Greece imposes 10% crypto capital gains tax effective 2027

Greece has approved a 10% tax on cryptocurrency capital gains and a separate 15% levy on income from staking and decentralized finance (DeFi). The legislation, passed by the Greek parliament on Nov. 5, establishes the country’s first comprehensive framework for taxing digital assets. The new rules are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

Legislative details and exemptions

Under the approved framework, annual cryptocurrency gains of up to €500 are exempt from taxation. Investors whose profits exceed this threshold will be subject to the 10% capital gains tax. The legislation also permits qualifying losses to be carried forward for five years, allowing investors to offset future gains against previous losses.

The finance ministry’s October proposal, which formed the basis for the parliamentary vote, classifies staking, lending, and DeFi liquidity rewards as interest income. These earnings are taxed at a flat 15% rate, separating them from trading profits. The ministry had also proposed exempting crypto-to-crypto swaps from immediate taxation. However, parliamentary concerns regarding the final wording of the bill leave the specific treatment of these swaps unresolved in the current text.

To address historical non-compliance, the legislation includes a 12-month voluntary declaration window. During this period, investors can declare cryptocurrency gains from previous years without incurring late-filing penalties or interest, provided they meet specified conditions.

Revenue challenges and European context

Despite the new framework, Greek authorities face significant challenges in monitoring cryptocurrency activity, particularly when conducted through overseas platforms. A senior finance ministry official stated that the government could not estimate potential tax revenue because most domestic investors use foreign exchanges, making the overall market difficult to measure. Further directives covering transparency requirements and tax audits are expected in the coming weeks to address these monitoring gaps.

Greece’s new 10% rate places it among the lower-tax jurisdictions in Europe for cryptocurrency investors. This stands in contrast to several neighboring countries that have recently increased their digital asset tax rates. Italy increased its standard cryptocurrency capital-gains tax to 33% in 2026, while Romania raised its rate to 16%. Sweden imposes a 30% capital-gains tax on qualifying crypto profits.

Other European nations maintain similar or lower rates. Cyprus taxes crypto gains at 8%, while Belgium and Bulgaria apply 10% rates. Croatia charges a 12% tax on crypto gains. Several jurisdictions also offer exemptions based on holding periods. Germany and Portugal exempt qualifying cryptocurrency gains after one year of holding. Luxembourg applies a six-month threshold for exemption, while Croatia offers an exemption after two years and Czechia after three. Switzerland, Slovenia, and Malta are identified as jurisdictions where qualifying private-investor crypto gains can be exempt from capital-gains tax entirely.