Greece ends years of crypto tax uncertainty with new 10% levy on Bitcoin profits

The legislation, passed by parliament on Nov. 5, 2026, introduces separate tax rates for different types of crypto activities. While trading profits face a 10% tax, staking, lending and DeFi liquidity rewards will be taxed at 15% as interest income. The framework also allows qualifying losses to be carried forward for five years to offset future gains.

A senior finance ministry official noted that the government could not estimate potential tax revenue because most domestic investors use foreign exchanges, making the market difficult to measure. Further directives covering transparency requirements and tax audits are expected in the coming weeks.

Tax Break and Voluntary Declaration

Under the new rules, annual cryptocurrency gains of up to €500 will be exempt from taxation. The legislation also provides a 12-month window for investors to voluntarily declare cryptocurrency gains from previous years without late-filing penalties or interest, subject to specified conditions.

The finance ministry had proposed exempting crypto-to-crypto swaps from immediate taxation, although parliamentary concerns about the final wording leave their treatment unresolved.

Europe's Crypto Tax Divide

Greece's new rate places it among Europe's lower-tax jurisdictions for cryptocurrency investors. According to CryptoDiffer analysis, Cyprus taxes crypto gains at 8%, while Belgium and Bulgaria apply 10% rates and Croatia charges 12%. Other countries have moved in the opposite direction, with Italy increasing its standard cryptocurrency capital-gains tax to 33% in 2026.

Some European jurisdictions offer investors exemptions based on how long they hold their assets. Germany and Portugal exempt qualifying cryptocurrency gains after one year of holding, while Luxembourg applies a six-month threshold. These differences reflect Europe's fragmented approach to crypto taxation.