The Thai authorities have announced the establishment of a special “data bureau” to enhance control over suspicious financial transactions, particularly those related to cryptocurrencies, online gambling, and fraudulent accounts.
This is reported by Finway
Strengthening Monitoring of Financial Transactions and Combating “Gray Money”
The launch of the new structure is scheduled for December of this year. Its main task will be the centralized collection and processing of data on atypical transactions to further identify ultimate beneficiaries and prevent money laundering. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated that the “data bureau” will ensure synchronization between government agencies and financial institutions, allowing for more effective counteraction against financial crimes.
“We will not address these issues in a piecemeal manner, but will update the standards for detecting suspicious flows. We hope everything will be completed by December,” said Nitithanprapas.
The initiative is being implemented under the Connect the Dots program, which aims to analyze anomalous money flows. According to government estimates, such operations could impact the strengthening of the national currency – the baht, even amid weak macroeconomic trends.
Improving Digital Financial Infrastructure
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has tasked the finance minister with leading the formation of a new team that will include representatives from the Bank of Thailand and other leading institutions. Charnvirakul emphasized that the government is firmly committed to combating financial crimes, highlighting its readiness to support all necessary measures to eradicate fraud, human trafficking, and drug cartel activities.
According to Nitithanprapas, “gray cash” is mostly moved through cryptocurrency platforms, exchange services, cash transactions, and gold markets. Once these funds enter the country, they are often laundered through the purchase of expensive assets: gold, real estate, diamonds, and luxury cars.
The government also plans to enhance the monitoring system for financial flows, aligning with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The Bank of Thailand has already mandated commercial banks to increase the level of monitoring and customer verification to promptly detect suspicious transfers.
Updating anti-crime measures is part of a broader digital strategy: the country recently launched the TouristDigiPay initiative, allowing tourists to exchange digital assets for baht to pay for goods and services. The program started on August 18, 2025, as part of a regulatory “sandbox.”
Additionally, in June, the Ministry of Finance selected three consortia to launch virtual banks. These include Krung Thai Bank, SCB X, Advanced Info Service, PTT Oil and Retail Business, and South Korea’s KakaoBank. The goal of the initiative is to expand access to financial services and support the growth of Thailand’s digital economy.