Vietnam to Launch First Regulated Crypto Exchange by 2026

Vietnam shifts strategy to formalize its crypto market, planning a licensed exchange by 2026 with strict institutional capital and ownership requirements.

The move marks a sharp pivot in Hanoi’s approach to digital assets. Rather than restricting the sector as seen in other jurisdictions, Vietnam is moving to formalize, tax, and integrate it into the domestic financial infrastructure. Authorities expect the country’s first licensed domestic crypto exchange to begin operations as early as the third quarter of 2026.

Local regulators aim to bring order to an existing crypto market that currently operates primarily through international platforms beyond Vietnam’s jurisdiction. The country remains one of the world’s most active digital asset markets, currently ranking seventh globally in terms of the number of crypto investors.

High Barriers for New Entrants

The new framework targets institutional participants, setting exceptionally high standards for licensing.

Operators must be registered in Vietnam and maintain a minimum capital of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately $400 million). Furthermore, local entities must hold at least 65% of the ownership. Banks, brokerage firms, or insurance companies are required to provide at least 35% of the capital through at least two institutional investors.

Foreign participation is capped at 49%. International exchanges will be barred from operating directly in the market without a local partner and a corresponding licensed structure.

These requirements effectively merge the crypto sector with the traditional financial system, ensuring that participating institutions are already under the direct supervision of local regulators.

Taxes on Every Transaction

Alongside the new market structure, Vietnam is introducing a mechanism for the automated taxation of crypto transactions.

Under the new rules, individual investors will pay a 0.1% tax on the gross value of every transaction. Notably, this levy applies regardless of whether the trade results in a profit or a loss. Licensed platforms will withhold and remit these funds automatically, removing the need for users to file annual declarations.

Corporate investors will be subject to the standard 20% corporate income tax on realized profits. Foreign companies, meanwhile, will face a 0.1% tax on the total value of the transfer.

All settlements must be processed through licensed banks and conducted exclusively in Vietnamese dong.

This strategy reveals that Vietnam views cryptocurrencies as essential infrastructure for a future digital economy rather than a passing speculative trend. By bringing the sector within its regulatory perimeter, the country is attempting to transform one of Southeast Asia’s largest crypto markets into an official pillar of its financial system.

For global giants like Binance and OKX, this presents a critical choice: establish a local presence through joint ventures with Vietnamese institutions or risk losing access to one of the region’s fastest-growing crypto markets.