Vietnam’s digital asset landscape took a historic step forward on December 18 as the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), in collaboration with Vietnam Television (VTV) and the State Securities Commission (SSC), hosted an in-depth workshop titled “Operating and supervising the digital asset market.”

Backed by industry players OKX Global and Tether, the event placed a spotlight on one essential theme: the urgent need for a robust cybersecurity framework if Vietnam is to safely pilot a regulated digital asset market.

Crypto market pilot kicks off with caution and ambition

Held amid the recent issuance of Government Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP, which authorizes a five-year trial of Vietnam’s crypto asset market, the workshop drew nearly 200 participants - from regulators and cybersecurity experts to financial technology specialists and platform operators.

According to Vu Duy Hien, Chief of Staff at the NCA, the pilot’s long-term success depends entirely on a solid cybersecurity foundation, a transparent supervisory mechanism, and close coordination among stakeholders.

“The government’s decision to permit pilot issuance, trading, and circulation of digital assets for five years is a breakthrough,” Hien said. “But that path must be paved with serious commitments to network security, personal data protection, anti-money laundering, and technical oversight of involved entities.”

Global breaches offer urgent lessons

Internationally, several major digital asset exchanges have fallen victim to attacks that exploited technical vulnerabilities and operational errors - leading to significant financial losses and eroding market trust.

Vietnam, still building its regulatory framework for the sector, aims to learn from these global missteps.

By creating a controlled test environment under strict regulations, the pilot allows Vietnam to study real-world risks, develop effective policies, and simultaneously cultivate a secure digital economy.

Expert insights and recommendations

At the event, speakers from OKX, Tether, and the NCA delivered technical briefings on global exchange architecture, risk management, and the supervision of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). They also shared public-private cooperation models in cybersecurity and measures to prevent illicit financial flows.

The workshop also included a training framework for enhancing digital asset exchange safety protocols - an area seen as crucial if Vietnam wants to attract investment and innovation while minimizing system-level threats.

According to Vu Tran Ai Tam, Director of Business Development at OKX Global, Vietnam’s approach should prioritize “safety, transparency, and accountability,” meeting the highest standards of system integrity and market disclosure.

A broader digital trust initiative

This event was part of a broader initiative led by the NCA, aimed at exploring emerging tech risks, consumer protection mechanisms, and data governance in the context of digital finance.

Ultimately, the NCA hopes to raise public awareness about cybersecurity as a vital pillar of Vietnam’s digital trust infrastructure - and to support businesses in developing secure, legally compliant digital asset platforms.

Thai Khang