Are NFTs legal in Thailand?
Owning, creating, and trading NFTs is not banned in Thailand. The SEC generally does not regulate a collectible NFT as a digital asset unless its structure gives it investment or utility token features. Since 2021 the SEC has barred licensed Thai exchanges from listing NFTs, so trading happens on global marketplaces rather than supervised local venues.
The rules in detail
Thailand does not ban people from creating, holding, or trading non fungible tokens. The starting point is the Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses of 2018, which the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand (SEC) uses to regulate digital assets. A collectible NFT that simply represents art or a digital item generally falls outside that decree. An NFT can fall inside it if its structure gives the holder an investment return or a right to goods, services, or other assets, because that can make it a digital token subject to SEC rules. As of April 2026, where an NFT sits is decided by its features, not its label, so hybrid designs can be treated as regulated digital tokens.
The important restriction is on licensed venues. Since 2021 the SEC has instructed licensed Thai digital asset exchanges not to provide services for several categories, including NFTs, meme tokens, fan tokens, and exchange issued tokens. As of April 2026 that guidance still stands, so you cannot buy or sell NFTs on an SEC licensed Thai exchange. People in Thailand instead use global NFT marketplaces, which are not licensed or supervised by the SEC.
The Bank of Thailand has stated that digital assets, including tokens, are not legal tender, so an NFT cannot be treated as an official means of payment in place of the baht. Using NFTs outside licensed venues means you do not have the consumer protections that apply on a supervised exchange.
Tax
Thailand introduced a personal income tax exemption on capital gains from selling digital assets, but it applies only to disposals made through an SEC licensed exchange, broker, or dealer, and it runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029 under Ministerial Regulation No. 399. As of April 2026, because NFTs are generally traded on global marketplaces rather than licensed Thai operators, gains from NFT sales may fall outside that exemption and be treated as assessable income. The Revenue Department has not published NFT specific guidance, so the position is not fully settled. Verify your own situation with the Revenue Department or a Thai tax professional before filing.
Compare available exchanges in Thailand
Licensed Thai exchanges supervised by the SEC are available for buying mainstream digital assets such as bitcoin, although they do not list NFTs. Use the comparison to see which licensed platforms serve Thai residents.
Compare available exchanges in ThailandRegulator and sources
The regulator is the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand (SEC), with the Bank of Thailand responsible for payment and legal tender matters.
- SEC Thailand notifications restricting NFTs, meme tokens, and fan tokens on licensed exchanges (2021).
- Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses, B.E. 2561 (2018).
- Ministerial Regulation No. 399, on the digital asset capital gains exemption, Royal Gazette, 2025.
- Baker McKenzie, A Complete Guide to Digital Asset Law in Thailand, 2025 edition.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I buy NFTs in Thailand?
- Yes. Buying NFTs is not banned, but you cannot trade them on SEC licensed Thai exchanges, so transactions happen on global marketplaces that are not supervised by the SEC.
- Are NFTs regulated by the Thai SEC?
- Generally no. A pure collectible NFT usually falls outside the digital asset decree. An NFT can become a regulated digital token if it gives an investment return or rights to goods or services.
- Why do Thai exchanges not list NFTs?
- Since 2021 the SEC has directed licensed Thai exchanges not to offer NFTs, meme tokens, or fan tokens, citing investor protection, and that guidance remains in place as of April 2026.
- Do I pay tax on NFT profits in Thailand?
- Possibly. The 2025 to 2029 capital gains exemption covers disposals through licensed Thai operators, which usually excludes NFT marketplace sales, so those gains may be assessable. Confirm with the Revenue Department.
- Is it legal to create and sell my own NFT?
- Yes, minting and selling a collectible NFT is legal. If the NFT grants investment returns or rights, it may be treated as a regulated digital token that requires compliance with SEC rules.