Bangkok, 2 July 2021 – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a criminal complaint against {X1}, a digital asset exchange platform provider, with the Economic Crime Suppression Division of the Royal Thai Police (ECD) for commission of offence under the Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses B.E. 2561 (2018).
Following tips and the SEC’s further inspection, it was found that {X1} has provided platform services for trading or exchanging digital assets via its website by matching orders or arranging for the counterparties or providing the system or facilitating entry into an agreement or match the order for persons who wish to trade or exchange digital assets. In so doing, {X1} has solicited the Thai public and investors to use its services, either via its website or Facebook Page: {X1}. On 5 April 2021, the SEC issued a warning letter requiring {X1} to submit a written response but {X1} failed to submit a response within the specified time.
The aforementioned activities of {X1} is liable to operating digital asset business in the category of digital asset exchange without license, which is a violation of, or failure to comply with, Section 26 and is liable to criminal sanction under Section 66 of the Digital Asset Businesses Emergency Decree, i.e., imprisonment for a term of two to five years and a fine of 200,000 to 500,000 baht and a further daily fine not exceeding 10,000 baht for every day during which the contravention continues. The SEC has therefore filed the criminal complaint against {X1} with the ECD for further investigation and legal proceedings.
In any case, filing the criminal complaint is merely the commencement of the criminal procedure whereby the inquiry official will perform an investigation before recommending the case to the public attorney who has authority for prosecution. The power to adjudicate whether any person is guilty or not is, however, vested on the court of justice.
The SEC would like to emphasize that digital asset businesses are regulated under the Digital Asset Business Emergency Decree. Only providers who have obtained relevant licenses under the law are allowed to provide services related to digital asset trading, exchange, depository, transfer, withdrawal or any transactions related to digital assets. Violators may be liable to penalties under the law.
The list of licensed digital asset business operators is available at www.sec.or.th and SEC Check First application. For inquiries or submission of tips related to suspicious acts, please contact the SEC Public Service Center at Hotline 1207 for further in-depth investigation.
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