BANGKOK: A new payment application in Thailand now allows foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht for everyday purchases, as the country seeks to revive tourism spending.
The platform, named WORPT, enables travellers to exchange digital assets into local currency and pay at shops and restaurants by scanning standard Thai payment barcodes. Visitors can use the service without opening a local Thai bank account.
WORPT was developed by Wipay Co and Waan Exchange Co, founded by Chaval Jiaravanon of Thailand’s Chearavanont family. The service operates under TouristDigiPay, an 18-month regulatory pilot overseen by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission. Comparable crypto-based payment systems for international visitors were introduced in Bhutan and Brazil in 2025.
The launch arrives as Thailand faces a second straight annual drop in foreign tourist arrivals alongside declining international tourism receipts. With tourism serving as a key driver of the national economy, officials are working to draw higher-spending travellers.
According to Wipay founder Pavin Jittiwongsamarn, the app is targeting cryptocurrency holders from South Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The company expects to attract 200,000 users in its first year and estimates 15 billion baht (about US$440 million) in transactions during the 18-month trial.