How Vietnamese Traders Access Crypto Exchanges in 2025

How Vietnamese Traders Access Crypto Exchanges in 2025

Vietnamese Crypto Tax Calculator

Calculate Your Crypto Tax

Vietnam charges a 22% capital gains tax on all crypto profits. This calculator helps you determine your tax liability based on your transactions.

Tax Calculation Results

Capital Gain:
22% Tax (VND):
Net Proceeds (VND):
Important Notes

• Vietnam imposes a 22% capital gains tax on all cryptocurrency profits.

• No exchange provides tax reports - you must track all transactions manually.

• Consider using tools like Koinly or CoinTracker to calculate gains and losses.

• Failure to report can lead to penalties if audited by the government.

• Always maintain records of all your crypto transactions.

Vietnam has one of the highest rates of crypto ownership in the world - over 21 million people, or 21% of the population, hold digital assets. But here’s the catch: you won’t find a single government-approved crypto exchange operating like a bank. Instead, Vietnamese traders have built a thriving underground economy around global platforms, P2P networks, and clever workarounds. This isn’t about breaking rules - it’s about navigating a system that hasn’t fully decided whether crypto is legal or not.

The Legal Gray Zone

In 2014, Vietnam’s State Bank declared cryptocurrencies weren’t legal tender. That didn’t mean they were banned. It meant they existed in limbo. For a decade, people bought Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana without fear of arrest, but without legal protection. Then, in January 2025, the government dropped Resolution 05/2025 - a five-year pilot program that finally gave crypto a temporary legal status. But with heavy strings attached.

Only five exchanges can get a license. Each needs at least VND 10 trillion ($380 million) in capital. Two-thirds of that must come from institutional investors. And every trader must use Vietnamese dong (VND) to buy and sell. Foreign companies can own no more than 49% of any licensed platform. This isn’t about protecting users - it’s about control. The government wants to monitor every transaction, track every wallet, and keep the flow of money inside the country.

How Traders Actually Get In

Most Vietnamese traders don’t wait for a licensed exchange. They use global platforms that adapted to Vietnam’s rules - and its people.

Binance leads the pack. It handles nearly half of all crypto trading volume from Vietnam. Why? Because it speaks Vietnamese. It accepts deposits via MoMo, ZaloPay, and VNPay. It lets you trade VND for BTC, ETH, or USDT with a simple bank transfer. Over 28 Vietnamese banks are connected to Binance’s system. Deposits clear in under five minutes. Withdrawals take 15 to 30 minutes. That’s faster than most local banks.

Other major players include Bybit, Bitget, MEXC, and HTX. Bybit is the favorite for futures traders - 68% of all trading volume on its Vietnamese platform comes from perpetual contracts. But leverage is capped at 25x, thanks to draft rules from the Ministry of Finance. MEXC and KuCoin attract users who want lower fees and early access to new tokens. OKX stands out for transparency - it publishes monthly proof-of-reserves audits, something few others do.

For beginners, Remitano is simple. It’s a P2P marketplace where you buy crypto directly from a local seller. No complex interface. No KYC beyond a national ID. But it’s riskier. There’s no insurance. If someone scams you, you’re on your own.

The KYC Reality

To trade on any of these platforms, you need to verify your identity. Vietnam requires you to upload your National ID (CMND or CCCD) and take a live selfie. The system matches your face against the government’s citizen database. If your ID photo is blurry, your lighting is bad, or you’re wearing glasses - your application gets rejected. One Reddit user reported being denied three times before getting approved on OKX.

The process usually takes 24 to 48 hours. Binance and Bybit are fastest - often under 18 hours. Kraken and Coinbase? They don’t support VND directly. You have to buy USDT on a P2P platform first, then transfer it. That adds steps, fees, and risk.

A woman safely completing a P2P crypto trade with escrow protection.

P2P Is the Backbone

Even on Binance, most VND deposits come from P2P trades. You’re not buying from a bank - you’re buying from a person. A student. A shop owner. A freelancer. They deposit VND into your bank account. You send them crypto. It’s peer-to-peer, cash-like, and decentralized.

