Vietnam plans to allow digital assets as collateral for SME loans

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has drafted a revision to the Law on Support for SMEs that would let small and medium‑size enterprises pledge digital assets, virtual assets, intellectual property, future‑formed assets and other intangible assets as collateral for bank loans. The proposal, released for public consultation on 25‑29 May 2026, aims to address the credit gap where SMEs – which account for more than 98 % of enterprises in Vietnam – receive only about 20 % of total bank credit.

The draft also encourages banks to assess loan applications on credit ratings, business plans, cash‑flow projections and market potential rather than relying solely on physical assets. If approved, the amendment is slated for submission to the National Assembly in October 2026 and could take effect on 1 July 2027.

Vietnam is already one of the world’s most active crypto markets, ranking fourth in Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, and the policy could pave the way for crypto‑backed lending to technology‑driven firms that lack land or factory assets.