Greece is about to get its first dedicated crypto tax law, and the proposed rate is lower than expected. A draft bill published for public consultation on Oct. 7 by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance would tax individuals’ crypto capital gains at a flat 10%. Earlier government signals had pointed to 15%.
Greece crypto tax: the key provisions
According to The Crypto Times, Ot.gr and LawNet:
| Item | Draft rule |
|---|---|
| Tax rate on gains | 10% flat, for individuals |
| Annual exemption | First €500 of gains |
| Crypto-to-crypto swaps | Not taxable in themselves |
| Staking, lending, liquidity provision | Taxed as interest at 10% |
| Cost basis | Average acquisition cost for repeated purchases |
| Losses | Can be carried forward five years |
| Past gains | 12-month voluntary disclosure; no penalties if paid within 60 days |
| Living-expense rules | Crypto purchases count toward “imputed living expenses” in tax assessments |
Consultation closes at 10:00 on Oct. 22, 2026. The ministry wants to submit the bill to parliament in the first week of November.
What the swap rule means
Not taxing crypto-to-crypto swaps is the most investor-friendly part of the draft. If you trade bitcoin for ether, you don’t owe tax at that point. You pay when you sell for euros or spend the crypto. This keeps record-keeping simpler for active traders and follows the approach of some other EU countries.
The counterweight is the “imputed living expenses” rule. In Greece, tax authorities can estimate income from spending. Counting crypto purchases as spending means a large buy could raise questions if your declared income doesn’t support it.
The amnesty window
The voluntary-disclosure provision gives taxpayers 12 months after the law is published to declare gains from earlier crypto disposals. If the tax is paid within 60 days of declaring, no penalties or interest apply. Timing matters because of DAC8, the EU directive that requires crypto service providers to report user and transaction data to tax authorities, with automatic exchange between member states starting in 2026. Greek officials have noted that most Greek investors use foreign platforms. DAC8 means those platforms will report to Athens, and the amnesty is a way to bring past activity into the open before that data arrives.
How the Greece crypto tax compares
- Germany has proposed ending its one-year holding-period exemption for crypto bought from 2027, moving crypto closer to the flat tax on securities.
- Rates across the EU range from single digits to more than 30%, with no harmonized regime.
- At 10% with a €500 allowance and untaxed swaps, Greece’s draft would be at the lighter end of the EU range.
CryptoVank’s take
Clear rules usually help a market more than low rates do, and Greece is offering both. The trade-off is visibility: with DAC8 reporting and the living-expense rule, Greek holders will have much less room to stay off the radar. If you’re a Greek resident, the practical step now is to gather your transaction history from every exchange you’ve used. You’ll need it whether you use the amnesty or not.
Readers in other countries can find the general principles in our crypto taxes basics guide. For another regulatory shift this week, see Russia’s first licensed crypto custodians.
Greece crypto tax FAQ
What is the proposed crypto tax rate in Greece?
10% on individuals’ capital gains from crypto, under a draft bill in public consultation as of Oct. 2026.
Is trading one crypto for another taxed in Greece?
Not under the draft. A crypto-to-crypto exchange does not by itself create a taxable gain.
Is staking income taxed?
Yes. Staking, lending and liquidity-provision returns would be treated as interest and taxed at 10%.
When does the law take effect?
It isn’t law yet. Consultation ends Oct. 22, and a parliamentary vote is targeted for early November 2026.
Sources
- The Crypto Times: Greece’s First Crypto Tax Sets a 10% Rate and a 12-Month Amnesty
- Ot.gr: Κρυπτονομίσματα: Φόρος 10% στα κέρδη από crypto
- LawNet: Το φορολογικό πλαίσιο των κρυπτονομισμάτων σε διαβούλευση
This article is for information only and is not tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified tax professional.
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