But it’s not safe. In Q3 2025, Vietnam’s National Cyber Security Center recorded 4,200 reported cases of P2P fraud. Scammers pose as sellers, take your money, and disappear. Or they reverse bank transfers after you send crypto. The fix? Always use escrow. Never send crypto until the VND hits your account. And stick to sellers with high ratings and long histories.

Why Binance Dominates

Binance isn’t just big - it’s built for Vietnam. It runs ads on TikTok and YouTube in Vietnamese. It sponsors esports teams like Team Secret. It ran a $5 million BTC giveaway in Q3 2025 that attracted 250,000 new users. It has a 24/7 Vietnamese customer support team. Response time? Under 15 minutes.

Its liquidity is unmatched. The spread for BTC/VND is just 0.08%. On Bybit, it’s 0.12%. On OKX, it’s 0.15%. That means you pay less to buy and sell. For active traders, that adds up fast.

But it’s not perfect. Users complain about slow customer service during market crashes. One thread on WebTruyen had 147 people stuck with unverified accounts after Binance changed its KYC rules in August 2025. Another common issue: bank freezes. If you deposit more than VND 100 million ($4,000) in one go, your account might get flagged. The workaround? Split big deposits into smaller chunks - under $4,000 each.

The New Local Players

In September 2025, the first local exchanges started applying for licenses. SSI Digital, Techcom’s TCEX, VIXEX, VPBank’s VPCrypto, and MBBank’s MB Crypto all submitted applications. But none are live yet. Their capital requirements are tiny compared to global giants - SSI Digital has VND 200 billion ($1.36 million). That’s less than 1% of what Binance has invested in Vietnam.

They’re not ready to compete on liquidity, speed, or user experience. But they’re building for the future. Once the five licenses are granted, these banks could become the only legal gateways to crypto. That would change everything.

Future Vietnamese crypto exchanges under construction with Binance dominating the skyline.

What Traders Wish They Knew

Most Vietnamese traders learn the hard way. Here’s what they’ve figured out:

  • Use multiple P2P sellers. Don’t rely on one.
  • Never keep large amounts on exchanges. Move crypto to a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor.
  • Track your taxes. Vietnam charges 22% on crypto gains. No exchange gives you a tax report. You have to calculate it yourself.
  • Avoid trading during peak hours (7-9 PM). Network congestion causes delays and failed transactions.
  • Join Vietnamese crypto Telegram groups. The biggest one, ā€œCrypto Vietnam Official,ā€ has over 48,000 members. They share tips, warn about scams, and alert each other to platform outages.

The Future Is Unclear

The government says this five-year pilot will end in 2029. What happens after? Will licensed exchanges become the only option? Will P2P be banned? Will banks be forced to cut off crypto-related transactions again, like they did in 2023?

Right now, traders are betting on continuity. They assume the pilot will be extended. They assume global exchanges will keep serving Vietnam. They assume P2P will survive.

But the risk is real. One new decree, one sudden policy shift, and the entire ecosystem could collapse overnight. That’s why the smartest traders are diversifying - using multiple platforms, keeping cash reserves, and staying informed.

Final Reality Check

Vietnamese traders aren’t tech rebels. They’re practical people using tools that work. They don’t care about decentralization. They care about getting VND in and crypto out. They don’t want to be pioneers - they want to profit.

The system is messy. It’s risky. But it’s working. For now.

Can I legally trade crypto in Vietnam in 2025?

Yes - but only through approved channels. Since January 2025, Vietnam has allowed crypto trading under a five-year pilot program. You can trade on global exchanges like Binance and Bybit using VND, but only if you follow KYC rules. No unlicensed platforms are officially legal, though enforcement is inconsistent.

Which crypto exchange is best for Vietnamese users?

