Thailand Caps Cash Payments for Gold to Boost Transparency

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is proposing new rules to tighten cash payment limits for gold bar transactions conducted through physical gold shops, aiming to improve transparency and prevent transactions involving unclear sources of funds that could affect the baht exchange rate. The central bank is seeking public comments and suggestions between July 22 and August 20, 2026, through the BOT website and Thailand’s central legal consultation platform on proposed revisions to foreign exchange control regulations. The BOT said domestic gold trading involves large transaction values and has a significant impact on foreign exchange movements. While online gold trading platforms are already required to process payments through electronic payment systems, physical gold shops currently have no specific payment format requirements, creating risks from high-value cash transactions. Authorities said large cash payments could potentially be used for transactions without clear economic activity or unidentified sources of funds, making it more difficult to monitor activities that may influence exchange rate stability. Under the proposed rules, cash payments for gold bar purchases and sales at physical gold shops would be limited as follows: The draft rules would also require buyers and sellers to personally receive or deliver gold bars in certain transactions. The BOT said the measures would not affect ordinary customers or gold businesses conducting lower-value transactions, who can continue using cash or electronic payments as usual. However, customers involved in higher-value transactions would need to use electronic payment methods for amounts exceeding the cash limits. The central bank emphasized that the proposal does not restrict the amount of gold that can be bought or sold. Instead, it changes how payments are processed to improve tracking of large transactions, increase transparency, and strengthen confidence in Thailand’s gold market and financial system.