Money in Thailand: Currency, Exchange Rate, Exchange, Cards – Personal Experience and Current Tips

Frequently asked questions and answers

On this page we have gathered in one place the most complete and reliable information about money and currency in Thailand from our experience and the experience of other travelers. Read it and you will know everything. But first, here are quick answers to the most frequent questions:

• Are old-style dollars accepted in Thailand?
  Yes, they are accepted. They are not accepted everywhere and sometimes at a rate slightly lower than new ones, but in general you can always exchange them. But important! They must be in perfect condition.
• Can you bring euros or yuan to Thailand instead of dollars?
  Yes, you can. The rate for them is acceptable, and taking into account the discount on old dollar bills, there is almost no difference. There is a calculation below, take a look.
• Are rubles accepted in Thailand?
  Yes, cash rubles are accepted and exchanges are made through bank transfers. But the rate is noticeably less favorable than exchanging through dollars, euros, or yuan. Again, there is a calculation below.
• Which currency is better to bring to Thailand?
  Based on our practice and calculations, we follow the rule that you can bring dollars, euros, or yuan (the difference is small), and never bring rubles. See the detailed calculation below in the article.
• Do Mir or UnionPay cards work in Thailand?
  Mir does not work at all. UnionPay cards from non-sanctioned banks (for example, Rosselkhozbank and ATB) still work.
• Is the exchange rate at Thailand's airport good, is it worth exchanging there?
  From our own experience we know that an excellent exchange rate is only available at certain exchange offices at Suvarnabhumi Airport (which ones, read below). At all other airports we have only encountered unfavorable rates 0.5–2 baht lower than in the cities.
• Can you use cryptocurrency in Thailand?
  Yes, you can within the experimental TouristDigiPay regime, but only for payment (conversion to cash is not available) and there are major difficulties for Russians. There are options for exchanging to cash through "gray" exchange offices on the spot, but this carries risk for your money. Read more about cryptocurrency in the corresponding section of the article.

What currency is used in Thailand: baht, banknotes and coins

The currency of Thailand is the baht (THB, Baht). One baht equals 100 satang. Coins in circulation are 25 and 50 satang, 1, 2, 5, and 10 baht; banknotes are issued in denominations of 10 baht, 20 baht, 50 baht, 100 baht, 500 baht, and 1,000 baht. Satang have practically gone out of circulation and are almost never seen.

In Thailand, only local money is accepted for payment. Payment in dollars or euros is not made, except perhaps for paying for excursions and other services to tourist guides in person.

Thai baht exchange rate to the ruble, dollar and euro today

Over the years of crisis and the fall of the Russian economy, the Thai baht exchange rate caught up with the ruble in value, and then greatly overtook it. Now the ruble has become much cheaper than the Thai baht, and a one-to-one conversion, as could be done a few years ago, is no longer acceptable. For a rough conversion of an amount in Thai baht to rubles, you need to multiply the amount in baht by approximately 2.5. For example, 100 baht is approximately 250 rubles, and 500 baht is 1,250 rubles.

You can check the current real buying and selling rates in different banks in Thailand on this website http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net, and here are the current market rates and a currency calculator for conversion:

Market exchange rate (Thai baht) for today (02/10/2026)

• 100 бат (THB) = 247,33 rubles (RUB)
• 1 US dollar (USD) = 33,71 THB
• 100 rubles (RUB) = 40,43 THB
• 1 euro (EUR) = 37,87 THB

Real currency exchange rate *

• 1 US dollar (USD) ≈ 33,04 - 33,64 THB
• 1 euro (EUR) ≈ 37,11 - 37,79 THB

* - The real exchange rate is calculated taking into account the fees charged by exchange offices and banks for the exchange. It can also be higher than the calculated one, but if you are offered an exchange rate lower than this, it's a reason to think about finding another place to exchange.

