Thailand’s Supreme Court rules that Bitcoin is property
Thailand’s Supreme Court recently ruled in a criminal case that Bitcoin has economic value because it can be held, traded, and exchanged for cash, and can be regarded as “property” in the legal sense.
In a recent case, the victim exchanged $50,000 into Bitcoin and then transferred it to a criminal group. The point of dispute was whether Bitcoin, which exists electronically, can become the object of “property infringement” in a criminal offense. The Supreme Court of Thailand’s judgment No. 4929/2569, heard by all judges, held that Bitcoin has market value; it can be bought and sold, and can also be exchanged for cash when there is a buyer; the public can hold and control it; therefore, the Bitcoin transferred by the victim was not “intangible and worthless data,” but property that can constitute the object of a property crime.
It should be noted that in this criminal case, the Thai court confirmed that Bitcoin can serve as property protected by law and possibly harmed by crime, rather than confirming that it has legal tender status like the baht.
Original sources:
Title: Thailand's Supreme Court rules Bitcoin qualifies as property in robbery case Publisher: Crypto Briefing Publication date: 2026-10-28 URL: https://cryptobriefing.com/thailand-supreme-court-bitcoin-legal-property/ Source type: media report Verification status: read in this session, accessed on 2026-10-28 Supporting content: judgment No. 4929/2569, case facts, the court’s finding on market value and convertibility, upholding the conviction
Title: Thailand’s Supreme Court Recognizes Bitcoin as Property in Criminal Case Publisher: TokenPost Publication date: 2026-10-28 URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/42742 Source type: media report Verification status: read in this session, accessed on 2026-10-28 Supporting content: confirms the court found Bitcoin has market value, can be held and traded, and can be exchanged for cash, and is not legal tender
Title: Thailand’s Supreme Court Rules Bitcoin Is Property, Upholds Robbery Conviction Publisher: The Crypto Times Publication date: 2026-10-28 URL: https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/10/28/thailands-supreme-court-rules-bitcoin-is-property-upholds-robbery-conviction/ Source type: media report Verification status: read in this session, accessed on 2026-10-28 Supporting content: heard by all judges, case background, legal basis (relevant provisions of the Civil Code), explanation that it is not legal tender
ABAB AI Insight
This case arose from a robbery in 2022 on Koh Samui, Thailand, in which the victim was forced to transfer Bitcoin converted from about $50,000 to a criminal group. The defendant appealed, arguing that Bitcoin lacked intrinsic value and could not constitute the object of a property crime.
The Supreme Court’s full bench rejected that argument in judgment No. 4929/2569 and, based on relevant provisions of the Civil Code, held that Bitcoin, as an object that can have value and be held, meets the definition of property. The court also cited the opinion of the Bank of Thailand and made clear that crypto assets are not legal tender, but that their market value and ability to be held are enough for them to be protected under criminal law.
The ruling upheld the lower court’s guilty finding and 10-year prison sentence for the defendant, and ordered the return of the Bitcoin or its equivalent in cash. It provides a precedent for lower courts in handling similar cases, but it does not give Bitcoin the same legal tender status as the baht.
ABAB News · Cognitive Law
Bitcoin was recognized as property under criminal law because it has market value and can be held.
The court clearly distinguished property status from legal tender status.
The ruling provides a precedent for the protection of digital assets in property crime cases.