YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC for cryptocurrency trading. This decision allows regulated exchanges in Thailand to list these stablecoins. The approval follows public consultations on regulatory changes finalized in February 2025 and scheduled to take effect on March 16.
Thailand has been moving toward stablecoin adoption as part of a broader effort to legitimize cryptocurrency usage. Authorities have also worked on expanding financial options by allowing regulated exchanges to list more digital assets.
USDT and USDC Join a Limited List of Approved Cryptocurrencies
Before approving USDT and USDC, the Thailand SEC had only allowed Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Stellar (XLM), and certain tokens used for central bank settlement. These were the only cryptocurrencies that could be legally traded on regulated platforms. The approval of stablecoins adds more flexibility for traders while ensuring transactions remain within regulatory frameworks.
Thailand introduced a regulatory sandbox in August 2024, allowing selected service providers to test cryptocurrency-related services. The approval of USDT and USDC is part of that ongoing effort to integrate digital assets into financial markets while maintaining oversight.
Tether and Circle on Thailand’s Stablecoin Approval
Following the announcement, Tether confirmed that USDT will be integrated into Thailand’s digital asset space. The company stated that USDT can now be used as a payment rail, helping businesses and users conduct transactions.
Circle has not yet issued a statement, but the approval signals that regulators are recognizing stablecoins as part of the financial system. Allowing USDT and USDC on regulated exchanges could also impact cross-border transactions in the region.
Stablecoins in Emerging Markets
Stablecoins have gained popularity in emerging markets due to their use in remittances and cross-border payments. A December 2024 report by Chainalysis highlighted that stablecoins provide lower transaction costs in regions with expensive banking services. The report noted that remittance costs in Sub-Saharan Africa are 60% lower when using stablecoins compared to traditional methods.
Thailand’s approval of USDT and USDC follows a global trend where stablecoins are increasingly used as a bridge between cryptocurrency and fiat transactions.
Stablecoin Market Expands to $230 Billion
The total stablecoin market is valued at nearly $230 billion, according to DefiLlama. Tether’s USDT dominates, accounting for more than 63% of the market. In December alone, 28.5 million unique users completed over 600 million stablecoin transactions, according to data from a16z Crypto. While this is a small percentage of the global payments industry, the continued growth of stablecoins shows their role in digital asset transactions.
Thailand’s regulatory approval of USDT and USDC reflects a shift toward regulated cryptocurrency trading. As stablecoins gain wider acceptance, they continue to play a role in financial markets and cross-border transactions.
