Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday finalized rules allowing cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to list on the country's main stock exchange, with the initial framework limited to products tied to Bitcoin and Ether. According to the regulator's announcement, the rules will take effect on Oct. 16, 2026.

Under the new framework, crypto ETFs must be listed for trading exclusively on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Products linked to foreign crypto ETFs, such as depositary receipts, will not be permitted at launch. Thai brokers will also remain barred from facilitating investments in overseas crypto ETFs for retail investors outside institutions and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

The rules open a new route for Thai investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin and Ether through the stock market. “For many investors, particularly those who have been cautious about opening an exchange account or managing a wallet, an ETF through their existing brokerage account removes a real barrier,” Binance Thailand CEO Nirun Fuwattananukul told Cointelegraph.

Fuwattananukul added that issuers must still complete fund registration, obtain product approval, secure a listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, and arrange custody before any product can launch. “Whether these products draw meaningful investment will depend on a few things: competitive fees, tight tracking of the underlying asset, and investor education,” he said. With the rules taking effect on Oct. 16, 2026, those prerequisite steps — registration, approval, listing and custody — will shape when the first Thai-listed crypto ETFs can reach investors.

The SEC also amended its rules to allow mutual funds and private funds to invest in crypto ETFs established in Thailand. Previously, such funds were permitted to invest only in foreign crypto ETFs. The change gives the domestic fund industry a locally established vehicle to access Bitcoin and Ether exposure once products are approved and listed.

The framework includes several investor protections. Brokers are prohibited from providing margin loans for the purchase of crypto ETFs, and fund assets must be held with SEC-regulated digital asset custodians. Investors must receive product information and confirm that they understand the risks before trading. The leverage ban and custody requirements pair the new access route with guardrails on how the products can be bought and held.

Crypto ETFs must be managed as passive investment vehicles that seek to track the price of the crypto asset in which they invest. Each fund must maintain net exposure to a single cryptocurrency averaging at least 80% of its net asset value over each accounting year.

The SEC consulted on the proposed principles in April and May and on the draft regulations in August and September. Most respondents supported the proposals, the regulator said.

Related: Thailand SEC proposes retail access to regulated overseas crypto derivatives