Vietnam is moving toward a formal tax framework for cryptocurrency transactions that would treat digital assets similarly to securities trading, according to a draft policy issued by the Ministry of Finance.
Under the proposal, individuals trading or transferring crypto assets through licensed service providers would be subject to a 0.1% personal income tax on the value of each transaction, local outlet The Hanoi Times reported. The levy mirrors the tax currently applied to stock trades in Vietnam.
The draft circular, which has been released for public consultation, reportedly classifies crypto trading and transfers as exempt from value-added tax. However, the turnover-based tax would apply to all investors — regardless of residency — whenever a transaction is executed.
Corporate entities would face a different tax treatment. Companies earning income from crypto transfers would be subject to a 20% corporate income tax, calculated on net profits after deducting acquisition costs and related expenses, according to the report.
Vietnam formally defines crypto assets
The proposal also introduces a formal definition of crypto assets, describing them as digital assets that rely on cryptographic or similar technologies for issuance, storage and transaction verification.
In addition, the draft outlines strict requirements for market operators. Firms seeking to operate a digital asset exchange would need a minimum charter capital of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately $408 million) — a threshold higher than that required for commercial banks and significantly above capital requirements in many other sectors. Foreign ownership would be allowed but capped at 49% of an exchange’s equity.
The proposed rules come as Vietnam moves forward with a five-year pilot program aimed at establishing a regulated crypto asset market, which officially launched in September 2025. On Oct. 6, 2025, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that no companies had applied to join the pilot at that time, citing steep capital requirements and stringent eligibility criteria.
Vietnam opens licensing for crypto exchanges
Last month, Vietnam began accepting license applications for digital asset trading platforms, marking the operational rollout of its planned regulated crypto market pilot.
“Applications for the relevant administrative procedures will be accepted starting Jan. 20, 2026,” the State Securities Commission of Vietnam said, describing the initiative as part of a broader effort to bring cryptocurrency activities under formal regulatory oversight.
