Section 1: Overview of the proposed crypto transaction tax
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (Vietnam) has unveiled a draft that taxes crypto transfers at 0.1% on licensed platforms for all individuals, introducing a regulated, VND-denominated market and raising questions for digital nomads about residency, reporting, and platform choices.
For mobile taxpayers, the headline is simple: if you place trades or make transfers on a licensed exchange in Vietnam’s proposed system, the tax is calculated on transaction turnover (the value of each transfer or trade), not on your net profit. That means a losing trade can still trigger tax, because the calculation uses the gross transaction value.
Turnover-based taxation also differs from the common “capital gains” idea many nomads expect. Profit-based taxation typically looks at net earnings after cost basis and fees. Here, the draft approach mirrors securities trading treatment: a small percentage per transaction, paid repeatedly.
No value-added tax (VAT) would apply to these transfer/trade transactions under the proposal. That point matters if you are used to VAT-style charges appearing on financial services in some jurisdictions.
⚠️ Note the per-transaction nature of the tax and the potential for frequent trades to accumulate costs, especially for high-frequency traders
Section 2: Tax rates by entity type (individuals vs. companies)
Your first step is to identify which bucket you fall into: individual trader, domestic corporation, or foreign corporation. The proposal draws sharp lines between turnover-based charges and profit-based corporate tax logic.
Individuals (including non-residents). The draft applies to individual investors regardless of residency status. In practice, that means a digital nomad who is not tax resident in Vietnam could still face the Vietnam crypto transaction tax when trading on a licensed exchange inside the regulated model. The base is the full transaction value, not net gains.
Domestic corporations. Domestic corporate treatment follows profit-based corporate income tax logic. Net earnings generally mean sales proceeds minus purchase cost and related expenses. Recordkeeping becomes heavier here, because you may need to support acquisition costs, trading fees, and other deductible expenses to calculate net taxable income.
Foreign corporations. Foreign corporations are treated differently from domestic corporations in this draft design. The base is again turnover-like (transfer value), which can matter for an overseas company that trades in Vietnam’s licensed venues or provides crypto-related services into Vietnam through the regulated channel.
Table 1: Compare tax bases and rates by entity
| Entity type | Tax base | Tax rate | Key implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals | Turnover (full transaction value on licensed platforms) | 0.1% | Tax can apply even if a trade is unprofitable; applies regardless of residency status |
| Domestic corporations | Net earnings (profit after costs/expenses) | 20% | Requires cost basis and expense documentation to support net-income calculations |
| Foreign corporations | Transfer value (turnover-like) | 0.1% | Exposure may arise from trading or operating into Vietnam via the regulated channel |
Section 3: Definition and scope of crypto assets (what is covered)
Before you plan compliance, confirm what the draft calls a “crypto asset.” Vietnam’s definition centers on digital assets using encryption for creation, issuance, storage, and transfer. That broad framing can capture many token types, including assets that act like payment tokens, utility tokens, or stablecoin-style instruments.
Scope matters even more than definitions. The draft tax approach is tied to activity on licensed platforms. For digital nomads, that creates practical questions:
- Licensed exchanges vs. peer-to-peer channels: A licensed exchange is a regulated venue inside the pilot framework. Peer-to-peer channels are direct trades between parties, often brokered by platforms that may not be licensed in Vietnam.
- Offshore exchanges: Many nomads trade on offshore venues. The draft’s operational focus is the licensed-platform model, which may change where you place trades if you want to stay inside Vietnam’s regulated path.
- Custody wallets vs. trading venues: Moving assets between your own wallets is different from executing a trade on an exchange. Still, your records must separate these actions cleanly, especially if the platform labels both as “transfers.”
Section 4: Regulatory context and timeline (pilot market, licensing, and VND rule)
Action in Vietnam is happening on two tracks: the tax proposal and the market-structure buildout. Both affect how you trade and how you document transactions.
Public feedback is still underway. As of February 6, 2026, the draft circular remained in consultation and was not yet enacted. That status is a real planning issue for nomads, since compliance systems take time to set up.
A five-year pilot program for a regulated crypto market began in September 2025. Pilots often bring tighter onboarding, stronger transaction monitoring, and clearer reporting channels, even before every detail feels settled.
