Thailand SEC says asset managers want crypto ETFs, but no one has applied yet

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission has built a road for spot crypto ETFs. So far, nobody has driven on it. The regulator says several asset managers have approached it for consultations on launching spot crypto funds. It has not received a single formal application, and it cannot say whether the first Thai crypto ETFs will reach the market in 2026. What the new framework allows The groundwork came in the form of 11 notifications that the SEC finalized on October 8, 2026. Those rules took effect on October 16, 2026. Under the framework, licensed Thai asset management companies can create passive ETFs. Each fund must track one eligible asset rather than a basket of tokens. The eligible list is short. For now, only Bitcoin and Ether qualify. The rules also set a floor on how crypto-heavy these products must be. Funds need to hold at least 80% average annual net exposure to their chosen asset. Listing and custody are tightly ringfenced. The ETFs can trade only on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), and they must use digital asset custodians approved by the SEC. Guardrails for investors and funds The SEC paired the new access with a set of investor protections. Anyone buyin...