Greece proposes 15% tax on crypto gains

TLDR

Greece first signaled a 15 percent tax on crypto gains, but the formal draft now proposes a 10 percent capital gains tax with a 500 euro annual exemption and clear rules on what is taxable.

1. Greeces draft bill would tax individual crypto capital gains at 10 percent, exempt the first 500 euros a year, and is scheduled for parliament in November, not yet law.
2. The proposal mostly targets realized gains when crypto is sold or spent, treats crypto to crypto swaps as non taxable, and taxes staking or lending returns at 10 percent interest income.
3. Greek and EU based users should watch the consultation, any changes on loss treatment and wallet transfers, and how DAC8 reporting is used to enforce the new rules from 2026 onward.

Deep Dive

1. From 15 Percent Idea To 10 Percent Draft

Greek officials told media in June that they were preparing a 15 percent capital gains tax on crypto, with a 500 euro exemption, as part of the countrys first dedicated digital asset tax framework. That plan has now been softened into a draft bill that sets the rate at 10 percent while keeping the 500 euro annual exemption, according to reports based on the text released for public consultation. The bill is expected to be submitted to parliament in November, meaning the tax is not yet in force and could still change before a vote.

2. What Would Actually Be Taxed

Under the draft, individuals would pay 10 percent on net capital gains, calculated as the difference between acquisition and disposal price, with average cost for assets bought in batches. Gains up to 500 euros per year would be exempt, and crypto to crypto swaps would not trigger a taxable event, so tax applies mainly when you convert to fiat or pay for goods and services. Returns from staking, lending or liquidity provision are treated as interest income and also taxed at 10 percent, while solo mining is reported as exempt and corporate mining is handled through existing corporate tax rules. Voluntary disclosure rules would let eligible taxpayers declare past crypto gains within 12 months of the laws publication without penalties.

3. EU Context And What To Watch Next

Greece currently lacks a comprehensive crypto tax framework, so this bill aims to align digital assets with how stocks and other investments are taxed, at a rate near the lower end of EU practice where levies often fall between 8 and 30 percent. At the same time, the EUs DAC8 regime already requires exchanges and other providers to collect detailed customer and transaction data from January 2026, with the first cross border information exchanges scheduled for 2027. Key open questions are how losses and wallet to wallet transfers will be treated, whether the final law will alter the 10 percent rate or threshold, and the effective date the parliament eventually sets.

Conclusion

Greeces journey from a floated 15 percent crypto gains tax to a 10 percent draft with a modest exemption reflects a move toward mainstream investment treatment without choosing the harshest EU options. For crypto users, the practical impact lies less in the headline rate and more in how realized gains, staking income and cross border reporting under DAC8 combine to shape the cost and transparency of turning digital assets into spendable cash.