Is crypto legal in Vietnam?

Crypto is legal to own and trade in Vietnam under a new pilot framework, but it is still not legal as money. The government opened a five-year pilot crypto market in September 2025, and the Law on Digital Technology Industry, the first law to bring digital assets under regulation, took effect on January 1, 2026. As of October 2026, the market is waiting for its first licensed exchange.

Is bitcoin legal in Vietnam?

Yes as an asset, no as a payment method. In October 2017 the State Bank of Vietnam said that issuing, supplying or using bitcoin and similar virtual currencies as a means of payment is prohibited. It pointed to rules allowing only approved non-cash payment instruments. Using illegal payment means can bring fines of VND150 million to VND200 million, and from 2018 such acts could be prosecuted under the Penal Code.

What is the Vietnam crypto pilot exchange?

Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP, signed on September 9, 2025, set up a five-year pilot. Trading and payment within the market must be in Vietnamese dong. Crypto issued locally must be backed by real assets and cannot be securities or fiat currencies.

The Ministry of Finance began taking licence applications on January 20, 2026. An applicant must be a Vietnamese company with at least VND10 trillion in paid-in capital, at least 65% of it from institutional investors such as banks and securities firms. VietNamNet reported in July 2026 that five applications, including ones from firms linked to VIX and Techcombank, had been assessed as valid. By August 31, 2026, none had been licensed.

Is crypto trading legal in Vietnam?

Yes, but the rules are tightening. Six months after the first licence is issued, domestic investors must trade only through licensed providers. Decree 284/2026/ND-CP, in force since September 1, 2026, sets penalties for crypto violations, and VietNamNet reported fines of VND30 million to VND50 million for domestic investors using unlicensed platforms. An expert quoted by the outlet said investors would not be fined automatically when the decree took effect. Taxes on trading are covered in how is crypto taxed in Vietnam, and the wider context in crypto regulation around the world.

Is crypto mining legal in Vietnam?

There is no specific mining ban in the sources reviewed, and the pilot rules focus on trading rather than mining. In 2018, customs officials in Ho Chi Minh City reported that imports of bitcoin mining machines had stopped while ministries considered a formal suspension. For how other countries treat mining, see is crypto mining legal.

Laws differ by country and change often. Check local regulators or a qualified professional for your own situation.