Thailand wants to streamline access to crypto derivatives by allowing firms to operate under a single licensed entity.
Summary
- Thailand has opened a public consultation to let crypto firms offer derivatives under existing licenses instead of creating separate entities.
- Proposed changes build on earlier reforms that recognised digital assets like Bitcoin as valid underlying instruments for regulated futures trading.
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand, a new public consultation has opened on rules that would let licensed digital asset companies apply for derivatives licenses without creating separate corporate structures.
Current requirements force firms to set up distinct entities for derivatives activity, a step that has raised costs and slowed expansion for market participants.
Removing that layer would allow crypto businesses to extend their offerings more directly while remaining under one regulatory umbrella. Oversight conditions tied to conflict management and internal controls have been built into the proposal, ensuring that expanded access does not weaken supervision.
Changes under discussion build on earlier legal updates that already brought crypto assets into Thailand’s derivatives framework.
Cabinet-approved amendments to the Derivatives Act in February formally recognized digital assets as eligible underlying instruments for futures contracts, which opened the door for exchanges and clearing systems to begin preparing crypto-linked products within a regulated environment.
Licensing revamp ties into derivatives expansion
Within Thailand’s evolving market structure, easing licensing requirements is tied closely to efforts to deepen derivatives participation. Regulators have framed the move as a way to give investors more tools for hedging and portfolio positioning while aligning local practices with established global standards.
Plans previously outlined by the SEC include revising derivatives business licenses so digital asset operators can offer contracts linked to cryptocurrencies. Coordination with the Thailand Futures Exchange is also underway to design contract specifications that account for price volatility in digital assets.
“Strengthen the status of crypto as an investment asset class and broaden investment opportunities,” said SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon.
Public feedback on the proposal will be accepted until May 20, after which the regulator is expected to refine the framework based on industry input.
Global derivatives activity continues to build
Outside Thailand, exchanges have continued to expand crypto derivatives access as demand for leveraged trading grows.
Blockchain.com recently introduced perpetual futures trading within its self-custody wallet, allowing users to take leveraged positions using Bitcoin as collateral without transferring funds to centralised platforms. Access spans more than 190 markets, with leverage reaching up to 40x through infrastructure provided by Hyperliquid.
Kraken and Coinbase have also moved in a similar direction, launching perpetual futures tied to equities for users outside the U.S. earlier this year. Continuous trading models that combine crypto and traditional assets are gaining traction across multiple jurisdictions.
In the United States, regulatory signals have pointed toward possible progress. Commodity Futures Trading Commission official Michael Selig said in March that work is underway to enable crypto perpetual futures, noting that action could come “within the next month or so.”
Positioning ahead of that potential approval is already visible. Payward, Kraken’s parent company, has agreed to acquire Bitnomial, a regulated derivatives platform in the U.S., with plans to expand access to products such as perpetual futures for domestic traders.
