Kategorie: Crypto News

• The SSC launched the process after the Ministry of Finance issued Decision No. 96.
• Banks and brokers, including SSI, VIX, and major lenders, are preparing to apply.
• Rules include 10 trillion dong capital, 65% institutional ownership, and a 49% foreign cap.

Vietnam has formally moved closer to running a regulated crypto market after opening applications for licences to operate digital asset trading platforms.

The step brings the country’s long-planned pilot programme into action, setting the stage for approved exchanges to operate under direct regulatory oversight.

The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) said the licensing window opened on Tuesday, following the introduction of new administrative procedures under Decision No. 96 by the Ministry of Finance.

The decision implements a resolution on piloting a regulated crypto asset market, which Vietnam has been developing for years.

Even with the licensing process now live, the market is still in its early phase.

No platform has yet been licensed, and regulators have not announced approvals since the application window opened.

SSC opens licensing window under new procedures

The SSC confirmed that applications under the new administrative procedures will be accepted beginning January 20, 2026.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance issued Decision No. 96 as part of implementing the country’s resolution to pilot a regulated crypto asset market.

The SSC framed the move as a step towards bringing crypto under formal regulatory supervision.

The opening of the licensing window also follows a key legal shift. Vietnam’s Law on the Digital Technology Industry entered into force on Jan. 1, defining digital and crypto assets in statute for the first time.

Under the law, Vietnam recognises crypto assets as property. However, it explicitly excludes them from legal tender status.

The country also maintains restrictions on the use of crypto as a means of payment, keeping the pilot focused on regulated market activity rather than consumer transactions.

Domestic banks and securities firms prepare applications

While the licensing window marks progress, Vietnam’s regulated crypto market is still waiting for actual approvals.

That said, early interest from domestic financial firms appears to be emerging.

Vietnam News reported on Wednesday that around 10 securities companies and banks have publicly announced plans and their readiness to participate in the crypto asset market once licensed.

The report stressed that these institutions are preparing applications rather than already operating approved platforms.

Among the firms named was SSI Securities, which established SSI Digital in 2022.

Another is VIX Securities, which has invested in its VIXEX digital asset exchange unit.

Several major banks were also listed, including Military Bank, Techcombank, and VPBank.

The institutions indicated they plan to begin operations only after receiving regulatory approval.

No crypto exchange licensed as pilot enters operational phase

Even though Vietnam has opened the licensing window, the pilot framework remains at the starting line in practical terms.

That context matters because the latest application process does not automatically mean platforms will launch quickly.

Vietnamese regulators have not announced any receipt or approvals of applications since the licensing window opened, meaning the number of applicants and their progress remains unclear.

For investors and market participants, this suggests Vietnam is moving in a controlled and staged way, with formal procedures advancing before any exchange can legally operate under the pilot regime.

Vietnam’s strict licensing framework shapes market entry

Vietnam’s crypto licensing framework is among the most restrictive in the region, reflecting the government’s cautious approach to market development.

Applicants must be Vietnamese entities with a minimum paid-in capital of 10 trillion dong, roughly $380 million.

At least 65% of the capital must be held by institutional shareholders, setting a high barrier that favours established domestic firms.

Foreign ownership is capped at 49%, restricting overseas participation and reinforcing Vietnamese control of licensed operators.

Taken together, these conditions show Vietnam is prioritising large-scale, institution-led platforms with strong capital bases.

The focus appears to be on controlling systemic risk and ensuring compliance standards from the start, rather than allowing fast, open-ended growth across the crypto sector.

The post Vietnam launches formal licensing for digital asset trading platforms appeared first on CoinJournal.

• SEC deputy secretary-general Jomkwan Kongsakul said crypto ETF rules could be issued early this year.
• Thailand’s SEC will treat crypto as another asset class and allow up to 5% portfolio allocation to digital assets.
• KuCoin Thailand is seeking to resolve an SEC suspension linked to capital requirements and a shareholder dispute.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a new set of regulations designed to bring crypto investment products further into the country’s formal financial system.

The regulator is working on rules to support crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), crypto futures trading, and tokenised investment products, according to SEC deputy secretary-general Jomkwan Kongsakul.

The Bangkok Post reported on Thursday that the SEC aims to issue formal guidelines for crypto ETFs in Thailand “early this year.”

The move signals Thailand’s effort to position itself as a regional crypto hub for institutional investors, even as retail trading remains active despite a ban on crypto payments.

Crypto ETFs move closer to formal approval

Kongsakul said the SEC’s board has approved crypto ETFs in principle and the agency is now finalising investment and operational rules. He said the regulator sees crypto ETFs as a product that could reduce barriers for investors who may be hesitant about directly holding digital assets.

“A key advantage of crypto ETFs is ease of access; they eliminate concerns over hacking and wallet security, which has been a major barrier for many investors,” Kongsakul said.

Under the proposed framework, the SEC will treat crypto as “another asset class,” and investors will be able to allocate up to 5% of a diverse portfolio to digital assets.

Futures trading planned for TFEX

Alongside ETF guidelines, the SEC is also moving to regulate and enable crypto futures trading on the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX).

This would allow investors to gain exposure to crypto price movements through regulated derivatives markets.

Kongsakul said other initiatives under consideration include establishing market makers to support trading liquidity and recognising digital assets as an official asset class under the Derivatives Act.

Thailand has been working to attract more institutional interest in crypto markets, particularly through regulated products that sit within existing legal frameworks.

Tokenisation and sandbox collaboration with central bank

The SEC is also expanding its approach beyond ETFs and futures through tokenisation initiatives.

Kongsakul said the agency is working with the Bank of Thailand on a tokenisation sandbox, which could provide a controlled setting for testing tokenised instruments.

The SEC “will encourage issuers of bond tokens to enter the regulatory sandbox,” Kongsakul added.

By pushing tokenised bond products into a supervised environment, Thailand could develop regulated pathways for blockchain-based issuance without opening the door to unmonitored retail distribution.

Tighter oversight for financial influencers

While expanding products and market access, the SEC is also tightening standards around promotion and investment-related content online.

Kongsakul said the regulator is stepping up oversight of “financial influencers,” signalling that marketing and informal advice will face more restrictions.

He said, “Any recommendation related to securities or investment returns will require proper authorisation as either an investment advisor or introducing broker.”

The rules aim to curb unregulated investment promotion, particularly at a time when digital assets continue to be widely discussed across social media.

KuCoin Thailand works to resolve SEC suspension

The regulatory shift comes as the Thai SEC continues enforcement actions in the local exchange market.

Earlier in January, the SEC suspended KuCoin Thailand’s operations after the company’s capital fell below the minimum requirements for five consecutive days, according to local news outlet The Nation on Wednesday.

KuCoin Thailand said the breach was linked to a shareholder dispute between Singapore’s CI group and KuCoin Global, which prevented approval of a planned capital increase.

The company said the issue was not due to actual financial liquidity problems.

KuCoin entered the Thai market in June 2025 and is planning for its local entity to apply for a digital-asset broker license.

The company said this would allow it to offer a wider range of financial products.

Thailand’s crypto market remains active, with Bitkub, the country’s largest exchange, seeing daily trading volumes of around $60 million.

Even with crypto payments banned, regulators appear to be prioritising controlled investment access through structured products such as ETFs, futures, and tokenised instruments.

The post Thailand moves toward crypto ETFs, futures and tokenised investment products appeared first on CoinJournal.