Athens is preparing a bill that would impose a 10% capital‑gains tax on profits from cryptocurrency transactions, while exempting the first €500 (about $560) of gains each year. The proposal, slated for parliamentary debate in November, marks the latest effort by a European state to bring digital‑asset earnings into its tax net.
Key provisions of the draft law
The legislation, as outlined by several outlets, sets a flat 10% rate on net crypto gains after deducting the €500 annual exemption. According to CoinDesk, the exemption applies to each taxpayer individually, meaning small‑scale investors would effectively pay no tax on modest returns. Cointelegraph adds that the bill also excludes crypto‑to‑crypto swaps from taxation, treating them as non‑realised events similar to stock‑for‑stock trades in traditional markets.
Potential impact on retail and institutional investors
For retail participants, the €500 threshold covers many casual traders whose occasional trades generate modest profits. However, the 10% levy could raise the effective tax burden for more active users who regularly realise gains above the exemption limit. Institutional investors and high‑frequency traders, who already factor tax considerations into their strategies, may see the rate as comparable to the 15%‑30% capital‑gains taxes applied to equities in Greece.
The introduction of a crypto‑specific tax aligns Greece with a growing list of jurisdictions that have clarified the fiscal treatment of digital assets. While some countries, such as Germany, offer tax‑free periods for long‑term holdings, others, like the United States, tax crypto as property, resulting in potentially higher rates. By setting a clear, modest rate, Greece aims to provide certainty for investors while capturing revenue from a rapidly expanding market.
Broader regulatory backdrop
Greece’s move comes amid heightened scrutiny of the cryptocurrency sector across the European Union, where regulators are drafting unified rules on anti‑money‑laundering and market transparency. The draft tax bill reflects a parallel trend of fiscal authorities seeking to formalise crypto earnings, a step that could influence neighboring economies.
Analysts note that the exemption for crypto‑to‑crypto swaps could encourage users to rebalance portfolios without triggering immediate tax liabilities, a feature that mirrors the treatment of stock swaps in many tax codes. This design may also simplify compliance, as traders would only need to report realised gains when converting crypto into fiat or other taxable events.
"Crypto gains of up to €500 per year would be exempt under the bill," reported CoinDesk.
If passed, the tax would be collected through the existing personal‑income‑tax framework, with the Ministry of Finance responsible for issuing guidelines on reporting obligations and documentation. The government has not disclosed projected revenue, but officials suggest the measure will help align Greece’s fiscal policy with the digital‑economy’s growth.
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Live data: CoinGecko — 2026-10-08 09:21 UTC
