Thailand has implemented stringent new regulations for retail gold trading effective March 1, targeting speculative activities that have driven up the value of the Thai baht and hurt the country's competitiveness. According to a notice on the Bank of Thailand's website, individuals engaging in online gold transactions denominated in Thai baht will now face a daily limit of 50 million baht (approximately $1.6 million) per person and per platform. These restrictions do not apply to US dollar-denominated transactions, physical gold store purchases and sales, or futures market activities. Furthermore, the central bank has mandated that all trades must be fully prepaid via electronic payment and has prohibited nominee accounts and short selling, stating these measures will enhance market transparency and standardization. The move underscores the central bank's growing concern that large-scale gold trading in baht is amplifying the local currency's appreciation. Over the past year, the baht has strengthened by about 9%, ranking as the second-best performer among Asian currencies tracked by media. Authorities indicated that this rally is partly linked to US dollar selling associated with gold transactions, which has already placed pressure on exports and tourism, adding to the economy's downward challenges.