VND is the operating currency in the proposed regulated system. The draft requires that offerings, issuance, trading, and payments be conducted in Vietnamese đồng (VND). For a nomad, that creates immediate accounting friction: you may think in USD or EUR, but the system price and record will be VND-first.
Licensing is also designed to limit who can operate. The minimum capital requirement is VND 10 trillion (approximately $380–$408 million). That very high bar is likely to mean fewer licensed exchanges, at least early on, which can shape access, liquidity, and onboarding for non-residents.
Table 2: Regulatory timeline and milestones
| Milestone | Date or period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Law on Digital Technology Industry passed | June 2025 | Part of the legal foundation for digital-technology activity |
| Pilot program began | September 2025 | Five-year pilot for a regulated crypto market |
| New law effective date | January 1, 2026 | Formalizes digital assets in the legal framework |
| Exchange licensing applications started | January 2026 | Licensing rollout under the cited resolution |
| Draft circular still in consultation | February 6, 2026 | Proposal not yet enacted |
Section 5: Status, implications, and market impact (what to watch)
Treat the current moment as “draft rules with direction.” The design choices already hint at likely behavior changes, without requiring price predictions.
A per-transaction charge can change trading behavior fast. Small-margin strategies may become harder, especially for frequent traders who stack many trades daily. Even long-term investors may see higher friction if they rebalance often.
Regulated oversight also usually means stronger AML and KYC. Expect more identity checks, more scrutiny of funding sources, and more transaction monitoring on licensed exchanges. That can be inconvenient while traveling. It can also make some users shift to peer-to-peer channels.
Market structure could tighten. A very high licensing threshold may mean fewer venues. That can concentrate liquidity on a small number of licensed exchanges. At the same time, liquidity can fragment if some users stay offshore or move to unregulated routes.
What to watch next as a digital nomad:
- Whether the final rule keeps the same per-transfer design on licensed exchanges.
- How collection works in practice. Some systems with turnover taxes rely on exchange-level calculation and remittance, though the draft design can evolve.
- Whether reporting formats are standardized for taxpayers, especially for VND-denominated transaction logs.
Section 6: Practical compliance considerations (valuation, records, and residency reality)
Start with your records. If Vietnam requires VND-only trading inside licensed venues, you will typically need transaction histories that show VND value at the moment of each trade or transfer.
Use a consistent valuation method:
- Record VND values per transaction with timestamped logs.
- Document your exchange-rate source and keep it consistent across months.
- Store platform exports (CSV/API files) in a fixed monthly folder structure.
Next, reduce reconciliation mistakes. Separate trading activity (buys/sells/swaps) from transfers between your own wallets. Mixed logs are where errors grow, especially when you later compare your exchange data to wallet histories.
Company operators need deeper support files. If you trade through a domestic corporation, retain acquisition documentation and expense evidence, since net-earnings taxation depends on those inputs.
Residency reality is the final piece. The draft applies to individual investors regardless of residency status, but your broader tax filing duties can still depend on where you are tax resident. Many nomads end up with reporting duties in more than one country. Vietnam’s rules may become one layer, not the whole picture.
✅ If you trade crypto on licensed platforms, track VND conversion rates precisely and document platform and transaction details for compliance
Section 7: How digital nomads can prepare while rules are still draft
Preparation now is about low-regret systems, not perfect certainty.
- Confirm where you are tax resident. Your home-country reporting may still apply even if Vietnam collects a transaction-based tax on licensed exchanges.
- Set up a monthly close routine. Export trades, note VND conversion methods, and categorize entries (trade vs. transfer vs. fees). Keep the same categories every month.
- Plan for platform choice changes. If the final framework narrows compliant access to licensed exchanges, be ready to shift activity away from offshore platforms for trades you want inside Vietnam’s regulated channel.
A practical deadline mindset helps. Watch how rules tie together after January 1, 2026 and as licensing that began in January 2026 matures, because those steps can shape how quickly enforcement becomes routine.
This article discusses proposed tax rules and regulatory changes that are not yet enacted. Readers should consult official sources and consider professional tax/legal advice for current obligations.
Tax residency, reporting requirements, and cross-border rules may vary by personal circumstances and over time.
