The Greek Parliament has approved a measure that would impose a 10% tax on the full amount of annual net crypto gains exceeding 500 euros, and a 15% tax on income from staking and DeFi.
According to CoinDesk, the new tax framework is planned to take effect on January 1, 2027. The measure brings crypto investments into Greece’s tax system while setting different rates for investment gains and certain types of returns.
Why is the 500-euro threshold important?
If annual net crypto gains exceed 500 euros, the 10% tax will apply to the entire gain. For example, on net gains of 600 euros, the tax would be calculated on 600 euros—not just the 100 euros above the threshold.
The tax does not apply only to selling crypto for cash. Purchasing goods or services with cryptocurrency is also classified as a taxable transaction.
The rate on staking and DeFi returns is 15%
According to the Finance Ministry’s announcement, returns earned through staking, crypto lending, and providing liquidity to DeFi platforms will be treated as interest income and taxed at a rate of 15%.
Investors with annual crypto losses exceeding 500 euros will be able to offset those losses against crypto gains earned over the following five years.
Declaration period for past gains
The measure provides a 12-month period to report past crypto gains under certain conditions without late penalties or interest. The taxes declared must be paid within 60 days of the declaration.
Disagreement over crypto-to-crypto trades
The Greek Finance Ministry says that exchanging one cryptocurrency for another will not trigger a tax liability. However, the Parliamentary Scientific Service warned that the wording of the text could also cover these transactions.
As a result, the institutions differ in their interpretation of which exchanges are covered; the Ministry’s announcement and the legal warning about the text do not align on this point.
Not investment advice.