Currency Calculator*

Amount:
from	US dollarrubleeuroThai baht ↺
to	US dollarrubleeuroThai baht ↺
Result:

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* The calculator converts amounts based on official world currency exchange rates. When exchanging currency at exchange offices, the rate will differ slightly depending on the exchange office's commission.

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* - With the widget enabled, the exchange rate of the selected currency will be displayed in the right sidebar on every page of the site until you disable it yourself.

Everything about cash currency

• Which currency to bring to Thailand: dollars, euros, yuan or rubles

  It is best to bring cash dollars, euros, or yuan to Thailand; there will not be much difference in the final amount after exchange between these currencies (see the calculation below). The rate for large dollar bills (50 or 100) is higher than for small bills, so it makes sense to bring large bills specifically. You will not need small dollars for payments here; all payments in the kingdom are only in baht. Here, for example, is the rate at one of the exchange offices in Thailand for bills of different denominations:

  • $1-$2 - 34.18 baht
  • $5-$20 - 34.78 baht
  • $50-$100 - 35.18 baht

  From this it follows that when exchanging 100 dollars in small bills you will lose 100 baht (about 2.97 USD).

  Besides the dollar and euro, for a trip to Thailand you can now bring any of the world currencies you have on hand; almost all are accepted for exchange there, including Chinese yuan and even Russian rubles. But most often travelers choose between dollars or Chinese yuan, since both currencies can now be freely bought at bank exchange offices and at broker cash desks.

  To make it easier for you to decide, we made an exact calculation at one moment of real exchange rates at exchange offices in Russia and at the Superrich chain exchange in Bangkok, which traditionally offers the best rates, to assess the difference. The calculation is made for the amount of 100,000 rubles to see how much we get in baht in the end:

  Comparison of exchanging 100,000 RUB to THB (September 2026)

  Exchange method	Currency buying rate in Russia	Intermediate currency received	THB rate in Thailand	Final amount in THB	Difference from USD in baht	Difference from USD in %
  Through old dollars (USD)	84.99 RUB/USD	1,176.61 USD	33.09 THB/USD	38,934 THB	0	0.00%
  Through euros (EUR)	98.2 RUB/EUR	1,018.33 EUR	37.87 THB/EUR	38,564 THB	-370	-0.95%
  Through yuan (CNY)	12.85 RUB/CNY	7,782.1 CNY	4.94 THB/CNY	38,443 THB	-491	-1.26%
  Through new dollars (USD)	86.65 RUB/USD	1,154.07 USD	33.09 THB/USD	38,188 THB	-746	-1.92%
  Cash rubles in Thailand (Superrich Bangkok)	Rate in Thailand: 0.37 THB/RUB		Direct exchange	37,000 THB	-1,934	-4.97%
  Non-cash rubles in Thailand	Rate in Thailand: 0.34557 THB/RUB		Direct exchange	34,557 THB	-4,377	-11.24%
  Cash rubles in Thailand (TT Exchange Pattaya)	Rate in Thailand: 0.335 THB/RUB		Direct exchange	33,500 THB	-5,434	-13.96%
  Cash rubles in Russia (Sber)	30.33 RUB/ 10 THB		Direct exchange	32,970 THB	-5,964	-15.32%

  As a result, it turns out that exchanging through old-style dollars in 2026 is the most profitable, then euros, yuan, and only then new-style dollars. But all this works strictly on the condition that you are willing to spend time finding a chain exchange office where old bills are accepted at the new rate, more on that below.

  As for exchanging cash rubles, in our opinion, there is no point in even looking in that direction for now.

  For buying currency in Russia, the real cash buying rate at the cash desk of a well-known Russian bank in Moscow with minimal buying rates was used. Of course, you need to take into account that real currency buying rates in the regions may be higher, but this does not change the essence much, since the overall picture will be similar.

  We made a calculator to calculate the profitability of currency exchange in Thailand for different exchange methods and currencies; you can calculate everything yourself in the moment and decide what is more profitable for you. The calculator works here.

