Thailand Cracks Down on Cryptocurrency Transactions with New Anti-Money Laundering Rules

Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced plans to tighten regulations on cryptocurrency transactions, targeting peer-to-peer transfers and self-hosted wallets from February 27, 2027. The move is part of a global effort to combat money laundering and related crimes.

The new guidelines require licensed crypto platforms in Thailand to identify customers and their counterparties, including ownership of self-hosted wallets. Additionally, exchanges must submit information on the sender and beneficiary of each transaction, which will be stored for at least five years.

The regulations aim to ensure that digital asset business operators have sufficient information to assess and manage money laundering risks in line with international standards, as stated by the SEC. This effort is part of a broader campaign driven by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to prevent misuse of crypto platforms for illicit activities.

The FATF has been pushing countries to implement anti-money laundering rules on cryptocurrencies, and many nations have followed suit. The European Union has similar plans in place by mid-2027, while South Africa has already activated strict exchange capital controls linked to cryptocurrency funds.