Thailand Crypto ETFs Expected to See Only Tens of Millions in Initial Inflows

Odaily Report: Thailand's listing rules for Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will take effect on Friday. James Butterfill, head of research at digital asset investment firm CoinShares, said initial inflows for the first batch of products are expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars, and expectations of reaching billions are unrealistic.

Once the new rules take effect, Thai retail investors will be able to gain exposure to the relevant assets through locally listed crypto ETFs; investing in overseas crypto ETFs through domestic brokers will be limited to institutional investors and ultra-high-net-worth investors. The first batch of Thai crypto funds will still need to obtain regulatory approval and complete custody and distribution arrangements before they can trade.

Butterfill compared the situation to Hong Kong. As of the end of September, global crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) assets under management stood at $172.9 billion, of which Hong Kong accounted for $733 million, or 0.42%.

He said some investors have already gained Bitcoin exposure through overseas funds or direct trading, which could limit demand for local ETFs. MFC Asset Management launched the Bitcoin ETF Tracker Fund (MBTCETF-UI) in 2024, which invests in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT); ONE Asset Management became the first Thai asset management company approved for a Bitcoin ETF-linked fund in the same year. (Cointelegraph)