• The former Prime Minister proposes Bitcoin as a transformative tool for Phuket’s tourism and economic development.
  • Regulatory collaboration is crucial for the integration of cryptocurrency into Thailand’s financial and tourism sectors.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced a bold attempt to establish Bitcoin as a cornerstone of Phuket’s tourism economy. His idea is to use crypto to draw tech-savvy visitors and maybe make Thailand a top digital financial center.

Under Thaksin’s plan, Bitcoin could be included as a payment method for both visitors and local companies in a pilot program in Phuket. Underlining its potential to transform the world economy and travel, he also forecasts Bitcoin could reach an amazing value of $850,000, as we previously noted .

PHUKET + BITCOIN = TOURISM LEVELS UP

Former PM Thaksin is pitching Bitcoin as the future of Phuket tourism, predicting $850K BTC and more tech-savvy tourists.

But there’s a catch: Thailand’s central bank still says, “Not so fast,” as it controls payments.

Can crypto-powered… pic.twitter.com/ogLeFLjHnA

— Mario Nawfal’s Roundtable (@RoundtableSpace) December 26, 2024

Thailand’s Regulatory Collaboration Crucial for Bitcoin Integration 

Viewed as a calculated step to include cryptocurrency into Phuket’s economy, industry leaders have expressed their support for this project. Key participant in the digital asset market, Gulf Binance sees great possibilities in leveraging Bitcoin to draw investors and high-tech visitors.

Still, stakeholders emphasize the need of addressing underlying hazards. Still major problems that have to be addressed are price volatility, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory compliance. A sandbox method has been proposed to test the integration in a restricted environment before more general deployment in order to reduce these risks.

Though Thaksin’s idea is much awaited, major legal obstacles still exist. At the moment, the central bank of Thailand forbids using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as payment tools. Cooperation between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bank of Thailand is crucial if this project is to get traction.

Together, both organizations have to align rules to guarantee consumer protection and follow anti-money laundering policies.

Thaksin’s aim reflects a more general goal to match Thailand with world trends in digital banking than only raising crypto acceptance.

Thailand might get a competitive edge in the worldwide travel and investment industries by presenting Phuket as a crypto-friendly destination. Still, the future is complicated and calls for careful balancing of innovation with control.

Focusing on institutional and high-net-worth investors, CNF previously reported that Thailand’s SEC suggested letting mutual and private funds invest in digital assets.

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