Greece

Greece introduced a 15% flat capital gains tax on cryptocurrency disposals as part of its broader capital income reform, bringing crypto into a defined tax framework for the first time. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) administers the regime. The framework is functional and the rate is clear, but guidance on specific scenarios — DeFi, staking, complex token structures — remains limited. MiCA compliance requirements apply from 2026, and DAC8 exchange reporting is now active, meaning AADE's visibility into crypto transactions has materially increased even as the substantive guidance remains incomplete.

Core Tax Treatment

Gains from the disposal of cryptocurrency by individual investors are taxed at a flat rate of 15%. This applies regardless of holding period — there is no long-term rate, no exemption for assets held beyond a threshold, and no annual allowance. Crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxable disposals: exchanging one token for another triggers a gain or loss calculation on the disposed asset at the euro market rate at the time of the swap.

The 15% rate applies to net gains — losses from crypto disposals in the same tax year can offset gains, and net losses can be carried forward for up to five years to offset future crypto gains. Losses cannot offset other categories of income.

Professional Trading

Where an individual's crypto activity constitutes a business or professional operation — systematic, organised, and profit-motivated — income tax applies at progressive rates of up to 44% rather than the 15% flat rate. The distinction between investment and professional trading is assessed case-by-case by AADE and is not defined by a specific transaction threshold. The risk of reclassification is most acute for individuals trading at high frequency or using crypto as a primary income source.

Staking and Mining

Staking income and mining proceeds are treated as ordinary income in Greece, taxed at progressive income tax rates. The income is assessed at the euro market value of tokens received at the time of receipt. There is no specific guidance on DeFi yield, liquidity pool rewards, or protocol incentives — these are expected to be treated by analogy with staking income, but the absence of explicit rules creates uncertainty for complex DeFi positions.

Crypto-to-Crypto

Every token swap is a taxable disposal in Greece. The gain is the difference between the euro value of the acquired asset and the cost basis of the disposed asset at the time of exchange. There is no deferral mechanism. This applies to DEX trades, DeFi swaps, and wrapped token conversions equally. Active DeFi users with high swap volumes face a significant compliance burden under this treatment.

DAC8 and Enforcement

DAC8 exchange reporting has been active in Greece from 2026. EU-licensed crypto exchanges now report transaction data on Greek-resident users to AADE annually. This significantly increases enforcement visibility for residents who have been non-compliant, and should be treated as a meaningful change in risk rather than a theoretical development. AADE has historically been under-resourced relative to the scale of the Greek informal economy, but the automated nature of DAC8 data reduces the manual effort required to identify discrepancies.

Reporting

Crypto gains are declared in the annual E1 tax return. The filing deadline is typically 30 June for the prior calendar year. All taxable disposals — including crypto-to-crypto swaps — must be reported with cost basis documentation. The FIFO method is applied where assets were acquired at different prices. Taxpayers with only long-term investment activity should expect the reporting process to be straightforward; those with extensive DeFi activity face a more complex calculation exercise.