Crypto Law Profile

Taiwan VASP AML Registration Regime

Taiwan’s amended Money Laundering Control Act Article 6 requires VASPs to complete FSC AML registration before providing virtual asset services.

Taiwan Effective Regulation Nov 30, 2024

At a glance

Jurisdiction Taiwan national AML/CFT registration regime for VASPs.
Status In force from Nov. 30, 2024 under MLCA Article 6.
Regulator Financial Supervisory Commission, through the Securities and Futures Bureau.
Core rule VASP services may not be offered without completing AML registration.

Overview

Taiwan’s VASP AML Registration Regime is a national anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework for enterprises or persons providing virtual asset services. The regime is based on Article 6 of Taiwan’s Money Laundering Control Act, as amended on July 31, 2024, and the FSC’s 2024 VASP registration and AML/CFT regulations. Article 6 and the implementing registration regulations took effect on November 30, 2024.

What the Taiwan VASP AML registration regime covers

The regime covers enterprises or persons engaging in virtual asset services within Taiwan on behalf of others. Covered activities include exchange between virtual assets and fiat currencies, exchange between virtual assets, virtual asset transfers, safekeeping or administration of virtual assets or control instruments, and financial services connected with the issuance or sale of virtual assets.

The FSC regulations classify VASPs into five service categories: virtual asset exchangers, virtual asset trading platforms, virtual asset transferors, virtual asset custodians, and virtual asset underwriters.

The framework also has an offshore access rule. An overseas enterprise or person providing virtual asset services in Taiwan must register a company or branch under Taiwan’s Company Act and complete the AML registration before providing services in Taiwan.

Registration requirement and transition rules

A VASP must complete AML registration with the Financial Supervisory Commission according to the business categories it operates. If it has not completed registration, it may not operate that business. The registration application requires corporate or business registration materials, governance and beneficial-owner information, business rules, business process descriptions, AML internal controls, a CPA-reviewed internal control checklist, complaint-handling procedures, and other FSC-required documents.

Existing VASPs that had previously completed Taiwan’s 2021 legal compliance statement had to carry out AML registration with the FSC by March 31, 2025 and complete registration by September 30, 2025. A VASP missing those deadlines may not continue operating.

AML/CFT, custody, market conduct, and disclosure obligations

  • AML/CFT controls: Registered VASPs must apply customer due diligence, beneficial-owner checks, risk-based controls, suspicious transaction reporting, sanctions screening, and internal audit and control systems.
  • Transfer information rule: The amended AML/CFT regulations include originator and beneficiary information requirements for virtual asset transfers, but Article 7 takes effect on a date separately specified by the FSC.
  • Client fiat handling: A VASP handling customer fiat currency for virtual asset transactions must use special deposit accounts and either trust arrangements or bank performance guarantees.
  • Custody controls: Virtual asset custodians must segregate customer assets, avoid transferring ownership of customer assets to the custodian, restrict use of customer assets, and establish custody policies.
  • Market controls: Trading platforms must maintain listing and delisting review standards, trading rules, real-time trading information, and mechanisms to prevent unfair market transactions.

Status and timeline

DateEventStatus
June 30, 2021FSC issued the earlier AML/CFT rules for virtual currency platform and transaction businesses.Published
July 31, 2024Money Laundering Control Act amendments were promulgated.Adopted
November 26, 2024FSC issued VASP AML registration regulations and amended VASP AML/CFT regulations.Published
November 30, 2024Article 6 registration requirement and FSC registration regulations took effect.In force
March 31, 2025Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to carry out AML registration.Transition
September 30, 2025Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to complete AML registration.Transition ended
June 2, 2026SFB’s Chinese VASP page updated the related-enterprise list.Published

As of June 5, 2026, this profile should be classified as an in-force AML/CFT registration regime, not a full virtual asset licensing statute. Taiwan is separately pursuing a draft Virtual Asset Services Act, which the Executive Yuan approved for Legislative Yuan deliberation on April 2, 2026. That proposed act should be tracked separately from the Money Laundering Control Act registration regime.

Key provisions

AML registration before service

VASPs must complete FSC AML registration before providing virtual asset services in Taiwan.

Licensing & Registration Nov 30, 2024 Source

Covered VASP service categories

Covers fiat-crypto exchange, crypto-crypto exchange, transfer, custody or administration, and issuance or sale-related financial services.

Market perimeter Nov 30, 2024 Source

Overseas VASP local presence

Overseas VASPs must register a Taiwan company or branch and complete AML registration before providing services in Taiwan.

Market perimeter Nov 30, 2024 Source

Application documents and controls

Applications require business, governance, beneficial-owner, AML internal-control, CPA review, and complaint-handling materials.

Licensing & Registration Nov 30, 2024 Source

Transition for existing VASPs

Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to apply by Mar. 31, 2025 and complete registration by Sep. 30, 2025.

Licensing & Registration Sep 30, 2025 Source

AML/CFT customer controls

Registered VASPs must apply CDD, beneficial-owner checks, risk-based controls, STR procedures, sanctions screening, and internal audit systems.

AML/CFT Nov 30, 2024 Source

Transfer information rule

Article 7 adds originator and beneficiary information duties for virtual asset transfers, with its effective date separately specified by FSC.

AML/CFT Source

Custody and fiat safeguards

Rules address special deposit accounts, trusts or guarantees for fiat, and segregation and restricted use of customer virtual assets.

Custody Nov 30, 2024 Source

Timeline

  1. Earlier VASP AML/CFT rules issued

    FSC issued earlier AML/CFT rules for enterprises handling virtual currency platform or transaction activities.

    Published Source
  2. MLCA amendments promulgated

    Money Laundering Control Act amendments added the Article 6 VASP registration basis and penalties.

    Adopted Source
  3. FSC VASP regulations issued

    FSC issued VASP AML registration regulations and amended VASP AML/CFT regulations.

    Published Source
  4. Article 6 effective

    MLCA Article 6 and the FSC VASP AML registration regulations took effect.

    In force Source
  5. Existing VASP application deadline

    Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to carry out AML registration with the FSC.

    Effective Source
  6. Existing VASP completion deadline

    Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to complete AML registration by this deadline.

    Effective Source
  7. SFB registration list updated

    SFB’s Chinese VASP page updated its related-enterprise list for completed registrations and former compliance-statement entities.

    Published Source

Who it affects

Actors

Financial Supervisory Commission, Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Securities and Futures Bureau, Taiwan Virtual Asset Service Provider Association

Asset classes

Crypto assets, Digital assets, Virtual assets

Official sources

Editorial note

National Taiwan AML/CFT registration regime. Treat separately from the pending Virtual Asset Services Act, which would create a broader virtual asset regulatory framework if enacted.