Greece plans 15% capital gains tax on crypto, marking first dedicated framework

Greece is preparing to introduce a flat 15% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency earnings, according to two government officials familiar with the matter. The legislation, currently being drafted by the Finance Ministry, is expected to land before parliament in the coming months.

If passed, it would mark the first time Greece has established a dedicated national framework for taxing crypto. Until now, the country has been applying general income tax principles on a case-by-case basis.

What the proposed framework looks like

The key details are straightforward. A flat 15% tax on capital gains from crypto transactions, with the first €500 (roughly $580) in annual profits exempt from taxation.

For everyone else, the 15% rate is designed to bring Greece into alignment with broader European norms. Crypto capital gains taxes across the EU vary widely: Cyprus charges around 8%, France can go as high as 30%. Greece’s proposed rate plants itself squarely in the moderate middle.

A dedicated committee within the Finance Ministry has been studying regulatory frameworks for digital assets, driven by growing local adoption of crypto and the need to align with evolving EU standards, particularly the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, better known as MiCA.

Why Greece is doing this now

Greece has been one of those outliers without clear crypto tax policy. The absence of specific crypto tax rules meant that investors faced genuine uncertainty about how their gains would be treated, with tax treatment varying depending on individual circumstances.

The proposed legislation aims to fix that with a single flat rate, a clear exemption threshold, and a dedicated legal framework.

What this means for investors

The €500 exemption effectively creates a zero-tax zone for casual investors, reducing the administrative burden for people whose crypto activity amounts to a few trades a year.

For larger investors and active traders, the 15% rate compares favorably to several European alternatives, including France’s rate of up to 30%.

The risk to watch is execution. Legislation being drafted is not legislation that has passed. The proposal still needs to make it through parliament, and investors should pay attention to the parliamentary timeline and any changes to the proposed rate or exemption threshold that might emerge during debate.

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