Denmark

#69

Crypto Exchanges & Regulation – Top exchanges in Denmark by Coincub criteria

Country facts

Denmark crypto score

Trade and store crypto

Can I trade Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in Denmark?

Introduction to Bitcoin and crypto trading in Denmark

Denmark moved to 18 on the 2022 Q3 ranking as a high-value economy with a strong tech industry. It also has one of the highest scores for its financial sector’s outlook toward crypto. Holding the country back somewhat has been inadequate tax laws for crypto trading, which affect the country’s ranking in a negative way. Modification of the tax on crypto is, for some reason, going to be a long affair with the Tax Law Council looking to submit proposals by 2023. Like many small but developed countries, Denmark has a high number of blockchain organizations but low numbers of crypto trading volumes and ownership – better tax laws may possibly change this.

Spending bitcoin and trading cryptocurrency  in Denmark

The crypto economy in Denmark is open and progressive, with a positive outlook towards cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology that supports them. Bitcoin is not highly regulated, and authorities allow the use of bitcoin as a payment token and investment asset without going the whole hog and declaring it as legal tender as in El Salvador. Denmark is a crypto hot spot for indirectly spending your cleverly invested coins. Under a single payment brand, you can have takeaway food access to over 1,000 restaurants. Worldwide brands such as Overstock, Microsoft, Gyft, Etsy, Expedia, and many more also accept bitcoin.

Denmark’s Bitcoin mining regulations

Thinking of mining crypto? It’s a highly technical and expensive activity at the best of times, involving powerful computers – and lots of energy – but it is perfectly legal in Denmark. There is no specific regulation covering the mining of cryptocurrency, as any virtual currency is not technically defined as a financial instrument. All crypto you acquire through mining is subject to tax, however. The profit you go on to make from the sale of the mined cryptocurrency will also be taxed. In line with most taxation protocols around the world, you’ll only be taxed on the difference you’ve gained between the value of your mined coins and the electricity costs you will have inevitably incurred getting them.

Investing in cryptocurrency in Denmark

Cryptocurrency is a big investment play among an increasing amount of population. Antiquated laws and a lax tax collection infrastructure have made investing and gaining from bitcoin speculation highly popular. Tax laws may soon be changing in this regard, however, Danish banks have positive attitudes towards facilitating crypto services, even though the central bank is more skeptical. That said, crypto is still viewed as too volatile and unpredictable for most organizations offering long-term financial planning. Despite a positive attitude from the government, the risks of high price volatility remain, and traditional long-term investment organizations may steer clear. It is likely that any investment plan would probably carry higher fees due to the higher risks involved.

Denmark’s financial outlook on Bitcoin

Many Danish establishments appear unthreatened by the rise of the crypto economy. However, following a year-long review, the Central Bank of Denmark has voiced opinions that cryptocurrencies would not be particularly advantageous to the country’s financial system. If the Danish central bank is not particularly impressed with crypto per se, at least one leading bank, Saxo, has an opposite view. Saxo announced a crypto FX product for trading major cryptocurrencies for fiat currencies. One competitor, Danske Bank, stated that while it wouldn’t offer any cryptocurrency services, it would allow transactions coming from crypto platforms and permit its credit cards to be used on cryptocurrency trading platforms.

Denmark and Defi

Many central banks around the world are investigating some form of digital currency. Following the assessment, the Central Bank of Denmark took the position that crypto will have a negligible impact on the financial system. The bigger concern for the bank appears to be the blockchain technology behind cryptocurrencies, and who will control it. The unpredictable effect of Defi on the financial system raises similar questions.

Crypto regulation in Denmark

Exchange regulations are not tight, aside from Anti Money Laundering (AML) requirements. Much is changing in Denmark, and outdated tax laws are being updated to cover the new surge of crypto investment. Businesses are keen for proactive regulation of the crypto space, and it appears that leading Danish banks are ready to facilitate them – to a point.

Checking the security of any exchange you wish to trade with is highly recommended. Some exchanges carry insurance against loss and some have better services and security records. In all cases, you’ll need to disclose identification and some personal details.

Taxes in Denmark

Paying tax on my Bitcoin trading in Denmark

Denmark is a crypto investment haven with access to all the leading exchanges. The Danish crypto scene has benefitted from open attitudes from the government and an indecisive taxation system. New regulation is expected with regard to taxation, but aside from money laundering laws, crypto exchanges in Denmark and crypto trading are not directly regulated. Any activity between investors in crypto and the Denmark crypto exchange comes within existing Danish laws on standard contracts and good business practices. For that matter, there is no specific regulation covering the mining of cryptocurrency either, as virtual currencies are not technically defined as financial instruments. Of course, much may change going forward – and at present mined coins will be taxed.

Denmark has had its problems with collecting tax on crypto transactions, more to do with its taxation system not being robust or sophisticated enough to cope with the entirely new challenges of the crypto economy. Getting to the bottom of taxation on your crypto gains is fiendishly complicated but boils down to two main classifications for your trading: for-profit business and speculative investment. Assessing which of these you come under requires quite a bit of legal advice. However, if you have acquired crypto as either a speculative investment or as part of a for-profit business, your realized gains and losses are taxable. Gains are taxed as normal salary income, which can be up to top-bracket tax, equal to approximately 52%. As we have said, moves are afoot for Denmark to make its century-old taxation system more appropriate to administer crypto against the risks of fraud and tax evasion – and to regulate the industry more efficiently.

Tax relief, changing residency, and gifting crypto coins in Denmark

If you are within one of the two taxable classes, for-profit-business or speculative investor, then losses on your crypto trading trigger a tax deduction equal to approximately 30%. Gains and losses must be reported in your tax return. Because there is a difference between the percentage of taxes payable on gains and the percentage of losses that are deductible, a concept known as asymmetric taxation comes into play (yes, that’s why you need professional advice). Just remember, realized gains are taxable on each trade you make, and can add up to a seriously high level of taxation – but, hey, that’s why the healthcare system is good. As regards gifting crypto, the tax authorities would almost certainly review the circumstances as to whether the transfer really was a gift or merely a form of transfer to avoid tax.

Much depends on the value of the gift and who it is going to – plus why you acquired it. So it really is a case-by-case assessment. It seems if you pass this assessment then gifting cryptocurrency is not taxed. On the other hand, any gifts that are considered taxable earn a gift tax of 15%. Denmark also has tax-free gift allowances which depend on the gift giver and receiver. Durect descendents. such as children are eligible for a tax-free allowance of DKK 59,500.

Should you wish to change residency to another country you will, of course, come under that country’s jurisdiction for trading and mining.