Greece passes 10% crypto capital gains tax, exempts first €500 in annual gains
In brief
- Greece's parliament passed a 10% crypto capital gains tax on Nov. 5, per Reuters via CryptoSlate.
- Annual gains up to €500 are exempt; the rules take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
- Losses carry forward five years; a 12-month window allows penalty-free back declarations.
- Staking and DeFi treatment at 15% was an October ministry proposal; swap treatment remains unresolved.
- Transparency and tax-audit directives haven't been issued yet.
What the law covers
Investors who go past the €500 annual exemption will be taxed on their profits. The finance ministry's consultation (dated October 7) proposed calculating an individual's transfer gain as the transfer price minus the acquisition price. Simple enough on paper.
Losses get some relief too. Under the framework, qualifying losses can be carried forward for five years to offset future gains, and the legislation gives investors a 12-month window to voluntarily declare crypto gains from previous years without late-filing penalties or interest, subject to specified conditions.
Staking, DeFi and swaps aren't settled
What about yield? Under the finance ministry's October proposal, staking, lending and DeFi liquidity rewards would be taxed at 15% as interest income, separately from trading profits. The ministry also proposed exempting crypto-to-crypto swaps from immediate taxation, but CryptoSlate said parliamentary concerns about the final wording left their treatment unresolved.
The measure arrives as Greek authorities struggle to monitor crypto activity that runs through overseas platforms.
Directives on transparency requirements and tax audits haven't been issued yet; CryptoSlate said they're expected in the coming weeks.
How Greece compares in Europe
Greece's new rate puts it among Europe's lower-tax jurisdictions for crypto investors, even as several countries have raised taxes on digital asset profits. According to a Nov. 6 analysis by CryptoDiffer, Cyprus taxes crypto gains at 8%, Belgium and Bulgaria apply 10% and Croatia charges 12%. Italy raised its standard rate to 33% in 2026, Romania moved to 16% and Sweden imposes 30% on qualifying profits.
Holding periods matter a lot elsewhere. CryptoDiffer said Germany and Portugal exempt qualifying gains after one year of holding, while Luxembourg uses a six-month threshold. Croatia's exemption kicks in after two years and Czechia's after three. Switzerland, Slovenia and Malta were also identified as jurisdictions where qualifying private-investor crypto gains can be exempt from capital-gains tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Greece's new crypto capital gains tax?
Greece's parliament approved a 10% tax on crypto capital gains on Nov. 5, according to Reuters as reported by CryptoSlate. Annual gains of up to €500 are exempt. The rules are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
How will Greece tax staking and DeFi income?
The finance ministry's October proposal would tax staking, lending and DeFi liquidity rewards at 15% as interest income, separately from trading profits. The ministry also proposed exempting crypto-to-crypto swaps from immediate taxation, but CryptoSlate said parliamentary concerns about the final wording left their treatment unresolved.
How does Greece's crypto tax rate compare with other European countries?
A Nov. 6 CryptoDiffer analysis said Cyprus taxes crypto gains at 8%, Belgium and Bulgaria at 10% and Croatia at 12%. Italy raised its standard rate to 33% in 2026, Romania moved to 16% and Sweden imposes 30% on qualifying profits, which puts Greece among Europe's lower-tax jurisdictions.
