WORPT App Lets Tourists Convert Crypto Into Thai Baht for Everyday Spending

WORPT, a new app from Wipay and Waan Exchange, lets foreign tourists in Thailand convert cryptocurrency into baht and pay merchants by scanning a code, under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s TouristDigiPay sandbox.

The company projects 200,000 users in its first year and 15 billion baht in spending over the 18-month trial, a target rather than reported activity.

Thailand turns to crypto payments to revive tourism spending

Thailand’s tourism industry is facing pressure as international visitor numbers and tourism-related revenue weaken. The decline has increased the importance of attracting higher-value travellers who can contribute more to the hospitality, retail and restaurant sectors.

Against this backdrop, digital payment solutions are emerging as another tool for making the country more attractive to international visitors.

The WORPT app is positioned to serve cryptocurrency holders who want to use their digital wealth while travelling in Thailand. Its payment model allows tourists to convert supported cryptocurrencies into the local currency before making purchases at participating businesses.

The approach could also reduce some of the inconvenience associated with conventional foreign-exchange arrangements. Visitors who hold cryptocurrency would have an additional payment option instead of relying exclusively on cash, international cards or traditional currency conversion services.

However, the service operates within a regulated framework rather than functioning as an unrestricted cryptocurrency payment network.

Wipay and Waan exchange develop WORPT under TouristDigiPay

The application was developed through a partnership between Wipay and Waan Exchange, a company founded by Chaval Jiaravanon, a member of Thailand’s billionaire Chearavanont family.

Its operations fall under TouristDigiPay, a regulatory pilot introduced by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The programme provides a framework for eligible foreign visitors to convert digital assets into baht for spending within the country.

Under the arrangement, cryptocurrency is converted into local currency before being used for purchases. This distinction is important because the system is designed to facilitate baht-based transactions rather than allow tourists to pay merchants directly in cryptocurrency.

The WORPT app uses barcode-based payments, connecting tourists to a payment method already familiar to many Thai merchants. This could make adoption easier for businesses that already accept the country’s widely used QR and barcode payment systems.

The initiative also reflects a wider international interest in connecting cryptocurrency ownership with practical financial services. Bhutan and Brazil introduced comparable crypto-funded payment initiatives for foreign visitors in 2025, demonstrating growing experimentation with digital-asset-based tourism payments.

WORPT targets Asian and Middle Eastern crypto holders

Wipay founder Pavin Jittiwongsamarn said the company is targeting cryptocurrency holders from South Korea, Japan, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

These markets represent potential customer groups for a service designed around international travel and digital-asset ownership. By focusing on visitors who already hold cryptocurrency, the company hopes to establish a user base without depending entirely on conventional banking customers.

The WORPT app has set an ambitious adoption target, with its developers expecting approximately 200,000 users during its first year.

The company also projects that transactions could generate 15 billion baht in spending throughout the 18-month trial. That figure represents an estimated spending target, not confirmed transaction activity or revenue already generated by the platform.

If achieved, the projected spending could provide additional activity for participating retailers, restaurants and tourism-related businesses.

Nevertheless, the programme’s performance will depend on several factors, including tourist adoption, merchant participation, supported cryptocurrencies, conversion arrangements and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Can WORPT change how tourists spend in Thailand?

The launch of the WORPT app highlights how cryptocurrency companies and regulators are exploring practical applications for digital assets beyond trading and investment.

For tourists, the potential attraction is convenience. Being able to convert cryptocurrency into baht and spend it through an established local payment method could simplify certain aspects of travelling without requiring a Thai bank account.

For Thailand, the programme offers an opportunity to test whether digital-asset payment infrastructure can support tourism spending while remaining within regulatory safeguards.

However, the projected 200,000 users and 15 billion baht spending target will need to be measured against actual participation throughout the trial. Merchant coverage, transaction limits, exchange rates and the overall user experience will also influence whether the initiative gains traction.

The WORPT app therefore represents more than another cryptocurrency application. It is part of Thailand’s broader experiment with regulated digital-asset services and their potential contribution to the tourism economy.

Whether the platform reaches its ambitious targets remains to be seen, but its introduction signals an effort to make cryptocurrency more useful to international visitors beyond conventional investment activities.