Thailand is considering allowing tourists to use crypto to pay for goods and services by linking their digital assets to a credit card. It is also thinking about amending laws to allow the seamless transfer of funds between the stock market and the digital asset space.

Speaking at the recent Dailynews Talk 2025 event, finance minister Pichai Chunhavajira revealed that his ministry is “actively studying” how Thailand can allow direct linkage of cryptocurrencies with credit cards, so non-Thai users who visit the country can use their cards for purchases. 

"In some countries, it's already possible to use crypto for purchases by linking it to credit cards. When something is bought, the vendor receives payment in local currency as normal, often not even realizing the buyer used crypto,” Pichai says, adding that the Bank of Thailand is preparing a pilot programme to test the proposal. 

The approach “can be immediately adapted for Thailand”, provided the supporting systems are in place, he says.

Under the proposal, vendors who receive payments from tourists via a crypto-linked card will still receive payment in Thai baht, meaning that the local vendors do not have to deal with crypto directly, while still allowing tourists the flexibility of paying with crypto. 

While Thailand allows its citizens to hold and trade cryptocurrencies for investment purposes, they are prohibited from using crypto for payments. 

However, over the past two years, Thai regulators have slowly tried to liberalize the use of crypto for visitors, while also continuing to license crypto exchanges in the country. 

Thailand, which relies heavily on tourism, has already piloted smaller crypto payment programmes for tourists, notably on the foreigner-friendly island of Phuket.

In the same speech, Pichai also said the government is studying the possibility of amending current laws to connect the capital market with the digital asset market, which are currently governed by two separate frameworks, the Securities and Exchange Act and the Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses.

Pichai notes that a possible amendment will allow investors to more seamlessly transfer funds between the stock market and the digital asset market, creating a more connected financial environment.