• Are old-style dollars accepted

  Now banks in Russia mostly sell dollars of old years of issue without the blue security strip. Because they have a weak degree of protection and there are many counterfeits, they are accepted for exchange all over the world very reluctantly, and Thailand is no exception. But in general you can exchange them; the situation is not as critical as inexperienced tourists describe and the media write.

  Yes, at some exchange offices they really refuse to accept them because they cannot distinguish the original from a counterfeit and are afraid of getting a fake. But if one exchange office does not accept them, then you need to go to other places or to banks. After going around a few points, you will definitely find a place to exchange them. The rate for them is usually 0.1–0.5 baht lower, which is about 0.4%–2% lower than for new-style bills. In reviews we even came across a difference of 1 baht, which is already 4%, but here perhaps we are talking about bills with signs of use.

  Here are proven chains where we periodically exchange old dollars at the new rate – Superrich and T.T. Exchange. But we cannot guarantee that they will 100% accept them at the first branch you come across; you may have to go around several. We exchanged at the exchange offices at Suvarnabhumi (lower level near the metro station), at the central Superrich offices in Bangkok (Pratunam area), at T.T. Exchange in Pattaya at several branches. For Phuket we do not have exact information with names, but we received information from other tourists that you can find such exchange offices on Patong and in Phuket Town.

  This is important! The bills must be in perfect condition. If they have signs of use like scuffs, creases, tears, signatures, or stamps, they can easily be refused or accepted at a very low rate. At some exchange offices, bills are even checked under ultraviolet light for mold, so do not store currency in too damp places for a long time.

• Can you exchange rubles in Thailand

  At Bangkok airport, popular tourist resorts and cities, you can easily find exchange offices and banks that also exchange rubles. But the rate is usually set extremely unfavorably, so double conversion through dollars or euros (i.e., buying cash dollars or euros at home and exchanging them in Thailand for baht), even with all the fees, is always more profitable. So it is better to save rubles in Thailand for the most critical case as a backup option.

  However, it is worth noting that in recent years the demand for the ruble at popular Thai resorts Pattaya, Phuket, and in Bangkok has grown, and you can find exchange offices with a quite decent rate, when the losses from a direct exchange of rubles will not be so significant. See the fresh calculation of exchange rates through rubles, dollars, and yuan above.

  If you have a choice of what to exchange rubles for before a trip to Thailand, dollars or euros, it is better to give preference to the dollar (at least for now). But if you already have a certain amount in euros on hand, do not run to the exchange office and exchange them for dollars before a trip to Thailand, since you will lose more from converting euros to dollars.

• Can you buy Thai baht in Russia

  Yes, you can, but it is not desirable. In 2024, Sber launched the exchange of Thai baht at its branches, first only in Moscow and St. Petersburg; now the geography of branches has expanded, check your city and region on the bank's website. Information about exchange branches and the current rate is on the bank's website.

  

  So you can decide whether it is worth buying Thai baht in Moscow or St. Petersburg, we made an exact comparison calculation of the profitability of the exchange rate at Sber compared to exchanging through cash dollars and exchanging rubles in Thailand at current real rates. As the base amount for exchange we take 100,000 rubles:

  • Baht directly at Sber at the selling rate of 27.59 rubles per 10 baht

    100,000 / 27.59 * 10 = 36,245.

  • Exchange through dollars at Sber rates and one of the best Superrich exchange offices in Thailand
    • 1. Buying US dollars for rubles at the rate of 85.9.
      100,000 / 85.9 = 1,164.14 US dollars.
    • 2. Buying baht for US dollars at the current Superrich rate.
      1,164.14*33.57 = 39,080 baht.
  • Exchange of cash rubles for baht at Superrich (best rate 0.31)

    100,000 * 0.35 = 35,000 baht.

  The calculation shows that the rate for buying Thai baht at Sber is not very profitable yet and is much inferior to exchanging through dollars. At the time of calculation the difference is 7.25%. This means that from every 100,000 rubles when buying baht at Sber you will lose 7,250 rubles compared to exchanging at the same moment through buying cash dollars. Therefore, for now, for large amounts we do not recommend exchanging rubles for baht at Sber. But if you need a small amount in baht for the initial time, you can consider this option.

