Greece Approves 10% Crypto Tax Starting in 2027
Greece’s Parliament has approved a crypto-tax framework set to take effect on January 1, 2027, according to CoinDesk’s November 6, 2026 report. The reported tax rate is 10%, with a sharp threshold: if annual net gains exceed €500, the full qualifying gain, not just the amount above €500, may be taxable.
- 10%: Reported rate on covered annual net crypto gains above €500.
- 15%: Reported rate on specified staking, lending and liquidity-provision income.
- Five years: Period for carrying qualifying crypto losses forward.
- Unresolved: Whether crypto-to-crypto swaps fall within the taxable rules.
The framework treats gains from crypto transactions separately from income earned through certain crypto activities. It also gives some taxpayers a window to voluntarily disclose previously unreported gains. Parliamentary approval does not mean all the practical rules are settled: CoinDesk’s report does not confirm whether the legislation has been published in Greece’s Government Gazette, and key details about calculations and reporting remain unclear.
How the 10% crypto-gains tax is described
CoinDesk reports that individuals will pay 10% on annual net gains from covered crypto transactions. Under the report’s description, annual gains of €500 or less are exempt. If gains exceed €500, the full qualifying gain becomes taxable.
For example, if an investor had €501 in qualifying net gains, the reported approach would apply the 10% rate to the full €501. The threshold does not give investors a €500 deduction from a larger gain. Since that distinction could materially affect a tax bill, investors should check the enacted law and official guidance before relying on this interpretation.
CoinDesk says the rules cover selling crypto for cash and using crypto to buy goods or services. Spending crypto with a merchant differs from swapping one token for another: the report says the former is taxable, while the treatment of crypto-to-crypto exchanges remains disputed.
The report describes the tax base as annual net gains, but does not give comprehensive rules for calculating acquisition costs, eligible fees or other expenses. Investors should not assume those details. The report also leaves open how different types of crypto transactions must be documented.
Staking, lending and DeFi returns face a separate rate
CoinDesk reports that the Finance Ministry classifies returns from staking, crypto lending and providing liquidity to decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols as interest income, taxed at 15%. These returns are treated separately from covered transaction gains, which are taxed at 10%.
The reported classification does not explain how the 15% rate applies to every reward, protocol or arrangement. Investors involved in more complex DeFi activity should not assume all rewards receive the same treatment until detailed rules are available.
Crypto-to-crypto swaps remain a legal question
The Finance Ministry’s reported position is that swapping one cryptocurrency for another will not trigger tax. CoinDesk also reports that Parliament’s Scientific Service warned the bill’s wording could be read to include those trades.
The distinction matters because a taxable swap could leave an investor with a tax bill even if they have not converted their holdings into euros. Until the law or authoritative guidance settles the issue, the Ministry’s reported interpretation should not be treated as a firm legal guarantee.
Losses and voluntary disclosure
According to CoinDesk, qualifying annual crypto losses above €500 can be carried forward for up to five years to offset future crypto gains. The report does not spell out all the eligibility and calculation requirements, so investors should keep transaction records rather than assume every loss will qualify.
The framework also gives eligible taxpayers 12 months to declare previously unreported crypto gains without late-filing fines or interest. This does not erase the tax owed: any tax due must still be paid within 60 days of filing. CoinDesk says the relief comes with conditions, but does not detail them or say when the 12-month period begins.
DAC8 means more reporting, not a new Greek tax
Greece’s framework operates alongside the EU’s DAC8 reporting regime, but the two serve different purposes. Greek law sets tax rates and determines which activity is taxable. DAC8 requires covered crypto-asset service providers to report specified information about users and reportable transactions to national tax authorities. Those authorities can exchange relevant information with a user’s EU country of residence.
The European Commission says DAC8 applies from January 1, 2026. The first reporting year is 2026, and information exchanges are due by September 30, 2027. DAC8 does not create Greece’s 10% or 15% tax rates or settle the Greek rules on crypto swaps.
DAC8 expands tax authorities’ access to information reported by covered providers. It does not mean every wallet reports every transaction. Its scope and requirements depend on the service providers and activities covered by the regime. For crypto users, the practical point is simple: accurate transaction records matter more than ever, while Greece’s detailed tax rules still need to be considered on their own terms.
Key questions about Greece’s crypto tax
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When is Greece’s crypto-tax framework scheduled to start?
January 1, 2027, according to CoinDesk’s report. The report describes parliamentary approval but does not confirm publication in the Government Gazette. Reuters previously reported Greece’s plan for a 10% cryptocurrency capital-gains tax.
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How does the €500 threshold work?
CoinDesk reports that gains of €500 or less are exempt. If annual net gains exceed €500, the full qualifying gain is taxable at 10%.
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How are staking and liquidity-provision returns taxed?
Returns from staking, crypto lending and providing liquidity to DeFi protocols are reported as interest income subject to 15%. The report does not detail how every specific reward or arrangement will be treated.
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Are crypto-to-crypto swaps taxable?
The issue remains unresolved. The Finance Ministry reportedly says swaps will not trigger tax, while Parliament’s Scientific Service has warned that the bill’s wording could include them.
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Can crypto losses offset future gains?
CoinDesk reports that qualifying annual losses above €500 can be carried forward for up to five years. Its account does not provide detailed eligibility rules.
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What does the voluntary-disclosure window offer?
Eligible taxpayers can report previously unreported gains during a 12-month period without late-filing fines or interest. Tax due must still be paid within 60 days of filing. The report does not specify the conditions or start date of the window.
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Does DAC8 create Greece’s crypto tax?
No. DAC8 requires covered crypto-asset service providers to report information and allows it to be exchanged. Greek law determines which taxes apply.
For now, the headline rates are clearer than the practical details. Keep complete records, treat the €500 threshold and swap rules with caution, and check the final legal text and official guidance before making tax decisions.
