Bangkok, Thailand ā Thailand’s deputy finance minister, Vorapak Tanyawong, resigned on Wednesday after an investigative report tied his family to alleged cryptocurrency transfers from a ChineseāCambodian criminal network.
Resignation after one month in office
Vorapak, a banker with more than 30 years’ experience who had been appointed in September 2025, stepped down after just about 30 days in the post. He had been charged with overseeing financial reforms and a national campaign targeting illicit “grey money” flows.
At a press conference in Bangkok he strongly denied the allegations. “Anyone who tries to use my name to suggest links to fraudsters is lying,” he said, adding that his wife held no cryptocurrency and that his professional dealings were transparent. He said he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul “so as not to burden the government” and stressed he was not forced out.
Allegations from Whale Hunting report
The controversy followed a report by the investigative newsletter Whale Hunting, published by a group calling itself Project Brazen. The newsletter alleged Vorapak’s wife received $3 million in cryptocurrency from a criminal network operating between China and Cambodia.
Vorapak announced he would file defamation suits against those making the claims. He maintained the reports were false and said he would pursue legal action to clear his name.
Prime minister accepts resignation amid anti-fraud drive
Prime Minister Anutin, who had requested a written explanation from Vorapak the day before, accepted the resignation and reiterated the government’s commitment to investigate credible leads. The move came as part of a wider anti-fraud initiative that has seen Thai authorities crack down on online scam operations.
Officials said this year more than 100 scam centres had been dismantled, many allegedly run by Chinese and Cambodian syndicates that target victims globally.
Political fallout and broader instability
Vorapak’s departure intensified pressure on Anutin’s coalition, which assumed power in August after the constitutional court removed the previous prime minister, Paetongtarn, over an ethics breach tied to a border dispute with Cambodia. Paetongtarn also announced her resignation as leader of the Pheu Thai party, leaving the party without a head.
Observers said the twin resignations underscored political turbulence and could complicate the governing coalition’s standing ahead of a possible dissolution of the House in early 2026. The episode has rekindled public debate over whether the allegations reflect a genuine anti-corruption push or are part of a broader political struggle.
Questions remain about the credibility of the claims and whether Vorapak was made a scapegoat to shield the administration from further disruption. The controversy is likely to linger as investigators and political actors weigh next steps.