Bangkok: The Bank of Thailand is set to implement more stringent regulations on online gold trading, capping transactions at a maximum of 50 million baht per person per platform, with these new rules coming into effect on March 1, 2026.
According to Thai News Agency, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) has decided to impose a transaction limit of 50 million baht for gold trading on platforms where payments are made in Thai baht. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance transparency and oversight in high-value gold transactions, which have been noted for their significant impact on exchange rates. The BOT will also prohibit net settlement and short selling in these transactions. Additionally, gold shops are required to report any transaction exceeding 20 million baht. These measures are designed to regulate the increasing volume of gold trading and will not impact small-scale traders.
Ms. Pimphan Charoenkwan, Assistant Governor for Financial Markets at BOT, stated that the objective of these regulations is to ensure robust oversight and improve transparency and standards in gold trading. The new rules specify that the transaction limit applies only to platforms facilitating payments in Thai baht, with exceptions made for trading in US dollars, transactions through general gold shops, purchases on gold savings platforms, and trading on the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX). Individuals with gold holdings exceeding 50 million baht as of January 30, 2026, will still be able to sell their gold without restrictions on the timing.
Additional conditions include prohibiting the use of another person's account for transactions, mandating electronic payments, requiring full payment without net settlement, and ensuring that gold is physically received. These measures aim to stabilize the Thai baht by limiting the influence of large gold transactions on currency volatility.
The BOT has further clarified that only transactions exceeding 20 million baht need to be reported to the central bank. While there is consideration of taxing gold trading, the effectiveness of the current measures will be evaluated before any tax is implemented. This regulatory approach aligns with existing practices adopted by some gold businesses and underscores the BOT's commitment to maintaining economic stability in the face of fluctuating gold prices and their impact on the Thai baht.