Former PM of Thailand and his rich friends believe Bitcoin will reach $850,000 – Calls for Thai people to adopt BTC

Source Cryptopolitan

Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand, claims that his friends believe Bitcoin could reach $850,000 in value. He urged Thai people to stay informed about the cryptocurrency’s potential and its increasing relevance to the global economy.

During a special lecture on December 13, 2024, Thaksin said that he isn’t calling for people to buy Bitcoin (BTC), but reiterated, “The trend is like that.”

“There are already many cryptocurrencies. Some people say that in the future, we will have more currencies than countries. Today, Thai people must think and understand this.” he continued.

He warned the Thai trade sector about the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, noting that Thailand must be cautious about possible tax increases and the impact of a trade surplus with the U.S. Thaksin noted that some believe Trump might use Bitcoin to help pay down U.S. debt, a point that generated attention.

Thaksin: Crypto adoption is the trend

In his lecture, Thaksin discussed his ideas for Thailand’s economic future, particularly with regard to the use of stablecoins. He revealed that Prime Minister Shinawatra had instructed the Ministry of Finance to explore the possibility of a pilot program in Phuket to allow Bitcoin payments and study the issuance of stablecoins backed by government bonds. 

According to the former Prime Minister, this would serve as an alternative to printing new banknotes and could help inject liquidity into the economy without burdening the country with additional public debt.

Thaksin also addressed the country’s economic challenges, noting that Thailand’s GDP growth was sluggish. However, he was optimistic about the outlook for 2025. He predicted a 3.5% GDP growth next year and suggested that a 4.0% GDP growth in 2026 would be feasible. 

“I’m still not satisfied because if GDP is less than 5 percent, our country will be inferior to other countries in ASEAN,” he remarked.

In terms of monetary policy, Thaksin expressed concerns about the current state of the Thai economy, mentioning that the money supply was limited due to commercial banks’ reluctance to take risks and lend. As a result, he argued, the Thai government must find ways to stimulate economic activity without further increasing the country’s already high public debt. He suggested that addressing the deficit and increasing tax revenue were essential but difficult challenges.

Thaksin’s remarks follow the Constitutional Court’s removal from office in August 2024. He was ousted for breaching ethics rules related to his appointment of a convicted lawyer to his Cabinet​.

Thailand regulators on course for crypto adoption

For months, Thailand has been seeking ways to integrate crypto into its broader financial landscape. The country ranked 10th in Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index, and several cryptocurrency exchanges received licenses to operate within its jurisdiction.

While institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals have been permitted to invest in crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), regulators have stressed the importance of contingency plans for custodians in case of disruptions. 

According to Nares Laopannarai, President of the Digital Asset Association of Thailand, the overall crypto regulatory framework is unlikely to change drastically, though he pointed out that the government’s digital wallet policy, introduced under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration, might be impacted by political shifts.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also introduced a Digital Asset Regulatory Sandbox aimed at fostering innovation in the country’s cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors. Announced in early August, the initiative provides a controlled environment where businesses can safely test and develop digital asset services under the oversight of regulators.

This program seeks to balance innovation with compliance by allowing companies to experiment with new technologies while adhering to established rules. It is part of the SEC’s strategy to encourage advancements in the digital economy while keeping investors safe and ensuring market stability.

A Step-By-Step System To Launching Your Web3 Career and Landing High-Paying Crypto Jobs in 90 Days.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Dollar index tops 100 for the first time since July as the Fed's hawkish dot plot sinks inThe U.S. dollar index broke back above 100 for the first time since 31 July after the Fed delivered its first rate hike since 2023, with the dot plot showing 16 of 18 officials expect at least one more increase this year. Here are the levels that matter for DXY, the currencies feeling it most, and what to watch next.
Author  Irene Q.
Sep 17, Thu
The U.S. dollar index broke back above 100 for the first time since 31 July after the Fed delivered its first rate hike since 2023, with the dot plot showing 16 of 18 officials expect at least one more increase this year. Here are the levels that matter for DXY, the currencies feeling it most, and what to watch next.
placeholder
Gold ends three-week slide at the $4,400 line — eight straight days of ETF inflows vs a 5% 10-year and a 100 dollarSpot gold closed Friday at $4,378.39, up 0.84% on the day and about 0.8% for the week — its first weekly gain in four weeks — with the intraday high of $4,399.67 leaving it 33 cents shy of the $4,400 line. Gold ETFs have now logged eight straight sessions of inflows, but with the 10-year back above 5% and the dollar index near 100, here is what decides whether this is a reversal or a bounce.
Author  Suzie
Sep 20, Sun
Spot gold closed Friday at $4,378.39, up 0.84% on the day and about 0.8% for the week — its first weekly gain in four weeks — with the intraday high of $4,399.67 leaving it 33 cents shy of the $4,400 line. Gold ETFs have now logged eight straight sessions of inflows, but with the 10-year back above 5% and the dollar index near 100, here is what decides whether this is a reversal or a bounce.
placeholder
Dollar holds above 100 near a 3-month high — three Fed speakers and a $69 billion auction land tonightThe dollar index closed at 100.43 on Monday, its highest close since late July, after a weekly gain of about 1% — the best in more than three months — and is holding above the 100.00 handle in Asia. Three Fed officials speak tonight alongside a $69 billion two-year note auction, the first leg of $183 billion of Treasury supply this week.
Author  Suzie
Yesterday 06: 34
The dollar index closed at 100.43 on Monday, its highest close since late July, after a weekly gain of about 1% — the best in more than three months — and is holding above the 100.00 handle in Asia. Three Fed officials speak tonight alongside a $69 billion two-year note auction, the first leg of $183 billion of Treasury supply this week.
placeholder
October hike odds climb toward 60% as Goldman and BofA both flip — what Warsh's "dose of accommodation" really changedRate futures now price roughly 55% to 62% for a 25bp hike at the October 27-28 FOMC, up from about 30% before Chair Warsh's post-meeting framing that the Fed is merely "removing some accommodation." Goldman Sachs has added an October hike to its forecast and Bank of America now sees moves in both October and December. Here is the repricing, the language behind it, and the two data points that decide it.
Author  Irene Q.
5 hours ago
Rate futures now price roughly 55% to 62% for a 25bp hike at the October 27-28 FOMC, up from about 30% before Chair Warsh's post-meeting framing that the Fed is merely "removing some accommodation." Goldman Sachs has added an October hike to its forecast and Bank of America now sees moves in both October and December. Here is the repricing, the language behind it, and the two data points that decide it.
placeholder
Memory chips surge, Nasdaq notches a second straight record close — why the Dow fell 185 points anywayMicron gained 5%, SanDisk 6.8%, Seagate 4% and Western Digital 3% as the memory complex led the Nasdaq Composite to a second consecutive record close of 27,244.28. But the Dow fell 185 points as JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Schwab slid more than 3% each — a split tape that says more about positioning than about the economy.
Author  Irene Q.
5 hours ago
Micron gained 5%, SanDisk 6.8%, Seagate 4% and Western Digital 3% as the memory complex led the Nasdaq Composite to a second consecutive record close of 27,244.28. But the Dow fell 185 points as JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Schwab slid more than 3% each — a split tape that says more about positioning than about the economy.
goTop
quote