Vietnam Plans to Allow SMEs to Use Digital and Virtual Assets as Collateral for Bank Loans

According to Viet Nam News, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed in the draft amendment to the Law on Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that SMEs be permitted to use digital assets, virtual assets, intellectual property, intangible assets, and future-formed assets as collateral for bank loans—aiming to improve access to financing for private enterprises and tech startups. The draft also encourages credit institutions to base lending decisions more heavily on credit ratings, business plans, market expansion potential, and corporate cash flow, thereby reducing reliance on traditional forms of collateral such as real estate. The Ministry of Finance stated that this policy seeks to unlock resources within the private economy and align with Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW.