The legal landscape has seen a significant shift. On Jan. 1, 2026, the 2025 Law on Digital Technology Industry officially took effect, marking Vietnam’s establishment of a legal framework to define, regulate, and protect digital assets, thereby promoting blockchain innovation. The Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1131 designates blockchain as a National Strategic Technology. Subsequently, the Government’s Resolution No. 05 established a pilot initiative for the digital asset market in Vietnam.
To catch up with this shift, Conviction 2026, themed “Connecting Vietnam to the Global Digital Asset Economy,” is planned to take place at the Thiskyhall Convention Center and is a flagship initiative under the HCMC People’s Committee’s 2026 action plan. Organized by the HCMC Blockchain Association (HBA), the forum is expected to help shift Vietnam from a high-adoption market to an active contributor to global digital asset infrastructure.
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Conviction 2026 themed Vietnam Digital Asset Economy Forum is expected to take place on May 8-9, 2026. Photo courtesy of Conviction |
As plan, Conviction 2026 will come as blockchain and digital assets move beyond speculation and increasingly underpin the digital asset economy. Discussions will focus on emerging pillars such as Real World Asset (RWA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in digital asset tracking and financial risk management, with an emphasis on practical solutions tailored to Vietnam’s context.
Vietnam currently ranks fourth globally in digital asset adoption, with an estimated 18-20% of the population holding digital assets, according to Chainalysis. Experts note that Vietnam’s “latecomer advantage” allows it to design blockchain-native legal and infrastructure frameworks without the constraints faced by established financial hubs such as Singapore or Hong Kong.
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President of Electronics Information Communication (EIC), Nguyen Quy Hoa at Conviction 2025. Photo courtesy of Conviction |
The forum follows the success of Conviction 2025, which attracted more than 26,000 registrations, 5,000 in-person attendees, over 150 speakers, and 100 exhibitors. This year’s edition will broaden its scope to include Vietnam’s roadmap toward an International Financial Center, cross-border stablecoin payments, AI-driven finance, and regulatory sandbox models.
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Conviction 2025’s theme was The Resonance of Blockchain & AI. Photo courtesy of Conviction |
Under the direction of the city government, through Conviction 2026, the HBA and the Electronics Information and Communication Association of Ho Chi Minh City will continue to connect regulators, global businesses, and the tech communities, supporting HCMC’s ambition to become a leading innovation hub in Southeast Asia.
