Visionary Worawat Narknawdee proposes Bitcoin adoption for Thailand’s reserves, drawing international attention to the nation’s economy.
Prominent Thai businessman and investor Worawat “Acme” Narknawdee, also known as Acme Traderist, stirred global discussions by advocating for Bitcoin as a reserve asset for Thailand. In a Facebook post on his page, he invited inquiries, saying, “If Thailand needs ‘Bitcoin’ (BTC) as a reserve fund, contact me via inbox,” accompanied by the hashtag #AcmeTraderist.
This announcement gained significant traction on social media, with users tagging Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and Bank of Thailand. The post coincided with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of $99,000 (3,465,000 baht) per coin on November 21.
Narknawdee, a 36-year-old fintech expert and founder of the fintech company Bitnance, launched in 2021 with a capital of 150 million baht, has a strong presence in cryptocurrency and trading circles. His Traderist initiative, which educates individuals on finance and investment strategies, has earned him a following of over five million globally.
He revealed his early involvement with cryptocurrency, starting as a self-funded Bitcoin miner in 2012 when the currency was valued at less than 5,000 baht. After the 2014 collapse of the Mt. Gox exchange, he transitioned from mining to acquiring Bitcoin, amassing over 3,000 BTC by investing 30 million baht at 10,000 baht per BTC. Today, he is believed to hold at least 11,000 BTC, making him the largest Bitcoin holder in Thailand and surpassing El Salvador’s government holdings.
Beyond cryptocurrency, Narknawdee invested over 10 billion baht (300 million USD) in the UAE during 2023, focusing on luxury real estate, services, and fintech. His philanthropy includes two record-breaking Bitcoin giveaways—13 BTC in 2017 and 3 BTC in 2021—amounting to a combined 55,440,000 baht at current rates.
Narknawdee also developed his cryptocurrency, ACT (ACET), in 2021, now held by over 150,000 individuals globally, with a trading value exceeding 13 billion baht. His contributions to financial technology earned him an Honorary Doctorate in Finance from EIU-Paris in 2023.
