The Netherlands has implemented a tax on the storage of crypto assets., 2026/02/13 13:42:51

The House of Representatives of the Netherlands has approved a bill that establishes a capital gains tax for cryptocurrencies and other assets such as shares, bonds, and funds, even if they remain inactive in investors’ portfolios and simply appreciate over time.

The new regulations are set to take effect in January 2028, contingent upon the bill’s passage. Under the new rules, tax residents will be required to pay an annual tax of approximately 36% on the actual income from savings and investments, regardless of whether the assets have been sold. This indicates that taxation will apply not only to realized income but also to the increase in asset value, including unrealized gains. 

During the discussion phase, the bill faced criticism primarily from cryptocurrency market participants, as digital currencies are subject to significant price fluctuations. Opponents of the tax reform argued that there could be scenarios where profits, on which tax has already been paid, could entirely vanish due to market volatility.  

However, the debate resulted in the parliament approving an amendment that reduces the review period for this tax system from five years to three years. Legislators believe this measure is sufficient to ensure prompt adjustments can be made if issues arise during the implementation of the new system. 

Previously, a proposal was introduced in the House of Representatives to create a state bitcoin reserve. However, the majority of the parliament did not support this idea. Pieter Hasekamp, the director of the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), even stated that the authorities should prohibit all cryptocurrency transactions as soon as possible.