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Thailand has officially launched TouristDigiPay, a pioneering program that allows foreign visitors to seamlessly convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht for local spending, aiming to revive its struggling tourism sector.
Unveiled on August 18, 2025, the initiative is the result of extensive consultations with the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other key financial regulators. The program is designed to simplify transactions for international tourists by eliminating the need for traditional currency exchange.
How TouristDigiPay Works
Instead of using cryptocurrency directly for purchases, TouristDigiPay acts as an intermediary gateway, converting digital assets into regulated digital baht. Tourists can make instant payments, enjoy secure transactions, and manage funds through government-regulated digital wallets.
The pilot program will run for 18 months starting September 2025, with oversight from the Ministry of Finance, the Thai SEC, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Bank of Thailand, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
JUST IN: 🇹🇭 Thailand has launched TouristDigiPay, a program that lets visitors convert crypto into Thai Baht for local spending.
Tourists can pay via QR code, merchants get Baht, not crypto.
KYC + spending limits apply.Crypto is officially going mainstream in travel pic.twitter.com/wZsb96qOsn
— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) August 18, 2025
Strict Regulations and Spending Limits
To ensure compliance, wallets involved in TouristDigiPay must follow strict KYC (Know Your Customer) rules. Withdrawals of crypto into cash are not allowed during a tourist’s stay, and balances can only be reclaimed upon closing the account.
The program also enforces spending caps:
- Up to ฿50,000 per month (~$1,400) at small businesses.
- Up to ฿500,000 per month (~$14,000) at merchants with card payment terminals.
These measures aim to balance innovation in digital payments with robust oversight to prevent money laundering.
Tourism Revival Strategy
Thailand’s tourism industry, still recovering from the pandemic and reduced Chinese visitor numbers, sees TouristDigiPay as a way to attract crypto-enthusiast travelers by removing costly and time-consuming currency conversions.
The program is part of Thailand’s broader crypto-friendly policies, which already include capital gains tax exemptions on digital assets for five years.
A Global Trend in Crypto Adoption
While TouristDigiPay is among the first programs of its kind worldwide, other nations are experimenting with similar concepts. For instance, Bhutan is working with Binance Pay and DK Bank, while taxis in the UAE already accept stablecoin AE Coin.
Though still a pilot project, experts say TouristDigiPay signals Thailand’s long-term commitment to digital finance integration in tourism. With the global adoption of new cryptocurrencies and stablecoins rising, Thailand is positioning itself as a forward-thinking destination for international travelers.
