Thailand Opens Crypto Spending to Tourists — No Bank Account Needed
Thailand is piloting a way for foreign visitors to spend crypto at restaurants, shops, and hotels by converting it to Thai baht at checkout, according to a CryptoNews report by Ahmed Barakat. The WORPT app links external crypto wallets to the country’s ubiquitous QR PromptPay network, allowing purchases without opening a local bank account.
How WORPT works
Per the report, WORPT was developed by Wipay and Waan Exchange (Waanx) with support from Tether, the company behind USDT. The service is operating under Thailand’s TouristDigiPay regulatory sandbox, which the article says is overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission. WORPT supports crypto-to-baht conversion for assets including stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, the report states.
Visitors deposit supported assets into the platform, convert to baht, and then scan standard Thai QR PromptPay codes to pay. Merchants receive Thai baht through their usual payment rails and do not touch crypto directly, according to the article. Tourists can complete identity verification in-app before linking an external wallet.
Fees, cards, and early partners
Thai media reports cited in the CryptoNews piece say WORPT initially charges a 1.5% conversion fee. The company is also preparing Visa prepaid card options, with physical cards planned for November and virtual cards expected in early 2027, according to the report. The Mall Group has joined as an early retail partner, described as the first department store group to support the service.
Targets and trial
Wipay expects roughly 200,000 users in the first year and projects about 15 billion baht (approximately $440 million) in spending over the initiative’s 18-month trial, the report says. Target markets include travelers from South Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Context and caution
The article frames the rollout as part of efforts to attract international visitors amid weakening tourism revenue and a potential second straight annual decline in foreign arrivals. Barakat also wrote that, in prior years, tourists who wanted to spend crypto in Thailand often had to convert via exchanges, OTC deals, or local bank transfers—and that scams involving fraudulent brokers and fake exchanges have been a risk.
Separately, Watcher.Guru posted on X that Thailand launched a payment system enabling tourists to convert crypto into the national currency for purchases.
