Greece Approves 10% Tax on Crypto Gains and 15% on Staking and DeFi
Greece has approved a crypto tax framework that sets a 10% tax on gains and a 15% levy on income from staking and decentralized finance (DeFi). Annual gains up to €500 are below the stated threshold, but the treatment of token swaps remains unresolved.
Key takeaways
- Greece approved a 10% tax on cryptocurrency gains.
- Income from staking and DeFi will face a 15% levy under the framework.
- The framework sets a €500 annual gains threshold.
- Lawmakers have not resolved how token swaps will be treated.
Greece has approved a new framework for taxing crypto, setting a 10% levy on gains and a 15% rate for income from staking and decentralized finance (DeFi). The rules also set a €500 annual gains threshold, though the available details do not clarify how every type of crypto transaction will be treated.
One open question is whether swapping one token for another counts as a taxable event. That uncertainty matters to people who trade between cryptocurrencies without converting their holdings into euros.
What will Greece tax?
The framework distinguishes between gains from crypto and income generated through staking or DeFi. Staking generally means locking up or delegating tokens to help support a blockchain in exchange for rewards; DeFi refers to financial services operated through blockchain-based applications.
The stated annual threshold is €500 in gains. The source does not specify how the threshold is calculated or explain whether it applies per person, per asset, or across all crypto activity, so those details should not be assumed.
What remains unclear for crypto users?
Lawmakers have left token swaps unresolved. Until guidance explains how exchanges between assets are handled, people who regularly rebalance crypto portfolios may not know whether a swap creates a taxable gain under the new framework.
That uncertainty is especially relevant because crypto users can move between tokens without cashing out to traditional currency. For now, the concrete takeaway is to keep records of trades, rewards, and other transactions and watch for implementation guidance on swaps and threshold calculations.
How does this fit Greece’s wider crypto rules?
The framework gives Greece specific rates for crypto gains and staking or DeFi income, while questions about swaps remain unsettled. That national approach sits within a wider European discussion about how staking and DeFi should be treated: EU lawmakers have called for a review of those areas, rather than establishing a single tax rule for them. Greece’s approved rates therefore do not, by themselves, settle how crypto income will be taxed across the EU.
Frequently asked questions
What is Greece's crypto tax rate?
Greece approved a 10% levy on crypto gains and a 15% rate for income from staking and DeFi.
Is there a tax-free threshold for crypto gains in Greece?
The framework sets an annual gains threshold of €500. The available details do not explain how it is calculated or applied.
Are crypto-to-crypto swaps taxable in Greece?
The treatment of token swaps remains unresolved. The framework, as described, does not say whether swapping one cryptocurrency for another creates a taxable gain.