Author

Topic: BitCoin ruled illegal in Thailand (Read 4508 times)

hero member
Activity: 924
Merit: 501
August 02, 2013, 02:43:11 PM
#39
Wow, what a thoughtful addition to the conversation.   Roll Eyes


"Any type of currency enchange service in Thailand needs to get a license from the Bank of Thailand, according to the Exchange Control Regulations in Thailand whether it’s “real” money or not. That’s why Bitcoin Co. Ltd. needed to be authorised to operate, and since it didn’t have that authorization, it was forced to shut down."

http://memeburn.com/2013/08/bitcoin-and-thailand-whats-really-happening/

Sounds almost exactly like what happened with FinCEN DHS and MtGox.... well except that these guys actually tried to follow the law and voluntarily shut down unlike MtGox and all the other illegal bitcoin exchanges.

"However, the Bank of Thailand isn’t just ignoring this matter. It’s working with the relevant authorities such as the Ministry of ICT and the Securities and Exchange Commission to sort this out. Using Bitcoin in any way within the Kingdom of Thailand is banned for now"

OMG Goat, you must be scared, they seem to be coming for you directly.


"Prasan Trairatworakun, Bank of Thailand’s governor, says that the bank hasn’t approved Bitcoin Co. Ltd. to do business in Thailand because the transactions that the company is involved in center around the exchange rate but are not an actual currency exchange (since bitcoin is not a physical currency)."

hero member
Activity: 924
Merit: 501
August 02, 2013, 01:13:44 PM
#38
heerrrp a derrrppp press is now the courts...


No, nor is FinCEN's statement the equivalent of Case Law in the US... but it would be smart to follow the advice, no?


"The ruling means it is illegal to buy and sell bitcoins, buy or sell any goods or services in exchange for bitcoins, send any bitcoins to anyone outside of Thailand, or receive bitcoins from anyone outside the country".

https://bitcoin.co.th/news/

At the conclusion of the meeting senior members of the Foreign Exchange Administration and Policy Department advised that due to lack of existing applicable laws, capital controls and the fact that Bitcoin straddles multiple financial facets the following Bitcoin activities are illegal in Thailand:

Buying Bitcoins
Selling Bitcoins
Buying any goods or services in exchange for Bitcoins
Selling any goods or services for Bitcoins
Sending Bitcoins to anyone located outside of Thailand
Receiving Bitcoins from anyone located outside of Thailand


hero member
Activity: 924
Merit: 501
August 02, 2013, 09:34:43 AM
#37
"THAILAND MAKES BITCOINS ILLEGAL BECAUSE ITS LAWS ARE TOO OLD-FASHIONED"
http://www.fastcompany.com/3015007/fast-feed/thailand-makes-bitcoins-illegal-because-its-laws-are-too-old-fashioned

"A bitcoin company says the virtual currency is illegal in Thailand"
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/07/29/bitcoin-now-illegal-in-thailand/?mod=MW_latest_news

"Thai central bank rules Bitcoin to be illegal"
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/29/bitcoin-illegal-in-thailand


Well somebody better go tell the news media that bitcoin is not illegal because it certainly looks illegal...
full member
Activity: 168
Merit: 100
August 01, 2013, 06:22:26 AM
#36
"Dont feed the trolls,please."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsMj6UK4i7g
hero member
Activity: 630
Merit: 500
Bitgoblin
August 01, 2013, 04:37:45 AM
#35
but nobody bothered correcting because nobody wants to run the story "Our earlier story was a load of shite" or "Japan not banning Tor, nothing interesting happened today".
And that's why rectifying should be enforced by law.
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
July 31, 2013, 08:59:05 PM
#34
Yeah, but the really funny yet awesome thing about all of this is THEY CAN'T BAN BITCOIN.
Unless they shut down the internet forever. LMAO!
sr. member
Activity: 352
Merit: 250
https://www.realitykeys.com
July 31, 2013, 06:54:23 PM
#33
I can't believe how far FUD can fly, i've never seen it to this degree before.

