Trading tournaments in Vietnam

Vietnam launched its first formal crypto exchange licensing framework in 2026 as a five-year pilot program. Only five companies will be allowed to operate licensed crypto exchanges during the pilot, with applications opening January 20. Pre-pilot, Vietnam lacked a clear domestic licensing framework, so most crypto activity occurred via offshore exchanges. The pilot framework is establishing the legal path forward.

CAEX is one of the first applicants for a Vietnam crypto exchange license under the 2026 pilot. It operates within the VPBank ecosystem (one of Vietnam's largest private banks) and has received investment from OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital. It positions itself as a domestic alternative to offshore exchanges currently dominating Vietnamese crypto activity.

The pilot framework requires 10 trillion VND (~$380M) charter capital, foreign ownership cap of 49%, minimum 65% institutional ownership, and Level 4 cybersecurity classification. The high bar reflects Vietnam's preference for institutional-backed crypto venues over startup-style exchanges, prioritizing financial stability and oversight during the pilot phase.

Yes — WCTC and the U.S. Investing Championship accept international entrants from Vietnam. The audited-statement structure is the same; foreign-currency prize income is reportable under Vietnamese personal-income-tax rules.

FTMO, FundedNext, Apex Trader Funding and most major offshore prop firms accept Vietnamese residents per their public terms. Funding payouts to Vietnamese bank accounts may require additional remittance documentation. Verify each firm's current jurisdiction list before paying for an evaluation.