Thailand Expands Derivatives Market to Include Cryptocurrency Assets

• Thailand approved crypto as an underlying asset for regulated derivatives.
• The SEC will revise licenses and rules to allow digital asset firms to offer crypto-linked contracts.
• Carbon credits are classified as goods, enabling physically delivered futures trading.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will allow digital assets to serve as underlying instruments for derivatives products after the Cabinet approved changes to the Derivatives Act B.E. 2546 (2003) on February 10.

The reform expands the types of assets allowed in Thailand’s derivatives market. Crypto now sits alongside traditional instruments inside the country’s formal capital markets framework.

The regulator will draft follow-up rules and adjust licenses to support crypto-linked derivatives trading. The goal is to expand the derivatives market on global standards and increase investor protection while giving institutions new ways to manage risk.

Crypto Recognized as an Asset Class

The new framework allows digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and digital tokens, to act as underlying products for regulated derivatives contracts. This would strengthen crypto’s status as an investment asset class in Thailand.

The SEC said the change supports market growth, portfolio diversification, and better risk management. It also opens investment access to a broader group of investors, including institutional players.

Thailand is already pushing deeper crypto integration. Earlier in 2026, the SEC introduced a three-year capital markets plan covering tokenization projects and crypto exchange-traded funds. The Stock Exchange of Thailand also plans to launch Bitcoin futures and exchange-traded products in 2026.

Officials say the policy change recognizes that digital assets now play a larger role in global capital markets. Market participants see this as an attempt to bring crypto activity under clearer legal rules while maintaining capital standards and disclosure requirements.

Thailand is also targeting institutional investors. Authorities want the country to position itself as a regional hub for institutional crypto trading in Southeast Asia.

Regulatory Changes and Market Structure

The SEC will amend its derivatives business licenses to allow digital asset operators to offer contracts linked to crypto. Exchanges and clearing houses will face updated supervisory rules to handle the risks tied to digital assets.

The regulator will also work with the Thailand Futures Exchange Public Company Limited (TFEX) to design contract specifications for crypto-linked products. These details will cover risk features and practical market use.

Alongside crypto, the reform also covers carbon credits. The government classified carbon credits as goods rather than variables. This allows physically delivered futures contracts, not just cash-settled products, to trade on derivatives exchanges.

Related: Your Next Trip to Thailand Can Now Be Paid Entirely in Crypto