Thailand Launches Crypto Payment Program to Boost Tourism

Highlights:

• Thailand launches crypto payment program to boost tourism and attract digital-savvy travelers.
• Tourists can convert crypto into baht for QR-based payments across local merchants.
• The program includes KYC checks, spending caps, and regulatory oversight within a sandbox model.

Thailand has come up with a bold strategy to aid the tourism industry. The government will introduce TouristDigiPay, a program that will allow foreign travelers to exchange cryptocurrency into Thai baht to make everyday spending on August 18.

According to the statement, tourism in Thailand has slowed considerably, with Chinese visitors reducing sharply in 2025. The initiative will be unveiled at a press conference by the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. Moreover, the launch will involve senior officials of the Finance Ministry, the SEC, the Bank of Thailand, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. Together, they will highlight the relevance of the scheme in modernizing the payment systems of Thailand.

The scheme is based on the recent consultations made by the SEC, which examined digital assets as tools for economic and tourism development. The project was designed following the feedback they had obtained before August 13. Thailand leverages the introduction of TouristDigiPay to target a new tourist segment of crypto-savvy travelers seeking digital methods of payment.

Thailand will launch the “TouristDigiPay” scheme on August 18, allowing foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht for QR code payments. The program runs under a regulatory sandbox, requires strict KYC/AML checks, and sets monthly spending limits of 50,000–500,000…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 17, 2025

How the TouristDigiPay Scheme Works

The scheme is open to foreign visitors who will open accounts with authorized digital asset providers and e-money corporations. Additionally, these two organizations will fall under close scrutiny of the SEC and the Bank of Thailand. Upon approval, tourists can exchange their digital assets for baht, which they can utilize to pay via QR codes, a payment channel that is accepted in large proportions by Thai vendors.

Furthermore, tourists have to undergo strict Know Your Customer and anti-money laundering checks. The system is being run in a regulatory sandbox, maintaining control and allowing regulators to control risk in real time. Notably, the direct usage of cryptocurrency as a mode of payment is still not allowed, and all expenditure is made in baht via authorized sources.

JUST IN: 🇹🇭 Thailand's SEC and central bank to launch national crypto sandbox, enabling foreign tourists to convert digital assets into Thai baht for local spending – Bangkok Post. pic.twitter.com/ptBfuILepS

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The Bank of Thailand has also partnered with e-money providers to come up with a Tourist Wallet. The visitors without cross-border agreements will be able to use QR payment with the help of this tool. In the future, it can also be connected directly with foreign debit cards and credit cards to provide even more convenience.

Spending Limits and Safeguards

The scheme is composed of a number of restrictions in order to minimize financial crime risks. The tourists transacting with card terminals will be limited to 500,000 baht per month. For small-scale merchants, the cap will be 50,000 baht a month. Businesses considered high-risk according to AMLO will not be allowed to make transactions.

Moreover, cash withdrawals will not be available. Tourists can make withdrawals only after closing their accounts. These restrictions were put in place to provide a balance between financial regulations and still allow visitors more opportunities to spend their money.

Thailand is launching a crypto payment program at a time when the tourism industry needs new energy. As international arrivals are down by 6.56% this year, officials see TouristDigiPay as a timely solution. This payment system, in combination with such initiatives as Thai Hub This Summer and The New Thailand 2026 strategy, may become a breakthrough in reviving the momentum.

In addition, Thailand has been making moves to boost its crypto sector. In June, the nation approved a five-year tax break beginning in 2025 to December 2029. The tax measure eliminates the taxation of profits made by cryptocurrencies and investment tokens traded on licensed platforms under regulatory supervision.