Greece has approved a 10% cryptocurrency capital gains tax and a separate 15% levy on staking and decentralized finance (DeFi) income.
The legislation, passed by parliament on Nov. 5, establishes the country’s first comprehensive framework for taxing digital assets, with the new rules scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
According to Reuters, annual cryptocurrency gains of up to €500 will be exempt, while investors exceeding that threshold will face taxation on their profits.
The framework also allows qualifying losses to be carried forward for five years to offset future gains.
Under the finance ministry’s October proposal, staking, lending and DeFi liquidity rewards would attract a 15% tax as interest income, separating those earnings from trading profits.
Parliamentary approval and implementation are distinct steps REUTERS • 5 NOV 2026 10% Capital-gains tax Annual gains up to €500 exempt Parliament approves 5 November Directives forthcoming In the coming weeks Transparency Audit rules Approved rate with directives still to follow REUTERS • 5 NOV 2026 10% Capital-gains tax Annual gains up to €500 exempt under the bill Parliament approves 5 November Directives forthcoming In the coming weeks Transparency Audit rules
Historical proposal: October 7
Historical proposal: October 7Transfer gainsStaking and yield
The consultation proposed 10% on individuals’ transfer gains, generally transfer price minus acquisition price.
October consultation proposal: transfer gains OCTOBER 7 • CONSULTATION PROPOSAL Asset transfer Individuals’ gains Transfer price minus acquisition price 10% Proposed rate Final enacted treatment needs confirmation October consultation proposal: transfer gains OCTOBER 7 • CONSULTATION PROPOSAL Transfer an asset Transfer price minus acquisition price Proposed transfer gain 10% Proposed rate Final enacted treatment needs confirmation
The consultation proposed treating staking, lending and liquidity returns as interest at 15%.
October consultation proposal: staking and yield OCTOBER 7 • CONSULTATION PROPOSAL Staking / yield Lending • liquidity • staking Interest income under the proposal 15% Proposed rate Final enacted treatment needs confirmation October consultation proposal: staking and yield OCTOBER 7 • CONSULTATION PROPOSAL Earn staking or yield Lending, liquidity or staking returns Proposed interest income 15% Proposed rate Final enacted treatment needs confirmation
Parliament’s approval settles the headline framework, while the promised directives address transparency and audit rules.
The graphic does not establish commencement, filing deadlines or the operation of the exemption above €500. The panel describes an October proposal, not final enacted staking or transfer-calculation rules.
The ministry also proposed exempting crypto-to-crypto swaps from immediate taxation, although parliamentary concerns about the final wording leave their treatment unresolved.
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Meanwhile, the legislation 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 measure comes as Greek authorities struggle to monitor cryptocurrency activity conducted through overseas platforms.
A senior finance ministry official reportedly said 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.
Greece joins Europe’s widening crypto tax divide
Greece’s new rate places it among Europe’s lower-tax jurisdictions for cryptocurrency investors, even as several countries have increased taxes on digital asset profits.
According to a Nov. 6 analysis by CryptoDiffer, Cyprus taxes crypto gains at 8%, while Belgium and Bulgaria apply 10% rates and Croatia charges 12%.
Other European countries have moved in the opposite direction.
Italy increased its standard cryptocurrency capital-gains tax to 33% in 2026, while Romania raised its rate to 16%. Sweden imposes a 30% capital-gains tax on qualifying crypto profits.
However, some European jurisdictions offer investors exemptions based on how long they hold their assets.
French MPs back crypto tax, and stablecoin swaps take the hit
CryptoDiffer identified Germany and Portugal as exempting qualifying cryptocurrency gains after one year of holding, while Luxembourg applies a six-month threshold. Croatia offers an exemption after two years and Czechia after three.
Switzerland, Slovenia and Malta were also identified as jurisdictions where qualifying private-investor crypto gains can be exempt from capital-gains tax.
These differences reflect Europe’s fragmented approach to crypto taxation, with investors facing substantially different liabilities depending on their country, holding period and classification of investment activity.