It happens all the time, especially with non-English-speaking countries where English-language journalists don't know how to check sources.

Another recent example was the claim that Japan were banning Tor. This came from someone reading an English-language report and jumping to conclusions, which then got relayed to the BBC and all the most trustworthy tech news sources. Somebody then went back and checked the original minutes that the first English-language report had been based on and discovered there was nothing like a ban being suggested, but nobody bothered correcting because nobody wants to run the story "Our earlier story was a load of shite" or "Japan not banning Tor, nothing interesting happened today".
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 250
Supersonic
July 31, 2013, 08:06:31 AM
#32
From a bangkok post article in the newspaper today (business page 1)
Quote
The central bank said it will consider the issue further with no specific time line, said the company’s statement.

Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said the central bank rejected the request for foreign exchange operating licence of bitcoins on concern that it would lead to currency exchange speculation.
‘‘We need some time to seek advice from the ICT ministry and the Securities and Exchange Commission first,’’ he said

This was in an article attributed to AP, but the online versions of the article dont have that info (even on the version on the newspaper's site). Remembered reading it in the paper earlier... so looked it up in an online service...



I guess this is the only instance of a reply from BoT about this issue....
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 250
Supersonic
July 30, 2013, 01:18:02 PM
#31
Would be the first court that can rule things illegal I ever heard of anyway. That's the parliaments/kings/dictators job. Courts interprets law, they don't make it.

i just find it funny how people think some guy in a bank = court = law


idiots all around...

You are correct. It did not say "court." However, I think that it would be very naive to totally disregard the fact that the Bank does not recognize the Bitcoin as a legitimate source of currency. I do not see how that does not factor into whether or not this public announcement will affect the use of Bitcoins in Thailand. When you want to make a point, you should not try to disprove other people's statements via name-calling. That only makes you look like you want to win your argument by any means necessary and not because your argument is actually a sound one.

Also, a court's interpretation of the law has A LOT to do with how the law is enforced. Words without meaning really don't mean much, do they?

Its the opposite. The statement if true recognizes Bitcoin to be a form of currency.
newbie
Activity: 14
Merit: 0
July 30, 2013, 01:14:02 PM
#30
Would be the first court that can rule things illegal I ever heard of anyway. That's the parliaments/kings/dictators job. Courts interprets law, they don't make it.

i just find it funny how people think some guy in a bank = court = law


idiots all around...

You are correct. It did not say "court." However, I think that it would be very naive to totally disregard the fact that the Bank does not recognize the Bitcoin as a legitimate source of currency. I do not see how that does not factor into whether or not this public announcement will affect the use of Bitcoins in Thailand. When you want to make a point, you should not try to disprove other people's statements via name-calling. That only makes you look like you want to win your argument by any means necessary and not because your argument is actually a sound one.

Also, a court's interpretation of the law has A LOT to do with how the law is enforced. Words without meaning really don't mean much, do they?
hero member
Activity: 683
Merit: 500
July 30, 2013, 12:31:55 PM
#29
Also in Belgium on the news, saddening how bad the news media verify their sources.
hero member
Activity: 952
Merit: 1009
July 30, 2013, 12:02:35 PM
#28
Would be the first court that can rule things illegal I ever heard of anyway. That's the parliaments/kings/dictators job. Courts interprets law, they don't make it.
newbie
Activity: 14
Merit: 0
July 30, 2013, 11:42:51 AM
#27
btc is legal in thailand, you all got trolled...




An online website from the UK definitely reported that the Thailand court ruled that the exchange of bitcoins for currency is illegal. At least if it involves an international transaction.

A court eh...


Source please.

