Thai Authorities Arrest Suspects in Worldcoin Raid Over Unlicensed Operations

On October 24, 2025, Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) conducted a joint raid on a Worldcoin iris scanning site in Bangkok, resulting in the arrest of suspects accused of operating a digital asset exchange without a license. The operation targeted violations of Section 26 of the Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses B.E. 2561 (2018), which mandates all digital asset businesses in Thailand to be registered. Breaching this rule carries criminal penalties under Section 66 of the same decree.

Authorities confirmed that the raid was coordinated to limit risks of fraud and money laundering for users interacting with unlicensed Worldcoin platforms. Investigators took suspects into custody at the scene, and further enforcement steps are underway. The exchange service was flagged for violating rules outlined in Section 3, which defines digital asset business activities in Thailand. According to Thai law, any such activity must follow strict licensing procedures.

Prior to the arrests, the SEC had issued a public warning about unlicensed operations tied to Worldcoin, advising people to avoid exchanging WLD tokens through unapproved platforms. The SEC's surveillance unit had been tracking operators suspected of violating licensing requirements, focusing on trading activity and promotional methods. During a press conference, SEC Deputy Secretary-General Jomkwan Kongsakul stated, "This collaboration will enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in prosecuting and suppressing unlicensed digital asset businesses, while protecting users from lack of legal protection and mitigating risks of scams and money laundering."

In a related development, the Thai government launched a pilot program on Monday to allow foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into baht, with a limit of 550,000 baht (approximately $16,949.15) over 18 months to prevent abuse and detect money laundering. Conversions must go through registered Thai exchanges and into digital wallets for use at local businesses. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira noted that the project aims to support tourism and boost spending.