OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital have thrown their weight behind VPBank‑linked CAEX as Vietnam moves closer to licensing its first regulated crypto exchanges.
OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital agreed to invest in Vietnam Prosperity Cryptocurrency Asset Exchange Joint Stock Company, known as CAEX. CAEX is part of the VPBank ecosystem and aims to operate a licensed digital asset trading platform in Vietnam.
The funding will be deployed in April and is intended to help CAEX meet strict capital requirements under Vietnam’s new pilot program. CAEX said the deal provides it with sufficient financial backing to join the government’s regulated crypto trading scheme.
OKX Ventures is the investment arm of global exchange OKX, while HashKey Capital is a major digital asset investor based in Asia. Together, they plan to support CAEX on technology, security, risk management, compliance, and liquidity, subject to Vietnamese laws.
Strict Rules for Vietnam’s Crypto Pilot
Vietnam has opened a five‑year pilot program for domestic crypto trading platforms under a regulated framework. Authorities want to shift local traders away from offshore exchanges and into a small group of supervised venues.
To join the pilot, an exchange must meet a minimum charter capital of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong, about 380 million dollars. Institutional investors such as banks, securities firms, or technology companies must provide at least 65 percent of that amount, and authorities cap foreign ownership at 49 percent.
A March finance ministry document showed that five domestic firms passed an initial review, including VPBank’s CAEX, Techcombank’s TCEX, and LPBank’s LPEX. VIX Securities and conglomerate Sun Group also cleared the first round, but regulators will grant only a limited number of licenses.
VPBank’s Role and CAEX’s Preparation
VPBank, one of Vietnam’s largest private banks, created CAEX within its wider ecosystem to target the pilot program. CAEX’s core shareholders include VPBank Securities (VPBankS) and tech company LynkiD, which have been raising funds to reach the 10 trillion dong capital mark.
According to updates shared by VPBank ecosystem partners, CAEX has already built out its technology stack, security systems, compliance tools, and risk management controls in line with international standards. It is also working with global partners on exchange operations, liquidity access, and asset custody, which now include OKX Ventures and HashKey.
Vietnam’s broader plan includes recognizing encrypted assets in law and introducing a tax of around 0.1 percent on digital asset trades later in 2026.
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