Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a new tax framework that would treat cryptocurrency transactions much like stock trades, introducing a 0.1% levy on each transfer of digital assets conducted through licensed platforms. The draft circular is now open for public consultation and aims to bring clarity to how digital assets will be taxed under the country’s emerging regulatory regime. Under the proposal, individual investors: both residents and non-residents would owe a 0.1% personal income tax on the gross value of every crypto transfer they make through licensed service providers. This mirrors the turnover-based tax applied to stock transactions in the Vietnamese market. At the same time, the draft clarifies that crypto transfers and trading activities would remain exempt from value-added tax (VAT), reaffirming the government’s view of digital assets as financial instruments rather than goods or services liable for consumption tax. Officials say the turnover-based approach eliminates the need to calculate net gains on every trade, simplifying compliance for investors and aligning crypto with the established securities tax model. As part of the consultation, authorities are also seeking feedback on how best to enforce the tax and what systems licensed providers must put in place to collect and remit it. Corporate Tax Rules and Market Structure The draft framework also outlines how corporate investors would be taxed under the new regime. Firms established in Vietnam that generate income from crypto transfers would face the standard 20% corporate income tax, calculated on net profits after deducting purchase costs and related transaction expenses. Foreign-based corporate investors would be liable for a 0.1% tax on the value of each transfer, similar to the levy for individual investors. Lawmakers are formalizing the definition of crypto assets as “digital assets that rely on cryptographic or similar technologies for issuance, storage, and transfer verification,” detail that could help extend legal certainty to market participants. At the same time, the draft includes strict licensing requirements for digital asset exchanges, such as a minimum charter capital of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (about $408 million) and limits on foreign ownership to 49%. These tax proposals are part of Vietnam’s five-year pilot program for digital asset markets, launched in September 2025. Officials have said the pilot will inform longer-term legislation and oversight mechanisms as the country works to balance investor protection with the rapid growth of crypto adoption.
