Vietnam is preparing to introduce a tax framework for cryptocurrency transactions that would align digital assets with securities trading, according to a draft policy circulated by the Ministry of Finance.
Under the proposal, people transferring crypto assets through licensed service providers will be subject to a personal income tax of 0.1% on the value of each transaction, local outlet The Hanoi Times reported. The structure reflects the tax currently applied in the country to trading in shares.
The report shows that the draft circular submitted for public consultation classifies cryptocurrency transfers and trading as exempt from value added tax. However, the turnover tax would apply to investors regardless of their residence status whenever a transfer takes place.
Companies operating in Vietnam would be taxed differently. Institutional investors earning income from cryptocurrency transfers would be subject to a 20% corporate income tax on profits after deducting purchase costs and related expenses, according to the report.
Related: No company is applying to participate in the crypto pilot program in Vietnam due to high barriers
Vietnam formally defines crypto assets
Authorities also reportedly provided a formal definition of crypto assets, describing them as digital assets that rely on cryptographic or similar technologies to issue, store and verify transfers.
The project also sets stringent requirements for operators. Companies wishing to operate a digital asset exchange would need at least 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (about $408 million) in share capital, a threshold higher than required for commercial banks and well above capital standards in many other industries. Foreign ownership would be allowed, but restricted to 49% of the exchange’s equity.
The proposed rules were introduced following Vietnam’s five-year regulated crypto asset market pilot program launched in September 2025. On October 6, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance confirmed that at that time, no company had applied to participate in the five-year cryptocurrency pilot, citing high capital requirements and strict eligibility conditions.
Related: Vietnam’s central bank expects lending to boost due to the rapid adoption of cryptocurrencies
Vietnam opens licenses for cryptocurrency exchanges
Last month, Vietnam began accepting applications for licenses to operate digital asset trading platforms, marking the operational launch of a planned pilot program for a regulated cryptocurrency market.
“Applications for the above-mentioned administrative procedures will be accepted from January 20, 2026.” – Vietnam’s State Securities Commission (SSC) said, calling the move part of a broader effort to bring cryptocurrencies under formal regulatory supervision.
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