Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has officially authorized professional investors to engage with “foreign virtual asset” exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

In a September 30 announcement, the FSC stated that this move aims to broaden “product choices” and “open investment channels for professional investors,” enhancing Taiwan’s financial market competitiveness.

The commission also indicated that it will continue to monitor the virtual asset market, emphasizing the importance of risk management and regulatory compliance.

Taiwan has historically adopted a conservative approach to digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies, due to concerns about risks like fraud and volatility.

The FSC has issued multiple warnings and enforced strict Anti-Money Laundering measures, particularly aimed at cryptocurrency exchanges.

Additionally, the Taiwanese government has supported initiatives like the 2018 FinTech Regulatory Sandbox, which allows startups and institutions to experiment with new business models without full regulatory compliance.

Taiwan’s regulatory shift towards supporting digital asset ETFs aligns with similar policies seen in major global financial centers, including Hong Kong and Singapore.

By restricting access to these high-risk investments to professional investors, Taiwan seeks to balance exposure to digital assets while also managing risk.

In Taiwan, digital asset ETFs are categorized as “high-risk investments,” and firms wishing to handle them must adhere to FSC regulations concerning professional investors.

Despite this progress in digital asset ETFs, Taiwan’s central bank remains cautious about launching a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Yang Chin-long, president of the Central Bank of the Republic of China, has previously stated that there is no urgency to introduce a CBDC, advocating for a gradual approach rather than rushing to compete with other nations.

While Taiwan has developed a CBDC protocol for retail payments and is exploring a proof-of-concept for wholesale CBDCs, the central bank’s strategy continues to align with the government’s broader digital policy objectives.