The Thai government and an unnamed fintech firm introduced a prepaid card system that converts cryptocurrency into Thai baht for tourist spending. The scheme, called TouristDigiPay, began pilot operations in August 2025.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced the launch of TouristDigiPay in August 2025 as a national e-money initiative aimed at foreign visitors [1]. The program is being rolled out across Thailand’s major tourist hubs, including Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, and is managed through a partnership with a domestic fintech company whose name has not been disclosed in official releases [1].
The partnership enables tourists to load digital assets—such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies—into a government-issued prepaid card or e-wallet, which is then converted into Thai baht at a regulated exchange rate [1].
The service imposes a monthly transaction ceiling of 500,000 baht per card, and the conversion process is conducted within a regulatory sandbox overseen by the Bank of Thailand [1].
Program Structure and Operations
TouristDigiPay functions as a prepaid e-money card that can be topped up through multiple channels, including direct cryptocurrency transfers, traditional bank wire, or cash deposits at designated kiosks [1]. Once the digital asset is received, the fintech partner’s platform exchanges it for Thai baht, which is then credited to the card’s balance for use at point-of-sale terminals that accept EMV contactless payments [1].
The system complies with Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Act and the Payment Systems Act, requiring the fintech partner to register as an e-money issuer and to implement anti-money-laundering (AML) safeguards [1]. Transaction monitoring is conducted in real time, and any activity exceeding the 500,000-baht monthly limit triggers a review by the Bank of Thailand’s compliance unit [1].
Program Structure and Operations TouristDigiPay functions as a prepaid e-money card that can be topped up through multiple channels, including direct cryptocurrency transfers, traditional bank wire, or cash deposits at designated kiosks [1].
The program entered a test phase in August 2025, during which a limited number of cards were distributed to tourists arriving on flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Feedback from the pilot was collected through a digital survey administered by the Ministry of Tourism, and the results were used to refine user-interface elements and exchange-rate calculation methods [1].
Regulatory and Implementation Context
Thailand Launches “TouristDigiPay” Prepaid Card Program for International Visitors
The TouristDigiPay initiative is part of Thailand’s broader “Digital Asset Payment Facility” strategy, which the government introduced to modernize the tourism sector’s payment infrastructure [1]. The regulatory sandbox framework, approved by the Bank of Thailand in early 2025, permits fintech firms to trial innovative payment solutions under supervised conditions before full market entry [1].
Under the sandbox rules, the fintech partner is required to maintain a capital reserve of 10 million baht and to submit monthly compliance reports to the central bank [1]. The Ministry of Finance also issued a decree authorizing the conversion of cryptocurrency into fiat currency for tourist transactions, specifying that exchange rates must be sourced from approved market data providers [1].
The program aligns with Thailand’s “Thailand 4.0” economic plan, which emphasizes digital transformation across key industries, including tourism [1]. By integrating cryptocurrency conversion into a regulated payment product, the government aims to capture a segment of the growing crypto-savvy traveler demographic while maintaining oversight of cross-border capital flows [1].
Impact on Stakeholders
For tourists, the prepaid card offers a single payment instrument that eliminates the need to exchange cash at local banks or currency exchange booths [1]. The ability to convert cryptocurrency directly into baht reduces transaction costs associated with third-party exchanges and provides immediate spending power upon arrival [1].
Hospitality businesses, retailers, and transport operators that accept the card benefit from faster settlement cycles, as payments are processed through the national e-money network rather than through traditional card schemes [1].
Hospitality businesses, retailers, and transport operators that accept the card benefit from faster settlement cycles, as payments are processed through the national e-money network rather than through traditional card schemes [1]. The monthly limit of 500,000 baht ensures that high-spending visitors can conduct sizable purchases without repeated top-ups [1].
Financial institutions gain access to a new user base for digital wallet services, and the fintech partner receives operational data that can inform future product development [1]. The Ministry of Tourism reports that the pilot phase recorded an average spend of 12,000 baht per cardholder during the first month of operation, indicating early adoption among inbound travelers [1].
The initiative also reinforces Thailand’s position as a regional hub for regulated digital-asset services, potentially attracting additional fintech investments and encouraging other Southeast Asian economies to consider similar models [1].
Key Facts
What: Thailand launched TouristDigiPay, a prepaid card that converts cryptocurrency into Thai baht for tourist spending.
Impact: Provides tourists with a regulated crypto-to-fiat payment option, simplifies spending, and supports businesses that serve international visitors.
Economists at Citi and other financial institutions have lowered their expectations for immediate interest rate hikes in India, following a rise in retail inflation to…
Impact: Provides tourists with a regulated crypto-to-fiat payment option, simplifies spending, and supports businesses that serve international visitors.
Sources
Thai Government Launches Crypto-to-Baht Scheme to Boost Tourism – Nation Thailand
Thailand unveils Digital asset payment facility for tourists in test mode with big plans for the future – Thai Examiner
Thailand’s TouristDigiPay: An Overview of the New E-Wallet Scheme for … – FOSR Law
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