Vietnam Explores Crypto Lending Options for Small Businesses
BITmarkets Team
Jun 01, 2026
The proposal is included in a draft revision of the Law on Support for SMEs, which is currently open for public consultation, according to a report from Vietnam News. Under the proposed framework, businesses would be able to secure financing using future assets, property rights, intangible assets, as well as digital and virtual assets.
SMEs and household businesses make up more than 98% of all enterprises in Vietnam. However, loans to the sector account for only about 20% of total banking credit. The Ministry said this gap is largely due to limited eligible collateral, low financial transparency and the relatively small capital base of many businesses.
For many startups and technology-focused firms, valuable assets often exist in the form of software, patents or intellectual property rather than real estate or physical assets. The proposal could therefore improve access to financing for thousands of businesses that currently struggle to obtain traditional bank loans.
Shift toward cash-flow and business-plan lending
The draft legislation also encourages financial institutions to place greater emphasis on factors such as credit ratings, business plans, cash flow projections and market potential when evaluating loan applications, rather than relying primarily on physical collateral.
In addition to financing reforms, the proposal includes support measures for environmentally sustainable businesses. These measures would provide preferential access to credit guarantees, concessional financing and interest-rate support for projects focused on energy efficiency and the circular economy.
The draft also outlines potential tax incentives and assistance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements. The proposed law remains under public consultation before any final legislative decisions are made.
Vietnam strengthens its position in the crypto sector
The proposal comes as Vietnam continues to establish itself as one of the world's most active cryptocurrency markets. According to the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index published by Chainalysis, Vietnam ranked fourth globally for cryptocurrency adoption, behind India, the United States and Pakistan.
At the same time, the country is advancing efforts to create a regulated crypto market. Earlier reports indicated that Vietnam could see its first regulated cryptocurrency market activity as early as the third quarter of 2026, according to Deputy Finance Minister Nguyen Duc Chi.
In March, regulators introduced a licensing pathway for domestic crypto trading platforms. Five companies, including affiliates of major Vietnamese banks such as Techcombank, VPBank and LPBank, have already passed an initial qualification stage to participate in the launch of the country’s first regulated cryptocurrency exchange.
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