Vietnam took a historic step on June 14, 2025, when its National Assembly approved the Law on Digital Technology Industry. This groundbreaking legislation officially legalizes crypto assets and places them under a single, comprehensive regulatory umbrella. The law will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and sets the stage for Vietnam’s digital transformation.

The Act defines two types of digital assets without ambiguity:

Note that securities, central bank (fiat) digital tokens, and other financial products plainly are not part of the definition, which likewise provides a distinct, clear pathway for crypto assets.

The government is now entrusted with crafting detailed regulations around:

These protocols align with international norms and aim to shore up investor and consumer confidence in the ecosystem.

Careful calibration will require creating regulation to lift innovative solutions, while still protecting against part abuse in developing portions of the industry.

Full implementation of complex compliance measures like AML systems, secure digital identity and cybersecurity system will take time and efforts of multiple ministries/parts.

Vietnam must maintain necessary quality in meeting the FATF standards to ensure it does not run the risk of its grey-list status becoming extended. Vietnam must maintain international interoperability while ensuring transparency.

Future Outlook: Roadmap to 2026 and Beyond

• 2030 vision: Growing the sector to contribute up to USD 74 billion to Vietnam’s GDP by 2030, according to government estimates.

Final Word: A Defining Moment for Vietnam

Vietnam’s Digital Technology Law marks the end of an era. Like many countries around the world, Vietnam has suppressed a once informal crypto market and shifted it to a transparent, regulated, and safe ecosystem. The Digital Technology Law provides clearly defined aspects of digital assets, strong government oversight, and is in line with global best practices and standards. All these developments are now a solid foundation for digital based innovation. Now, as the deadlines and timelines get closer, the question will be how practical and compliance-friendly will it be to execute the law effectively.

As the January 1, 2026 date approaches, the domestic and global financial community will be watching closely. With many industries rapidly changing, Vietnam may develop as a regional digital innovation centre, and potentially a case study for how emerging economies can embrace the crypto revolution responsibly.