Vietnam has introduced fines for trading crypto outside government-licensed platforms that rival the country's penalties for driving under the influence.
Under Decree No. 284/2026/NĐ-CP, issued on July 16, domestic investors who trade crypto without going through a service provider licensed by the Ministry of Finance face fines of VND 30 million to VND 50 million (roughly $1,140 to $1,900). The decree states that its penalties apply to organizations, while individuals generally face half that amount for committing the same violations.
For comparison, driving a car in Vietnam with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08% carries a VND 30 million to VND 40 million fine on top of a potential two-year license suspension.
The new crypto rules, which take effect Sept. 1, put teeth behind Vietnam's planned restrictions on overseas platforms like Binance, OKX, and Bybit as it works to establish a regulated domestic market.
Domestic investors who trade crypto assets designated exclusively for foreign investors face steeper fines of VND 70 million to VND 100 million ($2,650 to $3,800). Meanwhile, companies providing or advertising crypto services without a license can be fined VND 180 million to VND 200 million ($6,800 to $7,600).
