Greece Proposes 15% Capital Gains Tax on Crypto

Greece Plans First Crypto Tax Framework

Greece is moving to formalize taxation of cryptocurrency gains with a proposed 15% capital gains tax, according to a bill drafted by the country’s Finance Ministry. Currently, Greece lacks specific legislation addressing crypto taxation.

The draft legislation includes a €500 (approximately $580 USD) annual exemption. Taxable events will center on net gains realized from sales, deducting trading fees. Simple token swaps—for example, Bitcoin to Ethereum—will not trigger a tax obligation. Taxation applies when crypto is converted to fiat currency or used for purchasing goods and services.

Investors will be able to carry forward losses for up to five tax years to offset future gains. Revenue from staking and lending activities will be taxed only upon sale of the earned tokens. The rules will be applied retroactively to January 1, 2025, with gains reported on 2027 tax returns.

The bill is scheduled for submission to parliament in November. This move aligns Greece with the broader European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The Hellenic Capital Market Commission oversees crypto service providers, while the Bank of Greece provides prudential oversight for stablecoin issuers. Implementation of MiCA licensing has been slow in Greece, with no local providers appearing on the EU register until September.

The upcoming EU DAC8 directive, effective January 2026, will require crypto exchanges to report detailed user and transaction data to tax authorities, mirroring existing banking regulations. Crypto tax rates vary significantly across the EU, ranging from 8% in Cyprus to 30% in France. Some countries offer exemptions for long-term holdings—Germany after one year, Portugal after 365 days.

Source: Bitcoin Magazine