Dutch lawmakers raise capital gains tax on crypto to 36%
Crypto journalist
We are there
Crypto journalist
Share
Legislators in the Netherlands have taken a big step to reshape how digital assets are taxed.
The country's House of Representatives voted Thursday to advance legislation that would introduce a 36% capital gains tax on savings and most liquid investments, including cryptocurrencies.
Key Takeaways:
Dutch lawmakers have raised a 36% tax on savings, stocks and crypto, including unrealized gains.
Critics warn that the proposal could lead to the relocation of investors and capital outflows.
The bill still needs Senate approval before its planned 2028 implementation.
The proposal comfortably cleared the House with 93 votes, more than the 75 needed to move forward, according to official data.
The Netherlands is targeting unsold Crypto profits with a new tax proposal
If approved, the measure will be widely implemented. Bank savings, crypto holdings, most stocks and returns from interest-bearing instruments are all subject to taxation.
Specifically, the tax is assessed even if investors sell their assets, meaning unrealized gains may still be taxed.
The Dutch Senate still needs to approve the bill before it becomes law. The implementation is targeted for the 2028 tax year, but the response from investors has been swift.
Critics say the policy risks driving wealth out of the country. Some investors warn that high-net-worth individuals may move to regions with simpler tax administrations, particularly in the European Union, where cross-border movement is relatively easy.
Entrepreneur Denis Payer says France has experienced a wave of business start-ups since similar policies were enacted in the late 1990s.
Crypto analyst Michael van de Pop has described the plan as deeply flawed and predicts a significant backlash by investors.
Financial forecasts circulating among market participants show the concern. Data shared by Investing Visuals shows that an investor starting at €10,000 and contributing €1,000 per month over 40 years can accumulate approximately €3.32 million tax-free.
Under the proposed tax of 36%, the final price would be reduced to €1.885 million, which would decrease to approximately €1.435 million.
The debate echoes similar disagreements elsewhere. In the United States, tech leaders and crypto industry figures have pushed hard against California's proposed wealth tax on billionaires, with some entrepreneurs openly talking about relocating.
While supporters argue that the Dutch plan modernizes taxation on financial assets, opponents say it could discourage long-term investment and weaken the country's access to fintech and digital asset businesses.
The Senate decision will determine whether the proposal becomes one of Europe's strictest crypto tax regimes.
Dutch indirect crypto investments reach €1.2B
As reported, according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch exposure to cryptocurrency through financial securities, reached about €1.2 billion in October 2025, growing rapidly in the last five years.
The increase reflects an increase in the value of major digital assets rather than an increase in money from new investors.
Holdings stood at around €81 million at the end of 2020, which shows how valuation findings have expanded crypto-related investments among households, institutions and companies.
Despite the leap, direct ownership of cryptocurrencies remains relatively limited for many investors.
Even with the growth, crypto securities represent only 0.03 percent of the total investment market in the Netherlands, indicating that traditional assets still dominate portfolios.
Last year, Dutch crypto firm Amdax raised €30 million ($35 million) from Amsterdam Bitcoin Treasury Strategy (AMBTS), a Bitcoin treasury company that aims to collect up to 1% of the total BTC supply, or roughly 210,000 Bitcoin.
Trending news, recommended popular crypto topics, price predictions
