Overview
- Thailand’s Cabinet approved amendments to the Derivatives Act allowing cryptocurrencies to serve as permissible underlying assets for futures and options.
- Carbon credits were included in the reform, enabling both cash‑settled offerings and the launch of physically delivered carbon credit futures.
- The SEC will draft follow‑up rules to update derivatives licenses, tighten supervision of exchanges and clearing houses, and finalize contract specifications with the Thailand Futures Exchange.
- Trading of crypto‑referenced derivatives will occur only through licensed operators on TFEX, while spot trading stays on approved exchanges and the central bank’s ban on crypto payments remains in place.
- Officials and industry figures welcomed the integration into regulated markets, with supporters highlighting liquidity and hedging benefits as policy analysts pressed for stronger disclosure, capital, custody, and margin standards.