If it is a real media site and not some random scam site or blog i will give you a free btc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/currency/10210022/Bitcoins-banned-in-Thailand.html

^^This is the article that I was specifically referring to, but there are many more online.
sr. member
Activity: 462
Merit: 250
Firing it up
July 30, 2013, 10:42:31 AM
#26
I think, there is something wrong with. No one can block the mining but limit the usage. Better to read who first.
hero member
Activity: 882
Merit: 501
Ching-Chang;Ding-Dong
hero member
Activity: 816
Merit: 1000
hero member
Activity: 630
Merit: 500
Bitgoblin
July 30, 2013, 08:48:11 AM
#23
Not only this is FUD and OP didn't bother checking the source, but he also capitalised incorrectly Bitcoin in the thread title... -.-
hero member
Activity: 882
Merit: 501
Ching-Chang;Ding-Dong
July 30, 2013, 08:45:32 AM
#22
I can't believe how far FUD can fly, i've never seen it to this degree before.
legendary
Activity: 1022
Merit: 1001
I'd fight Gandhi.
July 30, 2013, 08:37:25 AM
#21
I can't find any credible source and/or government (thailand) declaring that Bitcoins are illegal. Goat has pretty much covered what I was going to say.
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 250
Supersonic
July 30, 2013, 08:24:57 AM
#20
First I should say I completely believe that Goat would know what he's talking about here...

Secondly, my dutch friend was just telling me he read about bitcoin being made illegal in thailand.

Not sure how this FUD can be being spread sooo far!


I know right!   Some random guy running a suspected scam site makes some crazy claims and the next thing i know i have 100 PMs and E-mails telling me to leave Thailand!

Insane!

Pi Goat,
Ive used their exchange in the past, did not get scammed. Ive also used bahtcoin.com cpl of times, it seems they are still operational.

Question to you is... in your opinion... is it this exchange trolling us, or is it BOT trolling the exchange?
hero member
Activity: 728
Merit: 500
In cryptography we trust
July 30, 2013, 08:18:48 AM
#19
Secondly, my dutch friend was just telling me he read about bitcoin being made illegal in thailand.

Confirmed, an article with the title "Thailand bans Bitcoin" was on the homepage of one of the main news websites this morning. Only inside the article you would find that their only "source" was this blogger.
hero member
Activity: 952
Merit: 1009
July 30, 2013, 07:09:19 AM
#18
I know right!   Some random guy running a suspected scam site makes some crazy claims and the next thing i know i have 100 PMs and E-mails telling me to leave Thailand!

You better grab your doe and kids and hoof it to the nearest bleating boat, NEAHHH!
hero member
Activity: 882
Merit: 501
Ching-Chang;Ding-Dong
July 30, 2013, 06:56:23 AM
#17
First I should say I completely believe that Goat would know what he's talking about here...

Secondly, my dutch friend was just telling me he read about bitcoin being made illegal in thailand.

Not sure how this FUD can be being spread sooo far!
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
July 30, 2013, 03:03:56 AM
#16
Yeah I read it dude. I'm just posting a blogger's opinion.  We'll see how this plays out.
hero member
Activity: 886
Merit: 1013
July 30, 2013, 03:02:57 AM
#15
One cannot just stop the fud machine. Thailand is not the place where any written law have considerate meaning.
legendary
Activity: 2128
Merit: 1002
July 30, 2013, 02:06:46 AM
#14
This puts a blocker on one BTC project I know that's running in Thailand now.
I suspect there's going to be some positive news next month.
newbie
Activity: 14
Merit: 0
July 30, 2013, 01:52:20 AM
#12
btc is legal in thailand, you all got trolled...




An online website from the UK definitely reported that the Thailand court ruled that the exchange of bitcoins for currency is illegal. At least if it involves an international transaction.
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
July 30, 2013, 12:34:48 AM
#11
btc is legal in thailand, you all got trolled...


