Bitcoin in the euro area: rules, tax and how it's priced
Across the euro area bitcoin is quoted in euros per 1 BTC (BTC/EUR); many countries write the price with a decimal comma, and small amounts are often given as a fraction of a bitcoin or in satoshis (100 million sats = 1 BTC). The figures on this page are the international BTC/USD price converted at today's EUR/USD exchange rate, before exchange fees, spreads and any local premium.
Is bitcoin legal in the euro area? MiCA
Owning and trading bitcoin is legal throughout the euro area, where the euro is the only legal tender. Since 30 December 2024 crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) have been regulated EU-wide by the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA): a firm authorised by its national regulator can offer its services across the EU. Firms already operating under national regimes could continue during a transitional period, but this ended everywhere on 1 July 2026 at the latest. Since then any firm serving EU clients needs MiCA authorisation, and non-EU firms may not serve EU clients except under narrow reverse-solicitation rules. ESMA publishes an interim register of authorised CASPs, updated weekly.
How is bitcoin taxed? It depends on the country
MiCA harmonises regulation, not tax, so each country sets its own rules. In Germany, gains on bitcoin held privately for more than one year are tax-free, while gains within a year are taxed at the personal income tax rate; the federal government has proposed taxing crypto gains as capital income for coins acquired from 2027, but as of October 2026 this was not law. France taxes individuals' crypto gains, realised when converting to euros or paying for something, at a flat rate that rose from 30% to 31.4% after a 2026 increase in social charges; crypto-to-crypto swaps are not taxed. Italy raised its rate on crypto-asset gains from 26% to 33% from 1 January 2026. Always check your own country's tax authority.
Buying bitcoin in euros
Euro-area residents buy bitcoin in euros through MiCA-authorised CASPs. Because an authorisation from one member state is valid across the EU, the same provider can serve customers in several countries. Regulators warn that MiCA protections apply only to the authorised EU legal entity, not to its affiliates or to entities authorised outside the EU, so it is worth checking which company you have a contract with and that it appears on the ESMA register or your national regulator's list. Bitcoin exchange-traded products are also listed on several European stock exchanges and can be bought through securities brokers.
DAC8: crypto tax reporting since 2026
Since 1 January 2026 the EU's Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC8) has required reporting crypto-asset service providers to collect information on their users and their transactions. Providers report to their national tax authority in the year after each reporting year, and data on users resident in another member state is passed to that country; exchanges for 2026 must take place by 30 September 2027. DAC8 follows the OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, so tax authorities across the EU will receive details of crypto sales and swaps made on these platforms. Providers operating in the EU without MiCA authorisation must register in one member state for DAC8 purposes.
Legal and tax information last reviewed October 2026. Crypto rules change quickly — check with the regulator or tax authority, or a qualified adviser, before acting. This is not tax, legal or investment advice.