Taiwan is getting serious about stablecoins. The country could launch its first official stablecoin as early as the second half of 2026, according to Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Chair Peng Jin-lon, as lawmakers push ahead with new digital asset legislation.
The plan hinges on the passage of the Virtual Assets Service Act in the next legislative session. If approved, the law would include a six-month implementation window, putting a Taiwan-issued stablecoin pegged to either the Taiwan dollar or the U.S. dollar on track for a 2026 debut.
Taiwan’s draft framework is modeled on Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules. Initially, stablecoin issuance would be limited to regulated financial institutions, with access expanding later to non-financial entities once the market matures and safeguards are in place.
This move follows a tougher regulatory stance in recent years. Taiwan began enforcing stricter anti-money laundering rules last year after alleged violations by crypto firms MaiCoin and BitoPro. Despite growing interest, no regulated entity has yet launched a USD- or TWD-backed stablecoin.
But stablecoins aren’t the only thing on the table. Authorities are reportedly assessing how much Bitcoin has been confiscated, raising speculation that Taiwan could be exploring a strategic crypto stockpile. In May, lawmaker Ju-Chun even urged the government to add Bitcoin to national reserves as a hedge against economic uncertainty.
Currently, Taiwan’s reserves include U.S. Treasuries and gold, but no crypto. That puts the country behind others that have already moved to integrate Bitcoin and digital assets into national strategies.
The bigger picture? Taiwan is working to strike a balance between innovation and financial stability. With countries like Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong already rolling out stablecoin pilots and licensing regimes, the race for crypto leadership in Asia is heating up.
The takeaway:
Taiwan’s 2026 stablecoin plan signals a clear shift toward regulatory clarity—and a growing willingness to embrace crypto at the national level.
