Thailand regulator approves USDT, USDC stablecoins
The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC) for cryptocurrency trades, allowing the stablecoins to be listed on regulated exchanges across the country.
Thailand’s SEC announced the approvals last week after soliciting feedback from the public on proposed regulatory changes that were finalized in February and scheduled to go into effect on March 16.
As Cointelegraph previously reported, there have been growing calls within Thailand to legitimize cryptocurrency usage and urge stablecoin adoption to boost domestic revenue. This followed the creation of a regulatory sandbox in August 2024 for select service providers to experiment with cryptocurrencies.
The stablecoins join only five other cryptocurrencies that are approved for trading in the country: Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP (XRP), Stellar Lumen (XLM) and cryptocurrencies that are being tested for settlement by the Bank of Thailand.
According to a March 10 announcement by Tether, the approval allows USDt to be adopted by digital asset businesses and be used as a payment rail within the country.
Related: Thailand eyes spot Bitcoin ETF approval, cracks down on Polymarket
Stablecoin adoption on the rise
In addition to facilitating cryptocurrency trades, stablecoins are increasingly viewed as an alternative to traditional remittances, especially in emerging markets.
A December report by Chainalysis called stablecoins a “transformative” use case for cross-border payments and remittances. In emerging markets across Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, using stablecoins for remittances is 60% cheaper than traditional methods.
According to venture capital firm a16z Crypto, 28.5 million unique stablecoin users sent over 600 million transactions in December alone. This still represents a tiny faction of the 3.4 trillion transactions of the global payments industry.
Stablecoin transfers are significantly cheaper and faster than traditional payment methods. Source: a16z Crypto
In terms of circulating supply, stablecoins are currently worth nearly $230 billion, according to DefiLlama. Tether’s USDt accounts for just over 63% of the total market.
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The UK has re-established diplomatic ties with Syria, David Lammy has said, as he made the first visit to the country by a British minister for 14 years.
The foreign secretary visited Damascus and met with interim president Ahmed al Sharaa, also the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and foreign minister Asaad al Shaibani.
It marks the latest diplomatic move since Bashar al Assad’s regime was toppled by rebel groups led by HTS in December.
In a statement, Mr Lammy said a “stable Syria is in the UK’s interests” and added: “I’ve seen first-hand the remarkable progress Syrians have made in rebuilding their lives and their country.
“After over a decade of conflict, there is renewed hope for the Syrian people.
“The UK is re-establishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy with Syria’s interim president Ahmed al Sharaa in Damascus. Pic: X / @DavidLammy
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has also announced a £94.5m support package for urgent humanitarian aid and to support the country’s long-term recovery, after a number of British sanctions against the country were lifted in April.
While HTS is still classified as a proscribed terror group, Sir Keir Starmer said last year that it could be removed from the list.
The Syrian president’s office also said on Saturday that the president and Mr Lammy discussed co-operation, as well as the latest developments in the Middle East.
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Since Assad fled Syria in December, a transitional government headed by Mr al Sharaa was announced in March and a number of western countries have restored ties.
In May, US President Donald Trump said the United States would lift long-standing sanctions on Syria and normalise relations during a speech at the US-Saudi investment conference.
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From May: Trump says US will end sanctions for Syria
He said he wanted to give the country “a chance at peace” and added: “There is a new government that will hopefully succeed.
“I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”
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