Vietnam fines crypto trading on unlicensed platforms up to $1.900

Vietnam is taking firm measures against unregulated crypto activities. The country has issued Decree No. 284/2026/ND-CP, introducing administrative fines for various crypto-related offences. This comes ahead of the launch of a regulated digital asset market in the country.

Fines for unlicensed trading and token offerings

Under the new rules, investors who trade through unlicensed platforms risk a fine of up to VND 50 million, equivalent to approximately $1.900. Crypto service providers that fail to verify the identity of new account holders face a fine of between VND 50 million and VND 70 million.

For more serious violations, the amounts are significantly higher. Unauthorised token offerings and grave breaches of anti-money laundering (AML) rules can result in fines of up to VND 200 million, or around $7.700. The same maximum amount also applies to the illegal collection, storage, exchange, purchase, sale or disclosure of data and information related to crypto accounts.

Decree takes effect on 1 September 2026

The decree takes effect on 1 September 2026 and will remain in force until Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP loses its validity. Vietnam is thus positioning itself as one of the more active countries in Asia in terms of crypto regulation.

The seriousness with which the Vietnamese authorities are approaching this is also evident from the international context. The country ranks fourth in Chainalysis’s 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, demonstrating that crypto usage is widespread there. With this new legislation, the government is attempting to gain control over a market that has been growing rapidly for years but has so far operated largely outside official oversight.