International Crypto Taxation: What You Need to Know Across Countries

When you buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrency, the government may want a cut—and international crypto taxation, the rules different countries use to tax digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Also known as crypto tax laws, these rules aren’t the same anywhere in the world. In the U.S., the IRS treats crypto as property, so every trade triggers a taxable event. In Germany, if you hold crypto for over a year, you pay zero tax. Portugal doesn’t tax personal crypto gains at all. Meanwhile, the UK taxes capital gains but lets you use an annual allowance. If you’re trading across borders or moving countries, you could be caught in a tax trap without knowing it.

It’s not just about what you owe—it’s about what you must report. Countries like Australia and Canada require detailed records of every transaction: when you bought, how much you paid, when you sold, and what you got back. Some places, like Japan, even tax crypto-to-crypto trades as income. And if you use DeFi protocols, stake ETH, or earn airdrops, those can count as taxable income too. The crypto reporting, the process of disclosing your crypto activity to tax authorities. Also known as crypto tax compliance, it’s becoming mandatory in over 80 countries. Missing a form or misreporting a transaction can lead to audits, penalties, or worse. Tools like Koinly or CoinTracker help track transactions, but they don’t replace knowing your local rules.

The real challenge? Many people don’t realize they’re even subject to tax. If you bought Bitcoin in the U.S. and moved to Spain, you might owe taxes in both places. If you earned a crypto airdrop while living in Singapore but later moved to India, you could be liable in both jurisdictions. That’s why crypto tax rates, the percentage you pay on crypto gains based on your country’s laws. Also known as crypto tax brackets, they range from 0% to over 50%. Some countries, like El Salvador, don’t tax crypto at all. Others, like France, charge flat rates. Still others, like South Korea, use progressive brackets tied to your income. There’s no global standard. No international treaty. Just a patchwork of rules that change every year.

What you’ll find below are real-world breakdowns of how different countries handle crypto taxes, what triggers a tax event, and how to avoid costly mistakes. From the strict rules in the Netherlands to the loopholes in Malta, these posts give you the facts—not guesswork. Whether you’re a trader, investor, or just holding crypto, knowing where you stand legally isn’t optional. It’s the difference between staying compliant and getting hit with a bill you never saw coming.