Thailand

Vietnam is emerging as Southeast Asia's tourism powerhouse, outpacing its neighbors in recovery and growth.

The Chinese couple behind the $17.7M was arrested in their luxury villa in Pattaya, Thailand. It turns out the boyfriend was already a wanted criminal by the interpool...

Thailand is investing in AI to improve fraud detection and financial crime prevention across industries, with a focus on secure digital transactions. The country is also using AI to automate compliance tasks and strengthen governance in fraud detection systems.

The Economic Crime Suppression Division’s crackdown focused on e-money firms collectively handling an annual turnover of $29 million, signalling intensified efforts to combat financial misconduct in the sector.

Thailand has seen a histroic rise in scam calls and SMS fraud, totalling 168 million in 2024 compared to the year prior. This surge prompted authorities to intensify their crackdown on cyber fraud operations across Southeast Asia.

A joint operation between Thai and Chinese police uncovered a $2.5 million crypto scam, leading to the arrest of two Chinese nationals involved in illegal digital currency transactions and human trafficking. The authorities seized luxury items and cryptocurrency wallets, freezing the stolen funds as part of the ongoing investigation.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra nearly fell victim to a scam where fraudsters used AI to impersonate a foreign leader and solicit a donation. After recognising the suspicious bank details and missed call, she alerted authorities, who have since launched an investigation into the scam.

Thailand is moving forward with Bitcoin ETFs and cryptocurrency payments, with the Thai SEC considering Bitcoin ETFs and a Bitcoin payment pilot project in Phuket. These steps, along with the potential for stablecoin issuance, are positioning the country as a growing digital asset hub in Asia.

Just days after Singapore has announced its ban of decentralized prediction marketplace polymarket, Thailand's Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) has followed suit and have announced plans to propose closing polymarket.

Thaksin Shinawatra has called for legalising online gambling and adopting cryptocurrencies in Thailand to boost government revenue and modernise the economy. The Thai government is already exploring cryptocurrency payments in Phuket and conducting trials of a central bank digital currency.