Taiwan's financial regulator is putting its weight behind crypto and AI in finance this year, a positive signal for local fintech startups and virtual asset firms.

• The Financial Supervisory Commission is running a year-long push built around two themes: blockchain finance and AI.
• A Taipei fintech expo in late October will bring in international experts to talk stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets, and AI rules.
• A contest for banks, startups, and universities will reward workable ideas using AI and blockchain, with winners demoing at the expo.
• Regulators will keep letting firms run live trials and pilot projects, including custody services for crypto, with a help desk to clear up legal grey areas.
• Crypto service providers are being invited into Taiwan's fintech industry alliance to help set technical and compliance standards.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep loosening the rules around crypto and AI in finance through the rest of the year, with the October expo as the main showcase.