What are capital gains?

You bought crypto for €2,000 and later sold it for €3,000? Your capital gain is €1,000 before fees, not the full amount you received. If the direct costs of buying and selling came to €40 in total, the economic gain shrinks to €960. The logic is like selling a collectible: the money you get is one thing, and how much you gained relative to its cost is another.

If your crypto has gone up in value but you still hold it, you have an unrealized capital gain. The gain exists in your wallet’s valuation, but you haven’t sold. If the price falls back, that gain can shrink or disappear.

Why it matters

Distinguishing between sale value, original capital and profit matters both for tracking the results of your trades and for their tax treatment. When you’ve bought the same coin several times at different prices, calculating the cost requires a specific method, in line with the applicable rules.

We insist on one practical point: keep a record of your purchases, sales, fees and values in euros. Transferring euros to your bank isn’t the only transaction that needs recording. Payments with crypto and swaps between coins must also be documented, although that doesn’t mean they get the same tax treatment everywhere.

In Greece

The law the Greek Parliament passed on November 5, 2026 brings a special regime for crypto capital gains: a 10% rate on sales from January 1, 2027, with no tax if the year’s net gain is no more than €500. See the guide to the new law and the crypto tax calculator.

For sales before 2027, nor does the 15% rate of Article 43 of Law 4172/2013 automatically apply to every crypto gain. Decision 3407/2026 of the Dispute Resolution Directorate (DED) ruled, in that specific case, that income from transfers of cryptocurrency did not fall under Articles 42 and 42A. This doesn’t amount to a general tax exemption for every transaction or activity.

What to watch out for

Don’t confuse capital gains from a sale with staking or mining rewards or payments in crypto: these may need different treatment. Also, DAC8 concerns tax reporting and the exchange of information, not a common European capital gains tax. Before filing a tax return or using significant proceeds, you need to check with a tax advisor about your specific transactions and how to document where the money came from, especially in relation to the deemed-income presumptions (“tekmiria”). The explanation above is not personalized tax advice.