Vietnam is preparing a tax framework that would treat cryptocurrency transactions similarly to securities trading, according to a draft policy circulated by the Ministry of Finance.
The proposal would impose a 0.1% personal income tax on the value of each crypto transfer made through licensed service providers, mirroring the levy applied to stock transactions. The draft, released for public consultation, also classifies crypto transfers and trading as exempt from value-added tax. However, the turnover-based tax would apply to investors whenever a transfer is executed, regardless of residency.
Corporate entities would face a different regime. Institutional investors earning income from crypto transfers would be subject to a 20% corporate income tax, calculated on profits after deducting purchase costs and related expenses.
Authorities provided a formal definition of crypto assets in the draft, describing them as digital assets that rely on cryptographic or similar technologies for issuance, storage and transfer verification.
The draft outlines strict licensing and capital requirements for operators. Firms seeking to run a digital asset exchange would need at least 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (about $408 million) in charter capital—a threshold higher than that required for commercial banks and far above capital standards in many other industries. Foreign ownership would be permitted but capped at 49% of an exchange’s equity.
Vietnam ranks fourth in the world for crypto adoption. Source: Chainalysis
The proposed rules follow a five-year pilot program for a regulated crypto asset market launched in September 2025. On Oct. 6, 2025, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that no companies had applied to participate in the pilot at that time, citing high capital requirements and strict eligibility conditions.
Last month Vietnam opened applications for licenses to operate digital asset trading platforms, marking the operational launch of the pilot. The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) said applications for the administrative procedures would be accepted beginning Jan. 20, 2026, framing the move as part of a broader effort to bring crypto under formal regulatory oversight.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
