also tightening oversight of financial influencers. Under the new approach, any recommendation tied to securities or investments will require proper authorization, a step meant to limit unapproved promotions and raise the reliability of public-facing investment commentary.
KuCoin Thailand Suspended Over Capital Requirements
At the enforcement level, the SEC has suspended KuCoin Thailand after the company failed to meet capital requirements for five consecutive days. The report linked the issue to a shareholder dispute between Singapore’s CI Group and KuCoin Global, which delayed a planned capital increase.
Even with the suspension in place, KuCoin is still seeking a digital-asset broker license as it looks to broaden its financial services in Thailand. Taken together, the ETF push, futures planning, influencer restrictions, and exchange enforcement show a regulator trying to expand the market while tightening control over how it operates.