Taiwan proposes new crypto business category for potential industry associations

Quick Take

  • Taiwan has proposed a new business category in regulations to potentially enable cryptocurrency-related firms to form industry associations.
  • The intention is to foster the development of self-regulatory guidelines.

Taiwan has proposed adding a new business category in relevant regulations, which may enable cryptocurrency-related companies to establish industry associations. This move is aimed at fostering the development of self-regulatory guidelines.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced Thursday that it has drafted an amendment to the Standards of Classification of Commercial Group regulations to add a category for digital asset services.

Today, an official from the economic ministry informed The Block that the newly proposed business category outlines the scope of operations within the cryptocurrency sector. This includes activities such as exchanging cryptocurrency for legal tender or other digital tokens, facilitating the transfer of cryptocurrencies, providing services for crypto storage or management, and offering assistance related to the issuance or sale of cryptocurrency.

The official added that crypto firms can form industry associations once the business category is added to relevant regulations. The ministry is soliciting public opinion and will finalize the amendment with the Ministry of the Interior in mid- or late-October.

Taiwan has required virtual asset services providers (VASPs) to comply with its anti-money laundering laws since the Financial Supervisory Commission introduced anti-money laundering rules in July 2021. Otherwise, the industry remains largely unregulated in the country.

By setting up an industry association, crypto firms can then come up with self-supervisory rules.

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is applying to get registered for AML compliance under the FSC, The Block reported last week.

Upcoming guidelines

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s FSC, which was only appointed in March as the main regulator overseeing the crypto industry, is currently formulating a broader set of guidelines on trading and payments related to cryptocurrencies for VASPs, the regulator said

An FSC official told The Block last week that the agency plans to publish the VASP guidelines by the end of September.


© 2024 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

Timmy Shen is an Asia editor for The Block. Previously, he wrote about crypto and Web3 for Forkast.News from Taiwan after spending more than three years in Beijing covering finance, entertainment business and current affairs at Caixin Global and Chinese tech at TechNode. His China-related reporting has also appeared in The Guardian. When he's not chasing headlines, you'll find him savoring hot pot and shabu shabu in a Taipei local haunt. Timmy holds an MS degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Send tips to [email protected] or get in touch on X/Telegram @timmyhmshen.

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