Regulatory AlertsTaiwan: crypto & digital assets regulation
RegulatedVASP Act passed June 2026; FSC regulates licensing, AML applies
- Lead regulator
- Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC)
- Also involved
- Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) · National Police Agency (NPA) · Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)
- Core law
- Virtual Asset Service Provider Act (2026)
- Entry capital
- —
- Approval timeline
- —
- Customer assets
- Segregation required; licensed custodian only
- Data protection
- Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) · Ministry of Justice
- Sandbox
- No
Taiwan has enacted the Virtual Asset Service Provider Act (passed June 30, 2026), shifting oversight from purely AML-focused guidelines to comprehensive operational regulation under the FSC. The regime mandates licensing for core services like exchanges and custody, with detailed capital and operational standards to be defined in implementing rules. Until specific capital floors are published in the official gazette, statutory minimums remain unspecified.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange / trading platform | LicenceVASP License[1] Core VASP activity; licensing required under new Act. | — | — | FSC |
| Custody of client assets | LicenceVASP License[1] Defined as VASP activity; requires FSC license. | — | — | FSC |
| Token issuance / public offering | Uncertainverify with regulator Securities law may apply; VASP Act scope unclear. | — | — | — |
| Broker-dealer / OTC desk | Uncertainverify with regulator Likely VASP license; specific OTC rules pending. | — | — | — |
| Stablecoin issuance | Uncertainverify with regulator No specific stablecoin regime identified in source. | — | — | — |
| Crypto payments acceptance | Uncertainverify with regulator VASP license likely; payment services act overlap unclear. | — | — | — |
| Mining / staking services | Unregulated Not listed as core VASP activity in source. | — | — | — |
| Advisory / portfolio management | Uncertainverify with regulator Investment advisory may require separate securities license. | — | — | — |
New — what changed recently
- 2026-06Virtual Asset Service Provider Act — Legislative Yuan passed the Act, elevating regulation from AML-only to comprehensive VASP licensing.[1]
Market-entry checklist
- 1Apply for FSC VASP LicenseSubmit application to FSC under the new VASP Act; await implementing rules for capital details.
- 2Establish AML Compliance ProgramImplement KYC/AML procedures aligned with FSC guidelines and international standards.
- 3Secure Local Legal EntityRegister a Taiwan-based company as required for VASP licensing applications.
- 4Prepare Operational ManualsDraft detailed operational, risk management, and cybersecurity manuals for FSC review.