Binance is the top choice for most Vietnamese traders. It offers the deepest VND liquidity, lowest spreads, 24/7 Vietnamese support, and seamless bank transfers via MoMo, ZaloPay, and VNPay. Bybit is best for futures trading, while MEXC and KuCoin are better for low fees and new tokens. Remitano is easiest for beginners but carries higher P2P risk.

How do I deposit VND on crypto exchanges?

You can deposit VND through bank transfers (28 banks supported), e-wallets like MoMo and ZaloPay, or P2P trades. Binance, Bybit, and Bitget integrate directly with Vietnam’s NAPAS payment network. Deposits usually clear in 2-5 minutes. Avoid large single transfers - split them under VND 100 million ($4,000) to prevent bank freezes.

Do I need to pay taxes on crypto in Vietnam?

Yes. Vietnam imposes a 22% capital gains tax on crypto profits. No exchange provides tax reports, so you must track every trade manually. Use tools like Koinly or CoinTracker to calculate gains and losses. Failing to report can lead to penalties if the government audits your transactions.

Is it safe to use P2P trading in Vietnam?

P2P trading is common but risky. In Q3 2025, over 4,200 fraud cases were reported. Always use escrow. Never send crypto until the VND hits your bank account. Trade only with sellers who have high ratings and long histories. Avoid deals that seem too good to be true - they usually are.

Will Vietnam ban crypto in the future?

It’s unlikely in the short term. The government has committed to a five-year pilot program through 2029. But the rules could tighten. Banks might restrict transfers again. Licensed exchanges might become the only legal option. Traders should prepare for regulation, not assume freedom.

17 Comments

  • Image placeholder

    Douglas Tofoli

    November 11, 2025 AT 11:45
    bro i just used binance for the first time last week and wow the moMo integration is insane 🤯 i sent 5m vnd and it cleared in 3 mins. my bank usually takes 2 days for internal transfers lol
  • Image placeholder

    William Moylan

    November 11, 2025 AT 23:58
    this whole thing is a psyop. the vietnamese government is using this 'pilot' to build a digital surveillance state. every wallet you touch is being logged. they're harvesting biometric data under the guise of 'kyc'. next thing you know your crypto wallet gets flagged because you bought solana during a protest. wake up sheeple 🚨
  • Image placeholder

    Elizabeth Stavitzke

    November 13, 2025 AT 17:40
    how is this even a story? it's just a bunch of people circumventing their own government's financial regulations. i mean, sure, it's clever, but it's not innovative. it's just... lazy capitalism. why not just build a real system instead of patching together p2p scams and binance loopholes?
  • Image placeholder

    Ainsley Ross

    November 14, 2025 AT 07:58
    I find it deeply inspiring how Vietnamese traders have created a resilient, self-sustaining ecosystem despite institutional ambiguity. The fact that they've integrated e-wallets like MoMo and ZaloPay into global crypto infrastructure is a masterclass in adaptive finance. This isn't an underground economy-it's an emergent financial frontier. šŸ™Œ
  • Image placeholder

    Brian Gillespie

    November 14, 2025 AT 23:48
    P2P is the real MVP.
  • Image placeholder

    Joanne Lee

    November 16, 2025 AT 07:18
    It's interesting to note that the 22% capital gains tax is applied regardless of whether the gains are realized in USD or VND. Many traders overlook this, assuming that because they're using foreign exchanges, they're exempt. This could lead to serious legal exposure down the line.
  • Image placeholder

    Laura Hall

    November 16, 2025 AT 15:46
    ok but can we talk about how wild it is that a 19-year-old student in da nang can make more in a week trading usdt on remitano than his dad makes at the factory? i know it's risky but like... this is real life innovation. people are literally building wealth out of thin air. also pls stop scamming each other 😭
  • Image placeholder

    Arthur Crone

    November 17, 2025 AT 06:25
    Binance dominates because it's the only one that doesn't care about compliance. The others are playing by the rules. Binance is just exploiting regulatory vacuum. That's not innovation. That's parasitism. And the 0.08% spread? That's because they're front-running retail. You're not getting a deal. You're being harvested.
  • Image placeholder

