Greece Passes 10% Tax on Crypto Gains Starting in 2027
Greece’s parliament approved a 10% capital gains tax on crypto, lower than the 15% in an earlier draft. It applies from January 1, 2027, with the first €500 of annual net gains exempt.
Greece’s parliament approved a bill on November 5 that sets a 10% capital gains tax on cryptocurrencies, the country’s first comprehensive legal framework for taxing crypto assets.
- The bill taxes crypto capital gains at 10%, down from the 15% rate in an earlier draft circulated in October.
- Net annual gains of up to €500 ($563) are exempt from the tax.
- The tax applies from January 1, 2027.
What the Greek crypto tax bill sets out
The tax falls on the net gain, meaning the difference between the acquisition price and the transfer price. It is not charged on the full sale proceeds. Trading fees and other costs tied to the deal can count in that calculation.
A taxable transfer is not limited to selling for euros. Paying for goods or services with crypto, or contributing it to cover or increase company capital, can also trigger a gain.
Holding crypto while its euro value rises does not create a tax bill. The Finance Ministry says crypto-to-crypto swaps will not trigger tax. The Greek parliament’s Scientific Service warned that the bill’s wording could still cover them, so the point is not settled.
Who is affected and how losses are treated
Once net annual gains pass €500,, the 10% rate applies to the full net gain, not only the part above €500. Losses above €500 in a tax year may be carried forward for up to five years. They can be offset only against future crypto capital gains.
How Greece compares with other EU countries
Reuters reported that EU countries have no unified crypto tax system. Rates across Europe range from 8% to 30% and usually apply to capital gains.
The Netherlands has moved toward a realized capital gains tax from 2028. Germany and Portugal still exempt crypto held longer than a year. Since January, the EU’s DAC8 reporting rules have required crypto platforms to send user and transaction data to national tax authorities. Greece already wrote that tool into domestic law.
What happens next for Greek crypto tax rules
The official told Reuters that further implementation directives will be published in the coming weeks. They will also define transparency and audit rules.
The official said state revenue from the levy could not be projected. The vast majority of investors use platforms abroad, which makes the size of Greece’s crypto market hard to measure. How Athens will obtain enforceable cost-basis data from offshore platforms is still to be settled in the coming directives.