Thailand SEC Files Criminal Complaint Against Bitget, Orders Ban by Dec. 5

Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a criminal complaint against BG Limited, the corporate operator of crypto exchange Bitget, for allegedly running an unlicensed digital asset business ¹. The regulatory agency stated on Nov. 5, 2026, that it has formally instructed the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to block user access to Bitget beginning Dec. 5, 2026 ¹. The upcoming restriction encompasses Bitget's primary website, connected web domains, and smartphone app ¹.

According to the securities regulator, Bitget facilitated crypto trading services between 2022 and 2025, collected trading fees from customers, and marketed its services using Thai-language websites and social channels without obtaining the required domestic permits ¹. The SEC stated that these commercial operations breached Thailand's digital asset business licensing requirements ¹. Following these findings, the regulator advised local platform users to manage and take action concerning their hosted assets before the Dec. 5 enforcement cutoff ¹.

Regulatory Enforcement and Next Steps

The formal complaint was submitted directly to Thailand's Economic Crime Suppression Division to initiate an official investigation ¹. Public prosecutors will determine whether to advance formal criminal charges, while domestic courts will subsequently decide on criminal liability ¹.

Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society holds the legal authority to block unlicensed digital asset trading platforms under a 2025 decree established to protect investors and curb illicit financial activities ¹. The action follows broader scrutiny in the region, echoing regulatory pressures seen when South Korea blocked 27 unregistered crypto platforms following compliance reviews. Bitget did not provide immediate comment regarding the enforcement action ¹.