Vietnam Sets Fines for Unauthorized Crypto Trading Ahead of Market Launch

Vietnam has emerged as a major cryptocurrency market, but much of the activity takes place through offshore exchanges operating without local authorization. As the government prepares to launch a legally regulated digital-asset market, clear rules covering approved trading venues, token issuance and investor protection are becoming essential to moving the sector into a formal supervisory framework.

The Vietnamese government issued Decree No. 284/2026/NĐ-CP, introducing penalties for trading cryptocurrencies through unauthorized platforms and for issuing digital assets in breach of the new framework. Retail traders may face fines of as much as about $1,900. The decree is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1, 2026, establishing an enforcement basis before Vietnam rolls out its regulated crypto market.