0.1% Crypto Tax Like Stocks: "Historic Moment" or "Cold Shower" for Vietnamese Traders? What to Prepare for 2026?

This week while browsing news, I saw information that made the entire Vietnamese crypto community "shake": The Ministry of Finance proposes a 0.1% tax on each digital asset transaction, similar to current stocks. From my 7 years of experience in financial markets, I know that tax changes always have profound impacts on how we trade and invest.In the TramNgo FX-Crypto Community, this has been the most hotly discussed topic this past week. Today I'll analyze the impact of this policy from the perspective of a real trader, while providing necessary preparations for everyone.

Policy Details: The "Game" is About to Change

Key Points

Tax rate: 0.1% on transfer value per transaction Applied to: Digital assets, encrypted assets (crypto) Conditions: Trading on exchanges with transparent, public management Timeline: Effective from January 1, 2026

Legal Context

Digital Technology Industry Law (effective 1/1/2026) first defines digital assets as assets under current civil law. This is the legal basis for taxation.Interesting statistics: Over 20% of Vietnam's population owns crypto, Vietnam is in the top 3 globally for crypto adoption with penetration 3-4 times the global average.

Impact Analysis: "Double-Edged Sword"

Positive Impact

Crypto legalization:

• Crypto officially recognized as assets
• Creates clear legal framework for traders/investors
• Reduces legal risks when trading

Increased credibility:

• Exchanges will be more transparent
• Institutional investors can participate more easily
• Market becomes more "regulated"

Negative Impact

Increased trading costs:

• 0.1% per transaction = significant cost increase
• Major impact on day traders and high-frequency traders
• Reduces net profit from trading

Changes trading methods:

• Traders will have to adjust strategies
• Trading frequency may decrease
• Prioritize longer-term strategies

Comparison with Stock Market

Experience from Vietnamese Stocks

0.1% tax has been applied to stocks for a long time:

• Initially negative reaction from traders
• Then market adapted and developed normally
• This cost is considered "cost of doing business"

Differences with Crypto

Crypto differs from stocks:

• Much higher volatility
• Usually higher trading frequency
• More short-term strategies

Impact will be stronger for crypto traders compared to stock traders.

Impact on Different Types of Traders

Day Traders

Impact: Very large

• Cost doubles (0.1% buy + 0.1% sell = 0.2% per trade)
• Need profit >0.2% to be profitable
• Many short-term strategies no longer profitable

Need to adjust:

• Increase profit target for each trade
• Reduce trading frequency
• Focus on setups with higher probability

Swing Traders

Impact: Moderate

• 0.2% cost on 3-7 day trades still acceptable
• Need to increase profit target from 3-5% to 4-6%
• Strategy still viable but needs adjustment

Long-term Investors

Impact: Small

• 0.2% cost on long-term investment is minimal
• Little impact on dollar-cost averaging strategy
• May even be beneficial due to more regulated market

High-Frequency Traders

Impact: Very serious

• High-frequency trading usually targets 0.1-0.3% profit
• With 0.2% cost, most high-frequency strategies unprofitable
• May have to switch to different style

Adaptation Strategies for Each Group

For Day Traders

Immediate actions:

• Review all current strategies
• Recalculate risk/reward ratios