Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced updated Travel Rule requirements for digital asset businesses, bringing transfers involving self-hosted wallets under formal compliance checks as the country aligns its cryptocurrency regulations with global anti-money laundering (AML) standards.
The SEC unveiled the regulations on Wednesday, with implementation set for February 27, 2027. Digital asset operators will have roughly six months to establish the infrastructure needed to transmit, receive, and monitor information linked to cryptocurrency transactions.
Ownership Verification Required for Self-Hosted Wallet Transfers
Under the new framework, digital asset operators are required to gather identifying details about both customers and their counterparties during digital asset transfers. Operators must also confirm ownership or control of self-hosted wallets when customers send or receive crypto assets to or from them.
Unlike wallets managed by centralized exchanges or custodians, self-custodial wallets give users direct control over the private keys required to access and move their holdings.
Operators are required to preserve all transaction-related records for a minimum of five years in a manner that allows regulatory authorities to retrieve or review them without delay.
For transfers between regulated operators, the originating entity must transmit originator and beneficiary identification details alongside the transfer order. When an intermediary operator is involved, the originating operator must verify that the intermediary meets the necessary qualification standards.
According to the SEC, these measures are designed to strengthen operators’ capacity to manage money-laundering risks and prevent digital asset services from facilitating technology-driven financial crime. SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon stated that the framework would further limit the potential for operators to be exploited for money laundering and terrorist financing.
Thailand’s regulatory shift reflects a broader international trend, as more jurisdictions adopt the Financial Action Task Force’s standards for virtual assets. In July, the FATF reported that 83% of jurisdictions surveyed in the relevant section of its 2026 assessment—91 out of 109—had enacted Travel Rule legislation, marking an increase from 73% in 2025.
Regulations Finalized After Two Rounds of Public Consultation
The SEC initially invited public feedback on proposed Travel Rule principles in March, followed by a second consultation on draft regulations in June. The regulator noted that the majority of stakeholders who participated in the first consultation expressed support for the proposed framework.
The Travel Rule represents one component of an active period of crypto rulemaking in Thailand. Separately, the SEC is exploring measures that would broaden investor access to regulated digital asset offerings.
Earlier this week, the SEC proposed permitting intermediaries to grant retail investors access to specific crypto derivatives listed on regulated overseas exchanges.
In the days prior, the regulator moved forward with proposed rules governing spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds and solicited input on requirements related to foreign digital asset custodians serving funds with cryptocurrency exposure.
Also Read
- Bank of Canada Holds Rates Unchanged, Flags Renewed Trade Risk
- SEC Proposes New Rules for Online Forex Trading, Sets Capital Requirement – businesspost.ng
- Critical Blind Spots of a Proof-of-Reserves Snapshot
- Shiba Inu Coin Forms Bullish Flag Pattern Amid Massive Token Burns by Coinbase and Robinhood
