Greece drafts 15% tax on cryptocurrency gains

The Greek government is drafting legislation to impose a 15% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency profits, a move that would formally bring digital assets into the country’s tax code for the first time. Officials familiar with the matter said the proposal is expected to reach parliament in the coming months.

Under the plan, the first 500 euros in cryptocurrency gains would be exempt from taxation. The proposed levy would apply to capital gains from investments but would not cover individuals who mine digital assets. However, mining activities conducted through registered companies would remain subject to taxation.

Officials acknowledged a significant challenge in implementing the new tax: estimating the size of the domestic cryptocurrency market is difficult because many Greek investors use trading platforms based outside the country. As a result, authorities have not yet published a specific revenue projection tied to the proposal.

The move aligns Greece with a broader European trend, as member states set their own rules for taxing digital assets. Rates across the European Union vary significantly, from approximately 8% in Cyprus to as high as 30% in France, placing Greece’s...