Greece’s parliament has approved a new tax framework for digital assets, and the centerpiece is a 10% tax on individuals’ annual net cryptocurrency gains starting 1 January 2027. The legislation gives Greece its first comprehensive crypto tax regime and moves digital assets more firmly into the existing tax system. Annual net gains up to €500 are exempt, but the structure includes a cliff rule. Once a person’s annual net gain exceeds €500, the entire gain is taxed at 10%, not only the amount above the threshold.
Gains are generally calculated by subtracting acquisition cost from disposal value. The crypto tax rules sit inside a wider finance bill that also covers loan oversight, debt protections and financial market regulation. For users, the key point is that holding crypto remains untaxed until a disposal occurs. From 2027, however, realized gains will have a clearly defined cost.
Different crypto activities will receive different treatment. Selling crypto for fiat or using crypto to buy goods and services can both count as taxable disposals. Staking rewards, crypto lending returns and DeFi liquidity income will be treated as interest and taxed at 15%, separate from the 10% capital gains rate on trading profits. The government has said crypto to crypto swaps are intended not to trigger tax, but parliamentary reviewers noted that the legal wording might still capture some token swaps. Regulatory guidance is expected to clarify that edge case.
The framework also offers limited relief and reporting changes. Qualifying crypto losses above €500 can be carried forward for up to five years to offset future gains. Investors will have a 12 month window to voluntarily declare previously undeclared gains without late filing penalties if they pay within 60 days. Greek authorities also plan new transparency and audit rules. These changes dovetail with EU wide initiatives such as DAC8 and the OECD Crypto Asset Reporting Framework, which will make cross border activity on exchanges more visible to tax offices.
The overall effect is less about making gains taxable for the first time and more about making the rules clearer, broader and easier to enforce. Greece’s 10% crypto gains tax and 15% levy on staking and DeFi income remain less punitive than some European peers. For crypto users, accurate records and close attention to disposals and yield events will become much more important from 2027 onward.
