Thai Supreme Court recognizes Bitcoin as legal property
6.6 Regulation Thailand’s Supreme Court rules Bitcoin is legal property, not currency, after a theft case. The offenders received ten-year sentences and must return the stolen BTC.
On October 28, 2026, Thailand’s Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling, officially classifying Bitcoin as property under the Civil and Commercial Code. However, the Court clarified that Bitcoin is not considered currency or legal tender in Thailand. This decision stemmed from a theft case on Koh Samui, where five foreigners were sentenced to ten years in prison for extorting 2.48 BTC (about $50,000) from a Russian tourist couple under threat. The defense argued that a purely digital asset could not be stolen, but the Court rejected this, stating that Bitcoin has market value, can be held or transferred, and thus qualifies as property protected by law. The judges ordered the return of the stolen bitcoins or payment of their equivalent in baht. This judgment sets a binding precedent for Thai courts and clarifies the legal status of crypto-assets in the country, while not granting them legal tender status.
