Greece is preparing new legislation that would introduce a 15% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency profits, marking a major step toward bringing digital assets under the country’s formal tax system.
According to government officials, the proposed law is currently being drafted by the Finance Ministry and is expected to be presented to parliament in the coming months.
Under the proposal, the first €500 in cryptocurrency gains would be exempt from taxation. Any profits above that amount would be subject to a 15% capital gains tax.
Officials said the goal is to create clear tax rules for cryptocurrencies, an area that has so far operated without a dedicated legal framework in Greece. The new law would formally recognize digital assets within the country’s tax code and provide clearer guidance for both investors and tax authorities.
The proposal is expected to apply to profits earned from buying and selling cryptocurrencies. However, individuals who mine cryptocurrencies would not be covered by this specific tax. Mining operations run through registered companies would continue to be taxed under existing business tax rules.
The move reflects a broader global trend as governments look for ways to regulate and tax the growing cryptocurrency market. Across Europe, crypto tax policies vary widely. Some countries apply relatively low tax rates, while others impose much higher taxes on digital asset profits.
At the same time, authorities around the world are increasing efforts to improve crypto tax compliance and recover unpaid taxes from investors.
In Israel, tax officials recently launched a voluntary disclosure program encouraging cryptocurrency investors to report previously undeclared profits. The program allows eligible participants to correct past tax filings and pay outstanding taxes without facing criminal prosecution.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in the U.S. state of Illinois are pursuing a different strategy. A proposed measure would impose a small tax on cryptocurrency transactions conducted through digital asset brokers, with supporters arguing that it could generate significant new tax revenue.
Back in Greece, officials acknowledge that calculating the size of the country’s crypto market remains difficult because many investors use international trading platforms located outside the country. As a result, the government has not yet estimated how much revenue the proposed tax could generate.
Still, the planned legislation represents another sign that governments are moving to establish clearer rules for digital assets and ensure that cryptocurrency profits are treated more like traditional investment gains for tax purposes.
If approved, the new law would provide Greece with its first dedicated framework for taxing cryptocurrency investments while bringing greater clarity to investors and regulators alike.
