Service review

Senate Exchange

Exchange service with two Phuket offices, ranked #2 of 10 for 2026.

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What It Is

Senate Exchange is an exchange service for Russian-speaking clients with two offices in Phuket — Kata, on Kata Road, and Bang Tao, in Plaza Del Mar — plus further offices in Pattaya and Bangkok. It is the closest competitor to the leader of this ranking by range of services.

On the input side it is the broadest here: roubles from Mir and UnionPay cards and through Russia's Faster Payments System (SBP), along with USDT, BTC and ETH. No fixed minimum is published, but amounts below 10,000 THB are exchanged at a less favourable rate.

How It Works

A request is placed with a manager, after which the baht can be collected four ways: at one of the two offices, by courier, at an ATM through a QR code, or by transfer to a Thai bank account. For an office visit you need identification — a passport or a driving licence.

Because offices sit on the west coast, the practical question is distance. From Kata and Bang Tao a counter visit is quick; from Rawai, Nai Yang or Mai Khao it is a drive, and the courier or ATM route usually wins.

How It Compares

Against 2Change, Senate Exchange adds two counters and a courier, and loses on small sums: below 10,000 THB the rate turns less favourable, whereas 2Change keeps one minimum of 8,000 THB for both of its payout methods. Against ExFM, which also takes roubles and USDT, Senate has two island addresses to ExFM's one and no 49,999 THB threshold for a better rate.

Against ARBI Exchange and Money Shop Phuket it is the only one of the three that lists USDT, though both of those run more offices — five and seven respectively. For a visitor staying near Kata or Bang Tao who wants to hand money over in person and holds crypto rather than roubles, this is the strongest fit in the ranking.