Greece Plans a 10% Tax on Crypto Profits

Greece plans to introduce a 10% tax on profits from cryptocurrencies and wants to exempt the first €500 of annual income from the levy. This will hit traders first and foremost, as well as those who frequently lock in profits.

The bill has already been opened for public consultation. According to Reuters, it is due to be submitted to parliament in November, while the ministry is not yet naming expected budget revenues. The draft also includes an important detail: swapping one crypto asset for another is not considered a taxable capital gain.

Why is Athens taking up crypto taxes now?

The reason is simple. Greece still does not have a complete legal framework for taxing cryptocurrencies. And EU rules vary widely, so the government wants to bring this into one clear mechanism.

The draft is not only about spot profits. Income from the recent stablecoin settlement news does not apply here, but the approach itself is similar: authorities are increasingly looking at digital assets as a regular financial instrument. Greece also plans to tax crypto lending, liquidity provision and staking separately at 10% if they generate income in the form of interest.

What exactly does the bill provide?

The document is quite specific. The public consultation is set to end on 22 October 2026 at 10:00. After that, the government wants to bring the text to parliament and vote in the first week of November 2026.

There are other important rules as well. For serial purchases, they propose using the average acquisition price. For inheritance, gifts and parental transfers, crypto assets are to be treated as intangible movable property abroad. And tokens issued to employees, partners or shareholders as a benefit-in-kind will be valued in euros at the time of receipt.

A separate 12-month window for voluntary disclosure of past profits without fines or penalties is also предусмотрено. And one more nuance: the sale of crypto assets will not be subject to the Greek Digital Transaction Fee. That is already a tangible signal to the market.

Market reaction

In terms of numbers, the picture is this: in European countries, crypto profit tax rates, according to Reuters, range from 8% to 30%. So Greece's 10% looks closer to the lower end.

Greek officials acknowledge that it is difficult to estimate the size of the local crypto market. The reason is that most investors use platforms outside Greece.

This matters. If the market already partly lives outside the country's jurisdiction, the new tax may bring in less money than the budget expects. That is why the authorities are not yet naming revenue forecasts.

There is also a broader backdrop. According to the European Commission, the DAC8 regime has been in force since 1 January 2026. It requires crypto providers to collect and pass transaction data to tax authorities. So collecting taxes will become easier not only for Greece.

• The 10% rate will apply to profits from cryptocurrencies.

• Up to €500 per year is planned to be exempt from tax.

• The public consultation ends on 22 October 2026 at 10:00.

• Parliamentary voting is planned for the first week of November 2026.

• Exchanging one crypto asset for another does not create a capital gain.

• Staking, lending and liquidity provision are also set to be taxed at 10%.

What does this mean for investors?

For those who trade frequently, this means more record-keeping. If a person makes many trades, they will need to track the average purchase price and calculate profits separately in euros. For small investors, the €500 threshold partially softens the new rules.

For long-term holders, the situation is calmer. If profits are not realized, there is no tax. But when coins are sold, exchanged for another asset, or income is received from staking, a tax trail already appears.

There is also a practical takeaway for Ukrainian readers here. EU countries are gradually bringing the crypto market under stricter reporting rules. So those who work through European platforms or live in the EU should keep a transaction history from the start and not rely on memory.

By the way, a similar trend can be seen in other stories: from the story of Avalanche testing on the NYSE to new rules in Europe. The market is maturing, and tax rules are too.

Frequently asked questions

Who in Greece will be affected by the new 10% tax?

Primarily those who sell cryptocurrency at a profit. If annual profit does not exceed €500, it is planned to be exempt from taxation. For active traders, this means transaction tracking will become mandatory.

Will exchanging one cryptocurrency for another be taxed?

The draft says no. Such an exchange does not create a taxable capital gain. But income from staking, lending and providing liquidity is planned to be taxed at 10%.

When could the law be adopted?

The public consultation will run until 22 October 2026 at 10:00. After that, the government wants to submit the document to parliament in November, and voting is planned for the first week of the month.

The Greek draft shows a simple thing: cryptocurrencies in Europe are increasingly being brought into the standard tax regime. If you need to quickly sell USDT TRC20 for hryvnia, it is better to do so with your own tax history and documents in mind.

This material is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks. Part of this text was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence based on public sources and reviewed by our editorial team.