Greece’s parliament approved a 10% tax on individuals’ crypto capital gains on Nov. 5, 2026. The rules apply from Jan. 1, 2027, and exempt annual net gains of up to €500. If an investor cannot prove what they paid for their coins, the rules treat the acquisition price as zero.
A person who sells crypto for €5,000 after buying it for €4,000 has a €1,000 gain and a €100 tax bill. Without proof of the €4,000 purchase, the taxable gain becomes €5,000 and the bill rises to €500. For an old exchange account, a missing purchase record can cost more than the tax rate suggests.
Why an old purchase record can be worth more than the €500 exemption
Greece’s finance ministry explanation describes the usual gain as the difference between the acquisition and transfer prices. It calls for transaction documents and an average acquisition price when someone bought the same asset through successive purchases.
Η υπεραξία θα υπολογίζεται, κατά κανόνα, ως η διαφορά μεταξύ τιμής κτήσης και τιμής μεταβίβασης, με συγκεκριμένους κανόνες για την τεκμηρίωση των συναλλαγών και τη μέση τιμή κτήσης σε περίπτωση διαδοχικών αποκτήσεων.
Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance
Under the approved rules, an investor who cannot substantiate the acquisition price has a zero acquisition cost. The calculation then treats the entire transfer price as gain. An investor who made several purchases of one asset needs the history of those trades to calculate the average price.
The €500 exemption applies to annual net gains after eligible losses are offset. Once net gains exceed €500, the 10% tax applies to the full amount, rather than just the amount above the threshold. Gains of €500 produce no capital gains tax; gains of €550 produce a €55 bill.
Which transactions put the records to work
Holding coins while their euro value rises does not trigger the capital gains tax. A payment in crypto or a contribution to company capital can trigger a gain without a sale for euros. The ministry excludes crypto-to-crypto swaps from the capital gains tax.
- Sale for euros: The transfer price is compared with the documented acquisition price.
- Payment in crypto: Buying goods or services can trigger a capital gain.
- Crypto-to-crypto swap: Exchanging one crypto asset for another does not trigger the capital gains tax.
- Company contribution: Using crypto to cover or increase company capital can trigger a gain.
Losses above €500 in a tax year can be carried forward for up to five years. They can offset future crypto capital gains only. The ministry treats returns from lending and liquidity provision as interest subject to a 15% tax; staking returns receive the same treatment.
Who gains access to the transaction trail
From 2027, crypto purchases count as asset-acquisition spending. Buyers face a source-of-funds check for the euros used to buy coins, separate from the tax on gains when crypto is transferred. Purchase records therefore matter both when calculating a later gain and when accounting for the money used to acquire the coins.
The European Commission’s DAC8 explanation says reporting crypto service providers collect transaction information for resident and non-resident users. Providers send that information to national tax authorities, which exchange it with the investor’s country of residence. That process gives Greek tax authorities a channel for transaction data from platforms outside Greece.
DAC8 covers transactions from 2026. The first exchanges between EU tax authorities are due by Sept. 30, 2027, as set out on the Commission’s its DAC8 page. Investors remain responsible for documenting the price they paid when calculating a gain.
What the voluntary declaration window changes
The ministry says investors can voluntarily declare gains from earlier transfers within 12 months of the law’s publication. Those who meet the conditions avoid fines and interest. Declaring a gain does not establish that the money used for the original purchase came from lawful, declared funds.
The finance ministry has yet to publish its promised documentation and audit directives. Those directives will govern how investors apply the rules to trading histories spread across foreign platforms.
