Regulatory and commercial pressures behind Southeast Asia's retail broker boom

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Southeast Asia is attracting retail brokers to enter the market, obtain licenses, or establish regional offices, but market growth is uneven. A September 2026 survey found that two-thirds of respondents across six countries had already invested, while another 26% planned to start within 12 months. Thailand currently does not allow retail speculative forex trading through platforms or websites, while Deloitte Thailand points out that brokers face declining trading volumes, pressure on margins, and rising operating costs.