Crypto services from Binance and Gulf Energy’s joint venture, Gulf Binance, will initially be available to Thai residents on an invitation-only basis.
Binance will publicly roll out a Thailand-based crypto exchange in early 2024 via a joint venture with local energy giant Gulf Energy Development.
A Nov. 15 Stock Exchange of Thailand filing by Gulf Energy said the Gulf Binance venture will initially be on an invitation-only basis with a public rollout by early 2024. The firm received approval from the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Nov. 10.
A Binance spokesperson confirmed that the platform has initially launched as an invitation-only exchange and would give more details as information becomes available.
On May 26, Gulf Binance received digital asset operator licenses from Thailand’s Ministry of Finance, which enabled it to operate a crypto exchange regulated by the country’s SEC. At the time, Binance had planned to launch its Thai arm by Q4 of 2023.
On the same day, Binance’s regional head of Asia, Europe and the Middle East and North Africa, Richard Teng, said the exchange would harness “Gulf’s established local presence and network,” and Gulf Binance aims to show the potential of blockchain technology to local users.
Gulf Energy is one of Thailand’s largest natural gas distribution companies. It was founded and is run by Thai billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi. The company actively invests across different business verticals, including renewable power generation, infrastructure development projects and digital infrastructure businesses, among others.
At the time, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, highlighted the company’s intent to partner with various authorities worldwide to help with “restoring the trust in the digital-asset ecosystem.”
