Thailand is moving forward with the inclusion of cryptocurrency in the regulated derivatives market

February 12 – Thailand is advancing plans to integrate cryptocurrencies into its regulated derivatives market. The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently announced it will expand the scope of permitted underlying assets under its derivatives regulatory framework to include digital assets and carbon credits. This move follows the Thai Cabinet’s recent approval of a proposal to align the country’s derivatives market with international standards, while upholding robust regulatory oversight, risk mitigation, and investor protection measures. The SEC’s update formally recognizes digital assets (including cryptocurrencies) as a legitimate investment asset class eligible to serve as underlying assets for regulated derivatives. This means futures, options, and other contract products tied to assets like Bitcoin could launch on platforms such as the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) in the future. The regulator intends to establish complementary regulatory details: amending derivative business licenses to let licensed digital asset operators offer digital asset-tied contract products; reviewing licenses and frameworks for derivatives exchanges/clearinghouses to accommodate crypto demand; and collaborating with TFEX to finalize contract specifications that support risk management and real-world market applications.