Greece Floats 10% Tax on Crypto Capital Gains, with €500 Annual Exemption

Greece is moving to tax cryptocurrency profits for the first time, proposing a flat 10% capital gains levy on individuals’ realized crypto gains. The Ministry of National Economy and Finance released a draft bill for public consultation this week, and the proposal is expected to be submitted to parliament in November, according to CoinDesk’s reporting on the draft. Under the plan, the first €500 (about $560) of annual gains would be exempt, positioning Greece among the lower-tax jurisdictions for crypto gains within the European Union. The initiative aims to address a long-standing gap in Greece’s tax treatment of digital assets as domestic interest grows and other EU countries put formal rules in place. Key elements of the proposal The draft centers on a uniform 10% tax on capital gains from the sale of cryptocurrency. An annual exemption for the first €500 of gains would leave small and infrequent traders outside the tax net while applying the full rate to profits above that threshold. The text remains open to feedback during consultation and could be revised before any parliamentary vote. No revenue estimate has been published. The draft also underscores an enforcement challenge: much of Greece’s crypto activity is believed to occur via platforms based abroad, making the market difficult to size and complicating collection. How it compares across Europe The proposed 10% rate sits below the levels applied or under consideration in several large EU markets. CoinDesk notes that Germany, France, and Italy have set or are planning capital gains rates above 25% on crypto. By keeping the rate lower, Greece appears to be seeking additional tax revenue without further incentivizing offshore trading. Implications for investors For many retail holders, the €500 exemption means only larger realized gains would be taxed. Because the threshold is a fixed euro amount, occasional small traders benefit most, while anyone realizing more than €500 in a year would face the 10% levy on gains. With the bill expected to reach parliament in November, investors have a window to participate in consultation and assess potential timing. The proposal arrives as crypto taxation continues to evolve internationally, alongside developments ranging from a U.S. House crypto tax bill advancing in committee to the EU’s broader digital-asset framework, including MiCA’s stablecoin rules. The final tax rate, exemptions, and effective date may change from the draft released this week.