• Where it is more profitable to exchange currency in Thailand: airport, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket

  Note! When exchanging currency at official exchange offices and banks in Thailand, they ask for a passport; this is required by law. Without showing a passport, you may well be refused exchange.

  If you arrived in Thailand by plane, you can exchange a little dollars at the airport so that you have money for small expenses. The exchange rate at Thailand's airports is acceptable, but do not rush to exchange all your money at the airport, since in the cities you will find a slightly better rate. But if you arrive at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, there is an exchange office there with a very good rate, even higher than in some places in the city and at many resorts. This exchange office is located on the lowest level of the airport near the turnstiles (on the left) at the entrance to the Airport Rail Link (ARL) airport metro. You can safely exchange a large amount there if you are heading straight from Bangkok without stopping to islands like Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Samet, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan.

  

  As for exchanging at resorts and in cities, you can exchange money almost anywhere in Thailand, down to the most remote tourist islands or towns. True, there are some nuances worth knowing so as not to exchange at an unfavorable rate:

  First of all, the smaller and more remote the resort or city, the harder it is to find an exchange and a good rate. So if you are heading to a less touristy place or an island, it is better to take care of cash in advance. And in general, from our own experience we know that the best exchange rate in Thailand can be found in Bangkok, and therefore we always try to exchange the maximum amount right after arrival there. We explain where it is profitable to exchange money in Bangkok here.

  

  In Pattaya there is a chain exchange office T.T. Exchange, we always exchange there. They have many branches around the city. The rate differs slightly. You can find the nearest one on the map or on the website; you can check the rate on their website https://ttexchange.com/

  In Phuket there are no chain exchange offices, at least we do not know of any. If you know of any, share in the comments. From our own experience we know that at Phuket airport the exchange rate is very bad, and also very bad at some beaches (districts). So if you need a definitely good rate, you will have to go to Patong, Phuket Town, or Chalong; there we came across a good rate at exchange offices.

  Do not exchange money at exchange offices at hotels – the rate there is not the most favorable. It is best to exchange at exchange offices (points with the sign Exchange) or at banks. In any large shopping mall there is an exchange office of some bank. Large banks usually work only on weekdays from 8:30 to 22:00; small banks and licensed exchange offices work on weekdays from 8:30–9:30 to 15:00–15:30. In resort areas, bank working hours are usually longer.

  In tourist areas, exchange offices can be found on almost every corner. The difference in rates is small, but if you want to find the most favorable rate, walk a little along the street, look at the rates (there is no need to even go into banks or exchange offices; exchange rates are usually visible from the street), and choose a more profitable place. Also keep in mind that the exchange rate depends on the denomination of the bill you are exchanging (rates for different denomination categories are shown on the rate board): the lowest rate is offered for banknotes of 1 to 20 dollars, the highest for new-style bills of 50 and 100 dollars (the difference can be up to 2–3%). Crumpled and worn bills may be refused, or taken at a reduced rate.

  There is another point: when exchanging US dollars, old-style bills (before 1993) and bills of some later years of issue are not always and not everywhere accepted (they may not be accepted even at a bank), which is due to the large number of counterfeits of that year of issue.

• Import and export of cash currency, limits

  There are no restrictions on the amount of imported and exported cash foreign and Thai currency, however, on import and export any foreign currency equivalent to more than 20 thousand dollars is subject to mandatory declaration. At the same time, you will not have to pay any duties; you are only obliged to declare the amount and answer all the customs officer's questions. The declaration procedure at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is carried out on the fourth floor and takes no more than 15 minutes.

  When exporting Thai currency in the amount of 50,000 baht (1483 USD) or more, you must also go through the declaration procedure. At the same time, the export of Thai currency to Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam is limited to 500,000 baht.

