Thailand's Supreme Court has ruled that Bitcoin is property under Thai civil law, in a full-bench judgment arising from a robbery on Koh Samui. The court did not treat Bitcoin as legal tender. The ruling gives lower courts a reference point for similar disputes.
Thailand's highest court has classified Bitcoin as property, something a person can own, lose, and have stolen. The decision came out of a violent robbery on Koh Samui.
A robbery case produces judgment 4929/2569
The Supreme Court issued full-bench judgment 4929/2569, which places Bitcoin under Sections 137 and 138 of the Civil and Commercial Code. Five foreign nationals were convicted of assaulting a tourist and forcing the victim to transfer 2.480801 BTC.
That amount was valued at approximately $50,000, or 1.878 million THB. Each defendant received a 10-year prison sentence, and the court ordered them to return the Bitcoin or pay equivalent cash restitution.
According to crypto.news, the defendant argued on appeal that Bitcoin had no intrinsic value and so could not be stolen under Thai law. The court rejected that argument.
Why the court called Bitcoin property
The court's reasoning rested on three points: Bitcoin is defined data on a network, it has a market value that can be converted into cash, and people can hold or transfer it. Crypto.news adds that the judges also pointed to Thailand's 2018 Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses, which defines cryptocurrency as electronic data.
Property status does not make Bitcoin money. The court said it is not legal tender, a position the judgment tied to the Bank of Thailand's stance that digital assets are not recognized for settling debts.
Building on a 2025 ruling
An earlier 2025 ruling classified Bitcoin as movable property in an embezzlement case. The new decision addresses Bitcoin taken by force instead.
Crypto Briefing reports that, because the judgment came from a full bench, it carries the weight of binding precedent for lower courts. Legal recognition as property is also expected to strengthen victims' rights in crypto-related crime, making restitution and enforcement more straightforward.
The ruling addresses Bitcoin specifically, so how courts will treat other tokens remains an open question.
Sources: Crypto Briefing, crypto.news
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