USDThailand SEC Prepares to Broaden Crypto ETF Market Beyond Bitcoin, Eyeing Ethereum and Solana
Regulator signals multi-asset products as country moves toward 2026 launch
TL;DR
- Thailand’s SEC is drafting rules to expand crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin, adding Ethereum and Solana.
- Regulator aims to introduce multi-asset “basket” ETFs with a rollout targeted for early 2026.
- New measures include stricter oversight of digital asset firms, aligning with global moves on diversified crypto exposure.
Thailand’s securities regulator is preparing to widen the scope of its crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), signaling that products tied exclusively to Bitcoin will no longer be the only option available to local investors. Speaking on October 2, 2025, Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon confirmed that the Securities and Exchange Commission is drafting a framework to allow multi-asset ETFs, a move that would bring Ethereum and Solana into play alongside Bitcoin. She noted that regulators are studying basket structures that would combine several cryptocurrencies in a single fund, stressing that the goal is to “have broader supply of those crypto assets in the ETFs.”
Officials said the expansion reflects growing retail and institutional demand, particularly among younger investors who increasingly see cryptocurrencies as part of a diversified portfolio. Thailand already approved an Ethereum ETF in September 2025, becoming one of the first Asian markets outside Hong Kong to permit regulated ETH exposure. The upcoming rules, expected to take effect in early 2026, will extend the opportunity further by allowing local mutual funds and institutions to issue expanded ETFs.
The plan underscores Thailand’s ambition to position itself as a regional digital asset hub. The regulator is pushing for ETFs that go beyond Bitcoin-only frameworks, aligning with a global trend toward broader crypto price index products that mirror the shifting dynamics of the coin market cap landscape. A multi-asset approach is seen as critical for boosting liquidity and making Thailand’s markets more competitive at a time when institutional adoption of crypto ETFs is accelerating globally.
Parallel to the ETF expansion, the SEC has introduced stricter oversight measures. From October 2025, all digital asset firms that manage or transfer customer funds must use SEC-approved auditors, extending compliance obligations beyond exchanges and brokers. The regulator is also enhancing its enforcement powers, including the authority to suspend suspicious transactions and conduct broader investigations into market misconduct such as insider trading. These steps are designed to balance market access with investor protection as the country prepares for a new wave of ETF offerings tied to volatile crypto price movements.
Context for the policy shift dates back earlier this year when Thailand approved leveraged and inverse ETFs for retail investors, capped at 2x leverage, in March 2025. At the time, only 11 ETFs were listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, highlighting the relatively small domestic market compared with regional competitors. The crypto ETF initiative is now seen as a natural extension of that liberalization, laying the groundwork for Thailand to expand its ETF sector and integrate digital assets more deeply into mainstream finance.
Regulators argue that the push toward basket-style ETFs represents a balance between innovation and protection, offering investors diversified exposure to assets like Ethereum and Solana while ensuring stricter safeguards. With rules under development and a target launch window in early 2026, Thailand is moving quickly to broaden its investment infrastructure, setting the stage for a more comprehensive market where crypto price index products compete alongside traditional funds in shaping the coin market cap rankings that investors watch closely.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