Bank cards in Thailand: which work, fees, UnionPay

The use of plastic cards in Thailand is very common. You can pay by card even in the smallest shop; ATMs are almost on every corner on the streets, in shopping malls, large stores, and institutions. Banks classify Thailand as a high-risk country, and therefore before your trip it is better to inform your bank that you will be in such and such a country during such and such a period, otherwise after the very first transaction the card may be blocked. Usually you can inform your bank about this by the phone number indicated on the card, and in other cases you will have to visit the bank and notify the operators.

When withdrawing cash at ATMs, a fee of 200–220 baht is charged (about 6.53 USD), regardless of the withdrawal amount. This is a fee from the Thai ATM, but do not forget that there is also your bank's fee for withdrawing cash at a third-party ATM, which we explained above. In addition, a number of banks set a maximum possible one-time withdrawal amount of no more than 10,000 baht (297 USD), and only some are able to dispense up to 20,000 baht. Of course, the larger the amount you withdraw at one time, the smaller the loss from this fixed fee.

When withdrawing cash, before finally pressing the "Dispense cash" button, you will be able to see information on the ATM screen about the fees for the withdrawal amount. Of course, to make the exchange more profitable, it is better to find an ATM that dispenses large amounts at once, and withdraw the maximum at once. In general, exchanging through cash in Thailand is still more profitable than withdrawing cash at ATMs. At the same time, paying for goods and services with a plastic card is more profitable, since no additional fee is charged for payment.

You can also withdraw money from plastic cards of foreign banks at branches of local banks, and no fee is charged for this. The minimum amount for withdrawal at a bank is 2,000 baht. True, recently local banks have started introducing a fee for this operation as well as at ATMs, or even simply refusing to cash out. So you may have to go around several banks for this. According to reports, the banks Krungsri and Bangkok Bank still allowed withdrawal without a fee, but the situation may change for the worse.

• Russian cards in Thailand: Mir, UnionPay – what works

  Cards of the Russian payment system Mir do not work in Thailand as of 2026, although this issue has been under consideration for a long time. But given that sanctions are provided for using the Mir system by the "progressive" West, most likely this issue will not be resolved in the near future.

  In Thailand, UnionPay cards from Russian banks work perfectly both for cash withdrawal and for payment. You can pay and withdraw almost anywhere with rare exceptions.

  However, again due to sanctions, as of 2026, only a few Russian non-sanctioned banks remain that still issue cards of the Chinese UnionPay payment system suitable in Thailand for payment and cash withdrawal. Among the large and well-known banks, only Rosselkhozbank issues working UnionPay cards.

  UnionPay cards from Gazprombank, Tinkoff, Pochta Bank, Russian Standard, and other large and well-known banks no longer work.

  And do not forget about the fees from the Russian bank for withdrawing cash at third-party ATMs. You can only find this information in the detailed description of the tariff specifically for your card, and you also need to take into account the connected options.

  Important! It is important to understand here that even with the same card, different clients of the bank may have different tariffs and conditions, so you should not rely on the experience of other travelers that they share in blogs and chats. In other words, if someone writes that they withdraw money from an RSHB card without a fee, this does not mean that you will have exactly the same. And of course you should not believe advertising messages promising "withdrawal without commission", since there are always conditions written in the "fine print".

  To decide in which currency it is more profitable to open a UnionPay card, read our calculation and comparison in the article – Choosing the right UnionPay card: rubles, yuan, dollars or euros

  For example, at the moment under the most popular tariff "Svoya Karta Plus" at RSHB, the fee at third-party ATMs will not be charged only if you had card expenses of more than 30,000 rubles in the previous month. In other cases, the fee will be 4% of the amount and not less than 70 Chinese yuan for cards in yuan, and 1.5% and not less than 250 for ruble cards. So study the tariffs specifically for your card and before each trip, since they are also changed by banks unilaterally without personal notification.

