Thailand will exempt capital gains tax on cryptocurrency transactions conducted through platforms licensed by the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a five-year period, starting in early 2025. This new tax policy intends to strengthen Thailand’s position as a competitive regional hub for crypto investors and digital nomads.
The exemption applies from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029, aligning crypto tax treatment with that of traditional securities in the country. Previously, Thailand waived value-added tax on crypto gains earlier this year, signaling a continuing effort to incentivize blockchain innovation and adoption within its borders.
However, trades executed on unlicensed or overseas exchanges will remain subject to the standard personal income tax rates, which can reach up to 38%, maintaining regulatory boundaries for non-compliant activity. This distinction underscores the government’s push to formalize and regulate the crypto ecosystem while encouraging transparency and investor protection.
Meanwhile, in China, Rob Hamilton, founder of Bitcoin Red Team, revealed he must turn to open-source Chinese AI models for cybersecurity research on Bitcoin infrastructure. He cited restrictions imposed by OpenAI as a major barrier, saying these limitations hinder white-hat defenders from accessing the most advanced AI tools. Hamilton’s remarks highlight a growing concern over unequal AI access between malicious actors and cybersecurity professionals.
In response, the Bitcoin Policy Institute and an alliance of blockchain companies urged frontier AI laboratories to create trusted pathways that would provide qualified defenders with access to powerful AI capabilities. This call aims to balance innovation with security in the digital asset space.
Additional regional developments include a conviction in Shenzhen of an individual for attempted extortion after stealing R&D data and demanding ransom paid in Bitcoin, reflecting ongoing cybersecurity challenges. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region showed substantial growth in on-chain crypto transactions, increasing by more than two-thirds year-on-year, with Southeast Asia leading this surge in digital payments characterized by direct adoption of mobile solutions over traditional banking.
The delay of the U.S. Senate vote on crypto market structure legislation has been seen as an opportunity for Asian financial centers like Hong Kong and Singapore to enhance their competitiveness as digital asset hubs, according to industry leaders. This pause gives these jurisdictions more time to clarify regulatory frameworks, potentially attracting further crypto business and innovation within the region.