Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a draft law allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to use digital assets and intellectual property as collateral for bank loans. The move aims to address a significant credit gap, as SMEs represent over 98% of businesses but receive only about 20% of total bank credit. The proposal is part of a broader shift to evaluate loans based on business plans and market potential, not just physical assets.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed letting SMEs use digital assets, virtual assets, and intellectual property as collateral for bank loans. This proposal is part of a draft revised Law on Support for SMEs, which is currently open for public consultation.
SMEs and household businesses account for more than 98% of all enterprises in Vietnam. However, outstanding loans to this segment represent only around 20% of total bank credit in the economy.
The Ministry attributed this imbalance to a lack of eligible collateral and limited financial transparency. Many technology-driven companies hold valuable software or patents but have no physical assets to pledge.
The draft also pushes credit institutions to expand lending based on credit ratings and business plans. It encourages evaluation based on cash flows and market potential rather than fixed assets alone.
Beyond collateral reform, the draft law outlines incentives for green and sustainable businesses. These include preferential access to credit guarantees and concessional financing for circular economy projects.
Vietnam has become one of the most active crypto markets globally. It ranks fourth in Chainalysis’s 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index behind India, the United States, and Pakistan.
The country could see its first regulated crypto market activity as early as the third quarter of 2026. Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi stated this at the Digital Trust in Finance 2026 forum.
Regulators opened a licensing pathway for domestic crypto trading platforms earlier this year. Five companies, including affiliates of Techcombank, VPBank, and LPBank, have passed an initial qualification round to launch a regulated exchange.