  Here is a comparison of UnionPay cards as of 2026:

  Tariffs and fees for UnionPay cards from Russian banks

  Bank and tariff	Card issue	Card maintenance	Cash withdrawal fee	Fee for payment at terminals	Link to all conditions
  Rosselkhozbank / Svoya Karta Plus	First ruble card free, 380 yuan, 55 dollars and 45 euros for currency cards respectively	Free	4% of the amount (minimum 70 yuan) for cards in yuan, 1.5% of the amount (minimum 250 USD) for ruble cards. Free if turnover for the previous month is more than 30,000 rubles	No fee	All conditions here
  Gazprombank / Universal (no longer works)	5,000 rubles, refundable if conditions are met	Free	450 rubles for each operation	No fee	All conditions here

• Getting a bank card in Thailand

  If you cannot imagine traveling without a bank card that works everywhere, and not selectively like Russian UnionPay cards (but honestly, they work almost everywhere), then you can get a bank card in Thailand. There are two options for this:

  • Open an account at a Thai bank and get a card for it

    This is a rather complicated method, practically unavailable to tourists without a long-term visa. You will have to fill out a lot of documents, insurance is often additionally imposed, and loyalty to issuing depends on the specific bank and even its specific branch. Therefore, for tourists and travelers this option is not suitable. But if you travel to Thailand for work or winter there for several months, you can try to apply. For this, it is better to contact bank branches in large cities in shopping malls and tourist areas; there the chance for foreigners to open an account is higher. But be prepared for the fact that you will have to immediately deposit an amount of at least a thousand dollars equivalent into the account or agree to paid insurance.

  • Get a Kasikorn Bank prepaid card

    The Visa PAY & TOUR non-personalized card from Kasikornbank is a prepaid card for payments within the country. You can get it, top up its account with baht, and pay at retail outlets in the country. In fact, it is simply a safe replacement for cash so you do not have to carry large amounts with you.

    You can get the card at Kasikornbank currency exchange points. There is such an exchange office including at Suvarnabhumi Airport, so you can get it right after arrival and top it up. The card is valid for 1 year.

    To manage the card account there is the TAGTHAi app; it allows you to pay by QR code, check the balance, and get various bonuses for purchases.

    But there are also downsides:

    • The card works only in Thailand; it does not work even in neighboring Laos or Malaysia
    • It does not support online payments (booking hotels, paying for a visa, tickets, etc.). It does not support them at all! None!
    • Incoming and outgoing transfers are impossible
    • Card top-up only at physical bank points and only directly in dollars or euros at the bank's conversion rate, which is 1–1.5 lower than at chain exchange offices

    You can learn more on the bank's website – https://www.kasikornbank.com

  

QR code payment in Thailand

With a QR code in Thailand you can pay at store checkouts, in cafes, and even at markets, and this payment system is rapidly expanding. If you see a sign with a QR code at the seller or the inscription Thai QR, it means you can pay. Just do not confuse it, since some retail outlets only work with Alipay or WeChat QR codes, and payment through them is only from the corresponding apps.

To pay you need internet; it is better to buy a local SIM card than to use roaming.

QR code payment through Russian apps

In Thailand, QR code payment works through the apps of Russian banks SberBank and MTS Bank, and VTB may start working.

We tested this method and calculated the real losses. It turns out that paying by QR code "eats up" almost 7% compared to paying with a UnionPay card in yuan, topped up through a broker, and about 4% compared to a ruble UnionPay card.

For small purchases (up to 500–1,000 baht) this is quite acceptable and convenient. But for large expenses it is better to use card payment or cash.

The payment process is no different from paying in Russia: open the app, scan the QR code, confirm the amount (in baht; you will not see it in rubles at the moment of payment).

But then the differences begin. Payment and debiting do not happen instantly. It happens as a transfer after some time. That is, the seller does not see the payment right away, and you do not see the debit in the app right away, but at the same time you see the operation itself. Yes, it all sounds strange, and because of this problems sometimes arise: sellers refuse to hand over the seemingly paid goods, although you see the operation. Usually in such cases the money is not debited, and the operation will show as canceled, but only after a day or two. Because of these difficulties, some sellers at checkouts refuse to accept Russian QR code payments, and there are now even reports of this on signs at store checkouts in tourist areas.

