Taiwan Financial Sector Eyes Crypto and Stablecoins as Regulation and Trust Take Center Stage

The global cryptocurrency market had surpassed $2 trillion in value and 560 million users by 2024, increasingly establishing itself as a tool for portfolio allocation and cross-border payments. Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission has adopted a “gradual, prudent and friendly” approach. Banks still cannot sell crypto assets directly and may participate only through compliant products such as funds and ETFs. A U.S. stablecoin law passed in 2025 that requires 1:1 reserves also underscored the importance of regulation and trust.

Reports on April 3, 2026, said Hua Nan Bank, First Bank and Taiwan Cooperative Bank were continuing to assess virtual-asset opportunities. A 2025 survey by Far Eastern International Bank’s Bankee found that 62.7% of respondents held virtual assets, nearly 30% had invested more than NT$1 million and 4% had invested over NT$10 million. Academics and industry representatives also warned on March 5–6 that using a New Taiwan dollar stablecoin for cross-border settlement would require addressing full reserve backing, disclosure, foreign-exchange controls and monetary sovereignty.