📅 Last updated: 8 May 2026
· 🏷 Topic: Bitcoin, crypto, capital gains tax, taxation
· 🇧🇪 For: Belgian crypto holders
Since 1 January 2026, Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) fall under the new capital gains tax in Belgium. The tax treatment depends on whether your activity is classified as normal management of private wealth, speculative, or professional.
The three regimes
| Scenario | Rate | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Normal management of private wealth | 10% above the €10,000 annual exemption | Buying, holding, selling occasionally |
| Speculation (miscellaneous income) | 33% | Frequent trading, use of leverage, professional tools |
| Professional activity | Progressive professional rates | Mining/staking as a business, full-time crypto trader |
What counts as “normal management of private wealth”?
The tax authority has no fixed definition, but looks at:
- Frequency of transactions — buying 2× per year and holding for a long time = clearly private.
- Ratio to your total wealth — 5% Bitcoin in a diversified portfolio = private. 80% Bitcoin with daily trades = no longer.
- Use of leverage — margin trading points to speculation.
- Professional tools and knowledge — mining rigs, complex DeFi protocols, advanced trading bots.
In doubtful cases, the tax authority decides after investigation. The 10% regime (since 2026) is more favourable than the 33% speculation regime — so be careful that your activity is not unintentionally qualified as speculation.
Step-up: what cost basis?
For Bitcoin you bought before 31 December 2025, the market value on 31 December 2025 counts as the fiscal acquisition price. Only capital gains from 1 January 2026 onwards are taxable.
Until 31 December 2030, you may demonstrate your actual historical purchase price if it is higher — useful if you bought somewhere in a bull market and were in a dip on 31 December 2025.
The annual exemption
€10,000 per person per year is exempt. This is a personal exemption — for a couple investing together (separate ownership): 2× €10,000 = €20,000 exempt.
Carry-forward: unused exemption can be partially carried over — €1,000/year for a maximum of 5 years, total carry-forward cap €5,000. In year 6 the available exemption is at most €15,000 (€10,000 base + €5,000 accumulated carry-forward) — and only if you under-used your annual exemption every prior year.
Who withholds it?
No Belgian broker currently automatically withholds the capital gains tax on crypto — most crypto platforms are foreign and have no Belgian tax obligation.
You therefore declare the capital gain yourself via your personal income tax return. Specific reporting codes will still be published in 2026 by the FPS Finance.
What remains of the 33% speculation regime?
The old regime of 33% miscellaneous income for crypto speculation continues to exist alongside the new 10% capital gains tax. It applies to activity that falls outside “normal management of private wealth”.
Example: you do 10 Bitcoin transactions per week with 2× leverage → 33% speculation regime, not 10% CGT.
Foreign crypto account: NBB declaration
If you hold crypto with a foreign platform (e.g. Kraken or Coinbase, both MiCA-licensed; Binance currently operates under FSMA AML tolerance only and is NOT MiCA-licensed in Belgium — verify each platform’s status on the FSMA CASP registry), you must:
- Register that account with the NBB CAP before your first tax return (one-off).
- Mention it in box XIII Section A (code 1075-89) of your personal income tax return (annually).
⚠️ DAC8/CARF reporting: EU crypto platforms must collect transaction data from their Belgian users from 1 January 2026 onward. The first automatic exchange to FOD Financiën is scheduled for 31 January 2027 (covering calendar year 2026). Non-declaration can lead to tax penalties (€50–€1,250 per infraction + 10–200% tax increase) and — once data flows from 2027 — becomes automatically visible.
FSMA-licensed platforms
Since MiCA (EU regulation, in force since 30 December 2024), crypto providers must hold an EU licence. Belgian users can check via the FSMA databases whether a platform is legitimate.
⚠️ Avoid platforms that promise “guaranteed returns” or recruit via social-media influencers. The FSMA warnings list is regularly updated.
Frequently asked questions
How is Bitcoin taxed in Belgium since 2026?
Since 1 January 2026, Bitcoin falls under the new capital gains tax. Under normal management of private wealth you pay 10 % on the gain above the €10,000 annual exemption. Speculative activity is taxed as 33 % miscellaneous income, and professional activity at progressive professional rates.
What counts as “normal management of private wealth” for crypto?
The tax authority has no fixed definition, but looks at frequency of transactions, ratio to your total wealth, use of leverage, and professional tools or knowledge. Buying 2× per year and holding long-term is clearly private; 80 % Bitcoin with daily trades or margin trading points to speculation. In doubtful cases the tax authority decides after investigation.
What cost basis applies to Bitcoin I bought before 2026?
For Bitcoin bought before 31 December 2025, the market value on 31 December 2025 counts as the fiscal acquisition price (step-up). Only capital gains from 1 January 2026 onwards are taxable. Until 31 December 2030 you may demonstrate your actual historical purchase price if it is higher — useful if you were in a dip on 31 December 2025.
How much capital gain is exempt each year?
€10,000 per person per year is exempt. It is a personal exemption: a couple with separate ownership investing together reaches 2× €10,000 = €20,000. Unused exemption is partially carried over — €1,000/year for a maximum of 5 years, with a carry-forward cap of €5,000. In year 6 the maximum available exemption is therefore €15,000.
Does my crypto platform withhold the tax automatically?
No. No Belgian broker currently withholds the capital gains tax on crypto automatically — most crypto platforms are foreign and have no Belgian tax obligation. You therefore declare the capital gain yourself via your personal income tax return. Specific reporting codes will still be published in 2026 by the FPS Finance.
When does the 33 % speculation regime still apply?
The old regime of 33 % miscellaneous income for crypto speculation continues to exist alongside the new 10 % capital gains tax. It applies to activity that falls outside “normal management of private wealth”. Example: 10 Bitcoin transactions per week with 2× leverage → 33 % speculation regime, not 10 % CGT.
Do I have to declare my crypto account at a foreign platform?
Yes. An account with a foreign platform (e.g. Kraken or Coinbase) must be registered with the NBB CAP before your first tax return (one-off). You must also mention it annually in box XIII Section A (code 1075-89) of your personal income tax return. Verify each platform’s MiCA status via the FSMA CASP registry — Binance is currently NOT MiCA-licensed in Belgium.
What does DAC8/CARF mean for Belgian crypto holders?
EU crypto platforms must collect transaction data from their Belgian users from 1 January 2026 onward. The first automatic exchange to FOD Financiën is scheduled for 31 January 2027 (covering calendar year 2026). Non-declaration can lead to penalties of €50–€1,250 per infraction plus a 10–200 % tax increase, and becomes automatically visible once data flows from 2027.
Sources
- FSMA — Crypto and virtual currencies
- PwC Belgium — Capital gains tax 2026
- NBB — Central Point of Contact
- EU — MiCA Regulation
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