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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.
At a glance
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
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2021 | FSC issued the earlier AML/CFT rules for virtual currency platform and transaction businesses. | Published |
| July 31, 2024 | Money Laundering Control Act amendments were promulgated. | Adopted |
| November 26, 2024 | FSC issued VASP AML registration regulations and amended VASP AML/CFT regulations. | Published |
| November 30, 2024 | Article 6 registration requirement and FSC registration regulations took effect. | In force |
| March 31, 2025 | Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to carry out AML registration. | Transition |
| September 30, 2025 | Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to complete AML registration. | Transition ended |
| June 2, 2026 | SFB’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.
Covered VASP service categories
Covers fiat-crypto exchange, crypto-crypto exchange, transfer, custody or administration, and issuance or sale-related financial services.
Overseas VASP local presence
Overseas VASPs must register a Taiwan company or branch and complete AML registration before providing services in Taiwan.
Application documents and controls
Applications require business, governance, beneficial-owner, AML internal-control, CPA review, and complaint-handling materials.
Transition for existing VASPs
Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to apply by Mar. 31, 2025 and complete registration by Sep. 30, 2025.
AML/CFT customer controls
Registered VASPs must apply CDD, beneficial-owner checks, risk-based controls, STR procedures, sanctions screening, and internal audit systems.
Transfer information rule
Article 7 adds originator and beneficiary information duties for virtual asset transfers, with its effective date separately specified by FSC.
Custody and fiat safeguards
Rules address special deposit accounts, trusts or guarantees for fiat, and segregation and restricted use of customer virtual assets.
Timeline
Earlier VASP AML/CFT rules issued
FSC issued earlier AML/CFT rules for enterprises handling virtual currency platform or transaction activities.
MLCA amendments promulgated
Money Laundering Control Act amendments added the Article 6 VASP registration basis and penalties.
FSC VASP regulations issued
FSC issued VASP AML registration regulations and amended VASP AML/CFT regulations.
Article 6 effective
MLCA Article 6 and the FSC VASP AML registration regulations took effect.
Existing VASP application deadline
Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to carry out AML registration with the FSC.
Existing VASP completion deadline
Existing compliance-statement VASPs had to complete AML registration by this deadline.
SFB registration list updated
SFB’s Chinese VASP page updated its related-enterprise list for completed registrations and former compliance-statement entities.
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.