Bitcoin.com

Thailand Cracks Down on Shadow Economy with Strict New Stablecoin Controls

July 13, 202612:30 AM
Thailand Cracks Down on Shadow Economy with Strict New Stablecoin Controls

The Bank of Thailand has launched a targeted crackdown on illicit financial flows by implementing stringent new checks on high-volume stablecoin trades. This strategic move is designed to dismantle the nation's shadow economy, which has historically accounted for a staggering 41% of its GDP.

By expanding oversight from cash and gold bullion to the digital asset space, authorities aim to curb the use of stablecoins in gray market activities. This escalation in regulatory scrutiny follows successful precedents in traditional asset monitoring, signaling a much tougher stance on crypto-related financial crimes.

The Bank of Thailand has announced rigorous new measures to combat illicit flows, specifically targeting high-volume transactions involving stablecoins. The institution stated that this measure aims to strike at the heart of the country's shadow economy, which accounted for nearly 41% of its GDP as of 2015.

This crackdown on digital assets is part of a broader regulatory pattern. The Bank of Thailand is already applying similar proposed checks on large cash transactions and gold bullion movements, which have already succeeded in reducing volumes considerably. The focus now shifts to stablecoins to ensure the crypto ecosystem is not exploited for illicit purposes.

This is a summarized and adapted version by Artificial Intelligence. To read the complete original story, visit the official source.

Read Full Article at Bitcoin.com
QR Code Lightning

Support Jornal Bitcoin

Independent journalism, curated by AI, no clickbait. Keep the flame alive with any amount of BTC.

Wallet of Satoshi
jonata@walletofsatoshi.com

Daily Crypto Brief 📬

Subscribe to receive the curation of the most important Bitcoin and crypto news, summarized by AI. No spam.

Join more than 10,000 smart readers.

Related News

Thailand Crackdown: Central Bank Targets USDT to Halt 'Gray Money' Flows
CoinTelegraph★ Featured

Thailand Crackdown: Central Bank Targets USDT to Halt 'Gray Money' Flows

The Bank of Thailand is ramping up surveillance on stablecoins, specifically targeting USDT, to dismantle money laundering networks and 'gray money' economies. Working alongside the Kingdom's Securities and Exchange Commission, authorities are auditing high-volume transactions to intercept illicit financial flows linked to Chinese-affiliated scam centers.

This crackdown represents a long-term strategic shift to combat illicit finance and the shadow economy plaguing the nation. Governor Vitai Ratanakorn emphasized that these measures are not temporary fixes, but rather a continuous deployment of parallel strategies designed to secure the country's financial borders against organized crime.
Bitcoin ETF Rebound: $197M Inflow Breaks 8-Week Outflow Streak
CoinTelegraph★ Featured

Bitcoin ETF Rebound: $197M Inflow Breaks 8-Week Outflow Streak

The institutional landscape for Bitcoin has hit a major turning point. US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a massive net inflow of $197.4 million this past week, effectively snapping an eight-week streak of consistent outflows that had persisted since May.

While the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust spearheaded the recovery with $291.9 million in inflows, analysts warn against premature optimism. The end of the outflow streak suggests a potential recovery in institutional demand, yet seasonal trends in August and September, alongside stablecoin fluctuations, remain critical variables to watch.
Stablecoin Exodus: $10 Billion Vanishes Since May—What It Means for Crypto Liquidity
BlockTrends★ Featured

Stablecoin Exodus: $10 Billion Vanishes Since May—What It Means for Crypto Liquidity

The stablecoin market has witnessed a massive $10 billion outflow since May, resulting in a 3% decline in total market capitalization. This represents the sharpest contraction seen since 2023, serving as a critical indicator of shifting capital flows within the digital asset landscape.

Crucially, this downturn remains far from the devastating 26% collapse experienced in 2022. This recent volatility in stablecoins suggests a strategic reallocation of liquidity, as investors navigate changing interest rates and evolving opportunities within the broader decentralized finance ecosystem.
Stablecoin market cap just shrank by $10B since May—analyst says there’s no reason to panic
CoinDesk

Stablecoin market cap just shrank by $10B since May—analyst says there’s no reason to panic

Intel Brief: The stablecoin market cap has fallen by roughly $10 billion since May, including a $7.7 billion drop in June alone—the largest dollar decline since the May 2022 Terra-Luna crash. But an analyst says this move doesn’t justify panic.

Context and impact: The contraction is a flashing liquidity warning for crypto markets, since stablecoins underpin trading and DeFi access. Still, the outlook remains cyclical rather than terminal: stablecoins are expected to resume their long-term growth. For stablecoin holders and builders, the takeaway is that a sharp short-term dip doesn’t erase the sector’s broader trajectory.
Crypto Crossroads: Pakistan Regulator Seeks Dialogue After Islamic Scholar Rules Against Crypto Payments
CoinTelegraph

Crypto Crossroads: Pakistan Regulator Seeks Dialogue After Islamic Scholar Rules Against Crypto Payments

Pakistan's virtual-assets regulator is racing to bridge the gap between digital finance and religious law following a high-stakes meeting with a prominent Islamic scholar. After Mufti Taqi Usmani backed a ruling against using crypto for purchases, PVARA chairman Bilal bin Saqib has called for an immediate, nuanced dialogue to prevent a total crackdown on the sector.

The regulatory push aims to ensure that blockchain technology, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) undergo a rigorous technical assessment alongside Shariah examination. By advocating for a multi-faceted approach, the PVARA hopes to protect citizens from financial fraud and exploitation while finding a legal pathway for digital asset integration within the country's unique economic framework.
Tether’s Brazil push goes big: $20M backing, police crackdowns, and a fight over 24-hour stablecoin holds
Bitcoin.com★ Featured

Tether’s Brazil push goes big: $20M backing, police crackdowns, and a fight over 24-hour stablecoin holds

Intel Brief: Tether is making a major move in Brazil with a combined $20M bet—anchored by $10M backing for Mercado Bitcoin—while two other pressure points escalate: Brazilian police hit an illegal crypto betting ring, and a dispute over the 24-hour stablecoin hold period heats up in the country.

The rollout signals how Tether is expanding its footprint across LATAM, but it also sharpens the regulatory fight around stablecoin hold rules in Brazil. In the same news cycle, “Operation Veil of Maya” underscores the growing enforcement focus on illicit crypto activity—raising compliance stakes for exchanges, issuers, and intermediaries handling stablecoin flows.
Jornal Bitcoin Logo