The Government of Vietnam has approved new rules of administrative responsibility for operations with digital assets. The document establishes strict penalties for trading cryptocurrencies outside of platforms that have received an official license from the Ministry of Finance. For individuals, the amount of the penalty will range from fifteen to twenty-five million dong. Organizations will face more serious consequences, where fines reach fifty million dong. The decree comes into force on September 1, but sanctions for domestic investors will begin to apply six months after the first license is issued. These rules apply to both citizens of the country and foreign participants in the local market.

The regulator paid special attention to preventing illegal financial flows and protecting the domestic market. Vietnamese investors are prohibited from purchasing crypto assets, which, under the terms of the pilot program, are intended exclusively for foreigners. The trading of assets issued in Vietnam should be strictly conducted between foreign participants through licensed operators. Companies face fines of up to two hundred million DONG for providing services without permission or advertising unlicensed platforms. The authorities also gained the right to confiscate the equipment and forcibly remove the violators' software. Separate sanctions are provided for violations of anti-money laundering requirements, including a strict ban on the use of anonymous accounts.

The pilot program for regulating the cryptocurrency market was launched in September 2025 for a period of five years. Acceptance of applications for licenses started in early 2026, and about ten financial institutions expressed their willingness to enter the regulated market. According to the Deputy Finance Minister, five companies have already been agreed to participate in the launch of trading platforms. Candidates are required to undergo a thorough capital, personnel, and technical infrastructure review. The minimum paid-up capital of the operator is set at a significant level of ten trillion dong. It is worth noting that in 2025, Vietnam ranked fourth in the global cryptocurrency distribution index, which makes the new regulation particularly significant for the global industry.