The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has issued a warning to crypto holders who use their digital assets as a medium of exchange, saying if these practices become widespread it may take strong regulatory measures.
It has been reported that the central bank said anyone who engaged in the trade of digital assets for goods and services, as the sender or recipient, could face risks including money laundering, theft, and price volatility.
However, the bank reiterated its position that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) are not legal tender in the country and warned of consequences from regulators.
It stated:
“Should the use of digital assets as a means of payment for goods and services become widespread, the BOT will coordinate with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other related agencies to take the necessary measures to ensure that they do not pose extensive risks to the general public or the economic and financial system.”
The bank added that it was still in the process of developing a central bank digital currency, or CBDC, as well as establishing guidelines for fiat-backed stablecoins in the country. A proposed roadmap for the CBDC released in April said preliminary testing protocols were scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2022.
Thus, data from the Thai SEC released in April suggested that total trading volume on exchanges increased roughly 600% from November to February, likely putting it at more than $4 billion, as of July 8, if the upward trend continued.
Source: Cointelegraph | Image: Bitcoin News