To avoid getting into such an ambiguous situation, before paying for at least large purchases it makes sense to check with the seller whether they will accept payment by QR code from a Sber card; local sellers already know what this is. In any case, we advise always having a reserve of cash with you to pay for a purchase. And in general it is always better to reserve a budget in cash, since the system can stop working at any moment due to another package of sanctions.

QR code payment through a local app

If you are lucky enough to open an account at a local bank, you will be able to pay everywhere from the bank's app. If that does not work out, there is one great option – the local TagThai app from Kasikorn Bank, but all this works only in conjunction with the PAY & TOUR bank card we described above.

The principle is this:

• Get the prepaid PAY & TOUR card at a Kasikorn bank point, and top it up right there at branches in cash dollars or euros with exchange at the bank's rate.
• Install the TagThai app (in fact it will be an analogue of an electronic wallet)
• Link the card in the app, and then pay QR codes from the card balance

So this wallet is in fact just an addition for the PAY & TOUR card, and first of all you need to get the card itself. Creating and using the wallet is free and without fees.

Cryptocurrency in Thailand: how to pay, limits and difficulties

Thailand has the TouristDigiPay program to legalize cryptocurrency payment in the country. At the same time, direct payment is still prohibited, but a "sandbox" regime is provided where you exchange cryptocurrency for electronic Thai baht THBS and pay with them.

The idea is generally very cool, but the implementation is still lacking. We have not yet managed to fully test it, but you can try. If you succeed, share in the comments.

There are such restrictions and requirements:

• You will have to pass full KYC identification with your passport.
• It is impossible to exchange crypto for cash in this scheme (at least officially), only non-cash payment.
• The limit is 50,000 baht per month for all payments, and a limit of up to 500,000 baht per month when paying verified sellers.
• The unspent balance can be converted back to crypto only when closing the account.

How to use it in practice

The use is really complicated. You need to install exchange apps for converting from crypto to baht Bitkub (Kub Wallet), Binance TH (by Gulf Binance), register. You deposit cryptocurrency to the exchange, exchange it for THBS, and after that you can pay in local currency at retail outlets via QR codes. Or you open app wallets, for example Q Wallet by Kbank or TagThai, which also require registration and verification, and link the account with THBS from the exchange there (that is, there will already be two apps). You can also contact the bank, open an account, and get a plastic card to transfer THBS to for payment, but this is even more complicated and there are conditions that not every tourist can meet.

But what is the difficulty here, and there are many of them:

• Registration only with a local SIM card (how to buy a local SIM card here).
• For verification you need to personally visit one of the centers with your passport and proof of residence in Thailand (rental agreement or a certificate from the immigration service).
• For Russian citizens registration is restricted. For example, Binance TH is closed to Russians, Bitkub simply does not launch on smartphones with a Russian "registration". To open a Q Wallet by Kbank wallet only 20 countries are available (Russia is not on the list).

It is precisely because of the last reason that we have not yet succeeded in testing this scheme, and in general the impression has formed that for trips of a month or two this option is too costly in time and complexity of implementation. But if you have come for the winter or simply live in one place and have extra time, you can try.

Tips in Thailand

Tips are accepted only in tourist places, but are not mandatory. They are given to porters (5–10 baht), taxi drivers (they round the meter reading up to 5–10 baht), and guides, as well as hotel staff (10–20 baht per day for the maid will be enough if you think your room is well cleaned, or if you want it to be well cleaned in the future). In restaurants, the service charge is often included in the bill as a separate line. In those places where this is not done, you can leave 10%.

But let us repeat once again! In general, the tipping system here is not the basis of staff earnings, as in Egypt, for example. Tips are just an addition that you can leave at will, and no one will expect or demand them from you. In our opinion, in this respect Thailand can quite be compared to Russia.