Not I sir.  What I'm saying is I think the bankers are throwing this out there for some media hype and as a scare tactic to test the waters.  The price actually went up recently.  Can't stop a locomotive.

no bankers did not, it was a drunk troll who posted on his own website. then linked it here in the press section and people started to think it might be true. there is no source for this and the logic the troll is using is just silly.
It's all over the media. Not from a troll.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/7/29/4569126/bitcoin-tries-to-become-legal-currency-in-thailand-gets-outlawed

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/currency/10210022/Bitcoins-banned-in-Thailand.html

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/07/29/bitcoin-now-illegal-in-thailand/?mod%3DMW_latest_news

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/29/bitcoin-illegal-in-thailand

http://thenextweb.com/asia/2013/07/30/thailands-government-rules-bitcoin-as-illegal-resulting-in-an-indefinite-trading-suspension/

yes, but what is their source?

keep in mind the media report that the real press is copying got moved out of the press section cuz "FUD".

You and they all got trolled.
When I first read those headlines, the first thought that popped into my head was "bankers can't make laws."  All central banks in the world are in cahoots with each other.  They decided to test this threat on a small innocuous country and see where it takes them. 

I understand you're having fun calling people trolls but you seem to be quite the troll as you call others trolls.  No offense taken.
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
July 29, 2013, 11:59:46 PM
#10
btc is legal in thailand, you all got trolled...


Not I sir.  What I'm saying is I think the bankers are throwing this out there for some media hype and as a scare tactic to test the waters.  The price actually went up recently.  Can't stop a locomotive.

no bankers did not, it was a drunk troll who posted on his own website. then linked it here in the press section and people started to think it might be true. there is no source for this and the logic the troll is using is just silly.
It's all over the media. Not from a troll.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/7/29/4569126/bitcoin-tries-to-become-legal-currency-in-thailand-gets-outlawed

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/currency/10210022/Bitcoins-banned-in-Thailand.html

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/07/29/bitcoin-now-illegal-in-thailand/?mod%3DMW_latest_news

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/29/bitcoin-illegal-in-thailand

http://thenextweb.com/asia/2013/07/30/thailands-government-rules-bitcoin-as-illegal-resulting-in-an-indefinite-trading-suspension/
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
July 29, 2013, 11:33:05 PM
#9
btc is legal in thailand, you all got trolled...


Not I sir.  What I'm saying is I think the bankers are throwing this out there for some media hype and as a scare tactic to test the waters.  The price actually went up recently.  Can't stop a locomotive.
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
July 29, 2013, 04:24:20 PM
#8
I'll bet this is a testing ground for other countries.  Kinda like the test they did with Cypress.  Bitcoin won on Cypress and will win here.
legendary
Activity: 1330
Merit: 1026
Mining since 2010 & Hosting since 2012
July 29, 2013, 04:06:02 PM
#7
All they have done is create a black market for Bitcoins.    Unforceability is the problem.   
legendary
Activity: 3038
Merit: 1032
RIP Mommy
sr. member
Activity: 266
Merit: 250
July 29, 2013, 12:10:33 PM
#5
BAD NEWS Shocked
legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1004
July 29, 2013, 09:11:51 AM
#4
Bad news for Goat.
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 250
Supersonic
July 29, 2013, 09:07:42 AM
#3
Wonder how they'll enforce it...

Apologies for going off topic.... but... you would be surprised whats legal/illegal in Thailand. Every person in Thailand probably breaks dozzens of laws on a daily basis which the authorities choose to ignore until you've stepped on the wrong toes...

http://www.stupidlaws.com/laws/countries/thailand/
Quote
It is illegal to not wear underwear in public.
Quote
No one is permitted to swim across a river unless they have a coin in their pocket.
hero member
Activity: 490
Merit: 500
July 29, 2013, 07:59:43 AM
#2
Say whaaa?!  Shocked
hero member
Activity: 557
Merit: 500
July 29, 2013, 07:25:01 AM
#1
First shot across the bow!  Thailand rules that all transactions involving BTC are illegal.  Wonder how they'll enforce it...

https://bitcoin.co.th/trading-suspended-due-to-bank-of-thailand-advisement/?bettertitle

Quote
Buying Bitcoins
Selling Bitcoins
Buying any goods or services in exchange for Bitcoins
Selling any goods or services for Bitcoins
Sending Bitcoins to anyone located outside of Thailand
Receiving Bitcoins from anyone located outside of Thailand
Jump to: