Bittrex Global CEO commends Thailand’s firm regulatory approach towards crypto

In an interview with crypto.news Oliver Linch, CEO of Bittrex Global, discussed Thailand’s regulatory direction regarding the cryptocurrency sector.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified its regulatory framework to curb unlicensed crypto activities, citing fraud and money laundering concerns.

“The SEC warns people and investors to be cautious about using unauthorized digital asset operators because they do not receive legal protection,” the regulator said in a statement.

The commission banned access to unlicensed crypto exchanges last month and introduced significant changes aimed at fortifying the digital asset market.

These amendments included the removal of investment caps for retail investors in asset-backed tokens and the enforcement of stringent custodial requirements, ensuring that wallet providers are subsidiaries of publicly listed companies with secure asset management practices.

On top of this, Bitcoin ETFs are also prohibited in the nation, suggesting that the regulator is taking a cautious approach to high-risk financial products.

The recent moves have led many to believe that the nation has an anti-crypto stance when it comes to cryptocurrencies.

However, Linch views these regulatory actions as essential steps towards creating a more secure and structured market, ultimately benefiting both investors and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

What are your thoughts in general regarding the Thai SEC’s recent move?

By giving the green light for institutional investors and ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) to purchase Crypto ETFs, Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is ensuring it is keeping pace with wider APAC regulatory developments when it comes to digital assets. The move reflects the country’s evolving status as a regional crypto hub, with the country reportedly embracing different blockchain and DeFi initiatives and hosting big industry conferences such as Money20/20 Asia.

Given the Thailand SEC’s recent enforcement against unlicensed crypto platforms, how do you assess the potential impact on the nation’s cryptocurrency market in terms of investor confidence and overall market stability?

The Thai SEC’s recent actions against unlicensed crypto platforms aim to reinforce investor confidence and market stability by ensuring a regulated environment for cryptocurrency trading. The move also reflects the country’s efforts to integrate and advance its financial services with developments in the wider APAC and global financial ecosystem. There seems to be a narrative developing in some quarters that all enforcement action is somehow “anti-crypto.” This is not correct. If a country has a proper regulatory framework and a realistic and viable mechanism for getting licensed, then it is right and proper that robust enforcement action is taken against those that disregard the rules. Enforcement action as part of an enabling regulatory framework is not “anti-crypto”; it can actually assist in providing regulatory clarity and certainty. By taking action in this way, Thailand should be in a stronger position to attract inflows and market participants.

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Thailand seems to be taking cues from other Asian markets like India and the Philippines in its regulatory approach. What implications do these coordinated actions have for the trajectory of global cryptocurrency governance?

Thailand’s regulatory alignment with Asian counterparts suggests a concerted effort, at least on a regional basis, to establish consistent guidelines for the cryptocurrency industry. This could factor into the development of global governance standards in due course. The positive knock-on impact of Hong Kong’s recently approved crypto ETFs is also reverberating around the region and will likely spur positive developments for the wider APAC market. These measures, along with increasingly positive signals from Singapore and Korea, mean that countries like Thailand could well be able to benefit from the spin-off of a burgeoning APAC crypto market.

The Thai regulatory approach to digital assets seems to be increasingly mirroring South Korea’s. Can you elaborate on the key aspects of South Korea’s regulatory model that Thailand is adopting? How do you see it impact the future regulatory landscape for digital assets in Thailand?

Thailand’s SEC has chosen not to allow spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), an approach similar to South Korea’s, which also decided against allowing such ETFs in its domestic markets. Both Thailand and South Korea’s regulatory approaches put a strong emphasis on investor protection and regulatory clarity. With both countries boasting high rates of crypto retail adoption from an active crypto trading community, there a considered by regulators in Thailand and South Korea to strengthen consumer safeguards and mitigate market risks that may stem from unauthorized trading platforms.

To conclude, how should governments and regulatory bodies approach the issue of unauthorized cryptocurrency platforms?

Regulators should focus on proactive measures against unauthorized cryptocurrency platforms, leveraging enforcement actions, industry collaboration, and investor education to ensure compliance without stifling innovation in the process.

Read more: Thai SEC unveils fraud charges against ex-Zipmex Thailand boss

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