Greece Proposes 15% Tax on Cryptocurrency Capital Gains in New Draft Law
The Greek government has unveiled a draft law that would impose a 15% tax on capital gains from cryptocurrency transactions, marking a significant step toward formalizing the taxation of digital assets in the country. The proposal, circulated by the Ministry of Finance in late March 2025, targets profits from the sale, exchange, or disposal of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
If enacted, the tax would apply to both individual investors and legal entities, covering gains realized after the law takes effect. The draft specifies that losses from crypto trades could be offset against gains within the same tax year, a provision aimed at aligning with standard capital gains treatment for other asset classes.
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Scope and Implementation Details
The draft law defines cryptocurrency broadly, encompassing any digital representation of value that can be transferred, stored, or traded electronically. It explicitly includes tokens, stablecoins, and non-fungible assets, though the primary focus remains on capital gains from trading.
Taxpayers would be required to report crypto gains in their annual income tax returns, with the tax authority expected to issue guidance on valuation methods and record-keeping. The Ministry of Finance has indicated that it may collaborate with cryptocurrency exchanges operating in Greece to enable reporting and compliance.
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Greece joins a growing list of European Union member states implementing specific tax rules for digital assets. The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into full effect in December 2024, provides a harmonized framework for crypto asset service providers but leaves taxation to individual member states.
Market and Investor Implications
The proposed 15% rate places Greece in the middle range of European crypto tax regimes. For comparison, Germany taxes crypto gains at the personal income tax rate (up to 45%) unless assets are held for more than one year, while Portugal introduced a 28% flat rate on short-term crypto gains in 2023.
Greek investors who have been operating in a regulatory gray area may welcome the clarity, even as the tax adds a new cost to trading. The draft law does not include a holding period exemption, meaning gains from long-term holdings would still be taxable, unlike in some jurisdictions.
Industry observers note that the proposal could also attract institutional interest by providing a clear legal framework. Greece has been positioning itself as a hub for technology and innovation, and clear tax rules are often seen as a prerequisite for broader adoption.
Next Steps and Legislative Timeline
The draft law is currently open for public consultation, a standard process in Greece before a bill is submitted to parliament. The Ministry of Finance has not announced a specific date for the legislative vote, but sources suggest the government aims to pass the law before the end of 2025, with the tax taking effect for the 2026 tax year.
Once approved, Greece will join a majority of EU countries that have explicit crypto tax rules, further integrating digital assets into the mainstream financial system. The proposal reflects a broader trend of governments moving to capture tax revenue from a growing asset class that has often operated outside traditional reporting structures.
