BANGKOK – Thailand is set to introduce sweeping measures to limit speculative gold trading and tighten financial oversight, aiming to shield the baht from volatility and crack down on illicit financial flows. The move comes as authorities link a record-breaking rally in gold prices to pressure on the local currency and growing concerns over money laundering.

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Under new draft rules expected this month, the Ministry of Finance plans to cap individual daily online gold trading between 100 million and 200 million baht. Additional measures will include limiting individual foreign currency exchanges at money changers to 800,000 baht per day and tightening reporting requirements for physical gold transactions.

The measures were announced by Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Authorities highlighted that daily gold trading volumes in Thailand have at times exceeded those on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, with gold-related transactions accounting for 50–60% of total U.S. dollar trading at peak periods.

“The baht’s recent abnormal strength is partly driven by gold transactions conducted in the local currency, particularly trading via baht-based applications,” Vitai stated. He noted that on days of sharp baht appreciation, app-based gold traders were responsible for significant dollar sales, driving up the local currency.

Gold and grey money in crosshairs https://t.co/n5oXgqgnyw #gold #Thailand

— Bangkok Post (@BKK_POST) January 10, 2026

To ease pressure on the baht, major Thai gold dealers—representing about 90% of the market—have proposed upgrading online platforms to allow buying and selling in U.S. dollars within three to six months. Total gold trading volume reached an estimated 10 trillion baht ($318 billion) in 2025, doubling from the previous year.

Parallel to currency stabilization efforts, the government is intensifying its campaign against grey capital and money laundering. Prime Minister Anutin announced the creation of a Data Bureau designed to integrate financial data across banking, gold trading, and digital assets in real time.

“Illicit and grey-money transactions in Thailand were once viewed as operating in a haven for money laundering,” said Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas. “Over the past three to four months, we have significantly tightened controls. We are doing everything possible to turn what was once a laundering paradise into a city of scrutiny.”

Key steps include:

• Empowering the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) as the central body for gold transaction data.

• Reviewing and potentially lowering the 2-million-baht threshold for mandatory gold transaction reporting.

• Requiring digital asset service providers to enforce the Travel Rule, ensuring sender and recipient data are collected and retained for traceability.

Authorities are particularly concerned about a more than tenfold surge in gold exports to Cambodia—reaching about 105 billion baht—which is suspected to be linked to scam operations, online gambling, and transnational crime networks.

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The new regulatory push aims not only to stabilize the baht but also to close loopholes that have allowed Thailand to become a channel for illicit financial flows, marking a significant shift toward tighter surveillance and interagency coordination in the financial sector.

-Thailand News (TN)