Driven by the hype surrounding crypto investment, M Vision Plc, the organiser of Thailand Mobile Expo, is holding Thailand Crypto Expo to showcase digital assets, exchanges and crypto mining equipment, in parallel with its four-day flagship mobile phone fair, which kicks off today.
The company said the move is aimed at attracting new investors interested in digital assets.
According to the "Digital 2022 Global Overview Report", Thailand is the world leader in terms of the proportion of the country's internet users who own cryptocurrencies.
"This is a great opportunity to attract visitors in the new wealth group, which is the same group as those who purchase high-end smartphones," said Opas Cherdpunt, chief executive of M Vision.
Both Thailand Mobile Expo and Thailand Crypto Expo, which cover a total space of nearly 20,000 square metres, are scheduled to be held at Bitec from today until May 15.
At the crypto event, 80% of the exhibitors are providers of digital coins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and utility tokens and GameFi, while the remaining 20% comprise mining equipment suppliers, security consultancies and exchanges.
Referring to Thailand Mobile Expo, Mr Opas said the scale of the event has halved with a drop in exhibitors due to a lack of variety in terms of handset models in each price segment as well as a supply shortage, which has made mobile phones more expensive. Most of the models featured are in the high-end segment, he said.
The event did not go ahead last year due to the pandemic.
He said he is aware of the current negative sentiment regarding stock and crypto trading, caused by the sluggish economic situation and inflation.
He said the markets commonly see a big selloff for profit taking every two years.
"As the prices go down, this would be a perfect time to buy," said Mr Opas.
He said a Thai crypto investor typically spends at least 10,000 baht on each purchase.
Thailand Crypto Expo is the event where many new projects will present their coins and tokens while attracting new potential purchasers, he said.
It is the event where businesses involved with digital coins can collaborate to broaden their ecosystems.
There is also a growing trend to use NFTs for fundraising and borrowing and the event will enable new investors to catch up with these new investment trends offered by trusted projects.
For example, cannabis plantation owners may issue an NFT for investors and the profits from the sale of cannabis could then be shared among the investors.
"NFT owners can sell the tokens to others or sell them back to the issuers," said Mr Opas.
The event will also have seminars and workshops on various topics, such as blockchain, NFTs, tokens, GameFi and crypto.
According to Mr Opas, the show is expected to attract at least 300 foreign investors and project owners.
With an increasing interest in digital asset investment, shopping mall Seacon Square has set aside a space for the digital asset community, called The Moon: NFT & Crypto Café.
The project serves as a meeting place for digital asset enthusiasts, and it could also drive additional foot traffic to the mall.
Pongsathon Chandavimol, the community creator at Seacon Square, said the rise of Web3 and the popularity of cryptocurrency is driving interest among young people.
The rollout of a series of new projects involving the metaverse, NFTs and tokens could create communities of interest.
Seacon Square also aims to set aside its space for a crypto academy.