    Rebecca Saffle

    November 18, 2025 AT 03:11
    I'm sick of people romanticizing this. This isn't 'crypto freedom'-it's financial chaos. People are losing life savings to P2P scams because they think 'high rating' means 'trustworthy'. And now the government is going to crack down harder because of this mess. You're not rebels. You're liabilities.
  • Image placeholder

    Adrian Bailey

    November 19, 2025 AT 11:35
    so i’ve been trading on binance for like 18 months now and honestly the only thing that keeps me sane is the vietnamese support team. like literally i had a problem with my bank transfer at 3am and someone replied in vietnamese within 12 minutes. i cried. also the tiktok ads are so cringe but somehow they work? i saw one with a guy doing a dance in a motorbike helmet holding a phone saying 'buy btc now before the moon' and i was like... okay i'm in. also i split all my deposits under 4k now. learned that the hard way when my bank froze my account for 'suspicious activity' 😭
  • Image placeholder

    Rachel Everson

    November 20, 2025 AT 13:09
    if you're new to this, just start with remitano and keep under 500k vnd until you get the hang of it. never send crypto before the vnd clears. always check the seller's history-50+ trades and 98% positive? that's your guy. and please, please, please use a hardware wallet. i lost $3k once because i left it on binance. never again.
  • Image placeholder

    Johanna Lesmayoux lamare

    November 21, 2025 AT 02:16
    The fact that Vietnam allows this gray-zone ecosystem while still enforcing KYC is actually brilliant. It’s a controlled experiment in financial autonomy. They’re not banning it-they’re observing how people adapt. That’s smarter than outright prohibition.
  • Image placeholder

    Debraj Dutta

    November 21, 2025 AT 05:56
    Interesting parallels to India's crypto journey. Also, the 22% tax is higher than most developed nations. Curious how many traders are using accounting tools like Koinly to track this.
  • Image placeholder

    tom west

    November 22, 2025 AT 21:44
    Let me break this down for you: The Vietnamese government is not 'tolerating' crypto. They are using it as a controlled release valve for capital flight. Every VND deposit is a data point. Every wallet is a fingerprint. The five licensed exchanges are not the future-they are the trap. The moment they go live, all P2P will be criminalized. The government is building a digital financial prison and you're handing them the keys. This isn't innovation. It's surrender disguised as freedom.
  • Image placeholder

    dhirendra pratap singh

    November 23, 2025 AT 12:43
    Binance is the ONLY one that gets it. I saw a guy on tiktok crying because he got scammed on remitano and lost his rent money. Meanwhile, binance has 24/7 vietnamese support, live chat, and even a hotline for elderly users. I'm telling you, this isn't just about crypto-it's about dignity. The system failed them, but binance showed up. That's more than any bank ever did 🄹😭
  • Image placeholder

    Ashley Mona

    November 25, 2025 AT 07:53
    i love how people act like this is some underground rebellion. nah. it's just capitalism being capitalism. people want to make money, so they use the tools that work. the government doesn't care as long as the money stays in the system and they get their 22%. this isn't crypto-it's just another version of the black market. and honestly? i respect it. they're not asking for permission. they're just doing it.
  • Image placeholder

    Edward Phuakwatana

    November 25, 2025 AT 14:33
    This isn't just about crypto-it's a microcosm of decentralized sovereignty. Vietnam’s traders are building a parallel financial infrastructure outside the state’s control, not through ideology, but through pure pragmatic necessity. They're not crypto anarchists-they're financial engineers optimizing for survival. The fact that they've integrated mobile wallets, bypassed capital controls, and created liquidity without institutional backing? That's not just impressive. It's revolutionary. The state thought they were regulating a currency. They were actually regulating human ingenuity. And guess what? Human ingenuity won. The pilot ends in 2029? By then, the system will be too embedded to dismantle. The real question isn't whether crypto will survive in Vietnam-it's whether the state will survive its own creation. šŸŒāš”

Write a comment

*

*

*