Opening Overseas Virtual Asset ETFs to Retail Investors? FSC: Evaluation After Receiving Report

The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan opened sub-brokerage investment in overseas virtual asset spot ETFs for professional investors in October 2024. Public attention is now focused on whether the next phase will include retail investors. The FSC stated today that it will conduct a full assessment after receiving a complete report from the Securities Association to see if the service can be extended to non-professional investors.

According to Deputy Director-General Huang Chung-hao of the FSC Securities and Futures Bureau, 13 brokerages have been offering this service to professional investors since early 2025 following system adjustments. These firms include UBS Securities, President Securities, CTBC Securities, Pocket Securities, Mega Securities, Taishin Securities, Concord Securities, E.SUN Securities, Cathay Securities, Capital Center Securities, KGI Securities, Fubon Securities, and SinoPac Securities.

Huang provided data on the current business volume, noting that from early 2025 to the end of March 2026, the current stock (AUM) reached NT$1.204 billion. This amount accounts for only 0.06% of the total sub-brokerage market. The cumulative transaction volume during this period reached NT$9.899 billion.

Regarding the expansion to non-professional investors, Huang explained that the FSC has asked the Securities Association to compile business execution statistics, understand if any consumer disputes have arisen from professional investors, and study regulatory adjustments for similar products in other countries. Currently, most other Asian countries also only allow professional investors. The FSC will evaluate whether to further open the market after receiving the association's detailed report in the near future.