Vietnam is set to implement a taxation system for cryptocurrency transactions, aligning them with stock trades, as outlined in a new proposal by the Ministry of Finance. The proposed tax framework suggests a 0.1% personal income tax on crypto transfers executed through licensed providers, reported The Hanoi Times. This levy mirrors the tax currently applicable to stock transactions in Vietnam.
The draft policy, open for public consultation, proposes that while crypto transfers and trades are exempt from value-added tax, a turnover-based tax will apply regardless of the investor's residency status upon executing a transfer. In contrast, businesses operating within Vietnam would face a different tax structure. Institutional investors profiting from crypto transfers would incur a 20% corporate income tax, calculated after deducting purchase costs and related expenses.
The policy draft also introduces a formal definition of crypto assets, identifying them as digital assets utilizing cryptographic or similar technologies for their issuance, storage, and transfer verification. Additionally, the proposal sets stringent requirements for digital asset exchange operators. Companies aiming to establish such platforms would need a minimum charter capital of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately $408 million), surpassing the capital requirements for commercial banks and many other sectors. Foreign ownership is permitted but limited to 49% of an exchange’s equity.
This initiative follows Vietnam's significant status, ranking fourth globally in cryptocurrency adoption, according to Chainalysis. The proposed regulations coincide with Vietnam's ongoing five-year pilot for a regulated crypto asset market, launched in September 2025. Despite the initiative, as of October 6, 2025, no companies had applied to join the pilot, attributed to high capital demands and stringent eligibility requirements.
In a related development, last month, Vietnam began accepting applications for licenses to operate digital asset trading platforms, marking a step forward in its pilot program for a regulated crypto market. The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) announced that applications for these administrative procedures would be accepted starting January 20, 2026, as part of efforts to integrate cryptocurrency into a formal regulatory framework.