Vietnam proposes allowing SMEs to use digital assets as loan collateral

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed letting SMEs use digital assets, virtual assets and intellectual property as loan collateral.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed letting small and medium-sized enterprises use digital assets, virtual assets and intellectual property as collateral for bank loans.

The proposal is part of a draft revised Law on Support for SMEs, which is open for public consultation, according to a Friday report by Vietnam News. Under the framework, businesses could secure loans using future-formed assets, property rights, intangible assets and digital or virtual assets.

SMEs and household businesses account for more than 98% of all enterprises in Vietnam, yet outstanding loans to the segment represent only around 20% of total bank credit in the economy, per the report. The Ministry attributed the imbalance to a lack of eligible collateral, limited financial transparency and the small capital base of most SMEs.

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