- Thai prime minister candidate Srettha Thavisin promises a digital currency airdrop of $300 to every citizen if elected.
- Concerns arise over the proposal’s impact on Thailand’s financial system and the source of funds for the airdrop.
Thai Prime Minister Candidate Pledges $300 Digital Currency Airdrop for Citizens, Sparking Concerns
Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai candidate running for Thailand’s prime minister, has vowed to airdrop 10,000 Thai baht ($300) in digital currency to every citizen aged 16 and above if he wins the general election in May. The plan, which aims to attract crypto assets and blockchain innovation to Thailand, requires the funds to be spent within a 4-kilometer community radius within six months of the project’s first phase, according to a Bangkok Post report.
Thailand would not be the first nation to distribute digital currency to its people, as El Salvador previously airdropped $30 worth of bitcoin to Chivo wallet users. However, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a minister in the prime minister’s office, has expressed concern about the proposal and its potential impact on Thailand’s financial system. Wangboonkongchana is requesting more details, while Preeyaphat Raksasana, a university student, questioned the source of the funds for the airdrop, calling the policy “disgusting.”
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, several countries have provided one-time direct stimulus payments or considered proposals like universal basic income (UBI) to citizens. In June 2023, the Thai government implemented a 140 billion baht ($4.5 billion) stimulus package, with a significant portion allocated for one-time direct stimulus payments.
Conclusion:
The promise of a $300 digital currency airdrop to every citizen by a Thai prime minister candidate has raised concerns about the proposal’s impact on the country’s financial system and the source of funds for the airdrop. While similar initiatives have taken place in other countries, it remains to be seen how the proposed airdrop will be implemented in Thailand, should the candidate be elected.
