You bought some Bitcoin a few years back and now it's worth double what you paid. Nice! But then you start wondering: do I owe tax on this in Belgium?
The answer isn't straightforward. Belgium's crypto tax rules are full of grey areas, and they're about to change significantly with a new 10% capital gains tax coming in 2026.
Here's everything you need to know about crypto taxation in Belgium, plus why many investors are switching to a simpler, more tax-efficient approach.
No tax on crypto (until now)
If you just buy crypto and hold onto it without selling, Belgium hasn’t taxed you so far. Until 2025, simply owning crypto or using it to pay for something didn’t trigger any tax. There’s no wealth tax on crypto here, and no tax on “unrealised gains”, the paper profits you see before you actually sell. So you could hold Bitcoin for years without paying yearly taxes, unlike in some countries that tax you even if you haven’t cashed out.
But Belgian tax authorities do look at how you invest and why. They usually group people into three buckets:
- Prudent investor
You buy crypto as a long‑term bet and don’t take big risks. Maybe you grabbed some Bitcoin a few years ago and haven’t touched it since. In this case, you’re seen as a private investor, and any gains are tax‑free. - Speculator
You trade often, take on risk, and chase short‑term profits. Think flipping altcoins every few weeks to ride the volatility. Here, your gains are treated as “miscellaneous income” and taxed at 33%. You’ll need to declare them in your tax return. - Professional trader
Crypto is your main job or a steady income stream. Your profits get taxed as professional income, at the same progressive rates as a salary (25% to 50%), plus social security contributions. You’ll also need to register as self‑employed and meet the usual business obligations.
A new 10% capital gains tax is coming
The Belgian government has announced plans for a new 10% tax on capital gains, including profits from crypto. In practice, if you sell Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies for more than you paid, you could soon owe 10% on the profit. The goal is to end Belgium’s reputation as a place where private investment gains go untaxed.
When will this start?
The law is expected to be passed in 2025 and take effect in 2026. As of mid‑2025, nothing has changed yet, so your crypto profits aren’t subject to this tax. But it’s likely coming, and we’ll update this article when it’s official.
Who will pay the 10%?
The tax targets individuals who sell crypto as a private investment. If your trading is considered “professional activity” (like we showed above), the profits will be taxed as regular income instead. This rule is mainly aimed at casual investors who until now paid no tax on their crypto gains.
Are there any exemptions?
Yes. Each person will get a yearly allowance of €10,000 in tax‑free capital gains. You can carry over unused amounts slightly, up to €15,000. So if your gains stay within the allowance, you won’t pay anything. You’ll only owe 10% on profits above it.
Why is this tax being introduced?
Until now, Belgium didn’t tax most private investment gains, whether from stocks, funds or crypto. The government calls the new 10% levy a “solidarity contribution”. The idea is to raise more tax revenue and make the system fairer. It also brings Belgium closer to other countries that already tax investment profits.
What about interest or staking?
If your crypto earns you extra income beyond price gains, that’s usually taxed differently. For example, if you lend crypto or deposit stablecoins and earn interest, this is treated as income from movable property and usually taxed at 30% withholding tax. The same goes for staking rewards, mining profits, airdrops or forks. Depending on how often you do it and the amounts involved, these might be classified as professional income or miscellaneous income instead. The bottom line: if you’re getting any return in crypto other than capital gains, check the tax rules for that type of income and make sure you declare it if needed.
Still confused? You’re not alone.
Belgium’s crypto tax rules are still full of grey areas. The 10% rule above is a guideline, but tax authorities look at each case individually. They can take into account your intention, how often you trade, the risk you take, the type of assets you hold, and even your financial knowledge. Someone could make a big gain and still argue it’s not taxable if it fits with the “normal management of private assets”. If you’re unsure, it’s worth speaking to a tax advisor or asking the FPS Finances for a ruling.
Declaration of crypto accounts
Alongside the new 10% tax on gains, the government also wants to keep a closer eye on crypto holdings.
Do you have to declare crypto accounts today?
Right now, no. If you have an account on a foreign crypto exchange like Binance, Bitvavo or Coinbase, you don’t have to declare it to the Belgian National Bank’s Central Point of Contact (CPC). These platforms aren’t considered “bank or savings accounts” under current rules, so they’ve been outside the reporting requirement. The Finance Minister confirmed in 2022 that unless a crypto platform has a banking licence, it doesn’t need to be reported. But you can do so if you prefer peace of mind.
What’s changing?
That’s likely to change soon. The government plans to include crypto platforms in the CPC reporting rules. This would mean you’ll need to list your foreign crypto accounts in your annual disclosures, just like you already do with foreign bank accounts. The aim is to increase transparency and reduce tax evasion.
Even if you don’t declare them yourself, it will get harder to keep these accounts hidden. Under new EU rules, crypto exchanges will report account balances and transactions to tax authorities. Belgian authorities will receive this data automatically from other countries. In short, sooner or later the taxman will know about your Binance account and what’s in it. It’s better to stay compliant, because hiding crypto income will only become more difficult.
For now, nothing changes until the law is passed. But it’s a good idea to keep clear records of your crypto transactions so you’re ready when the rules take effect.
The grey areas
Belgium’s crypto tax rules still have a lot of ambiguity. The guidelines above are just that, guidelines. There’s no simple checklist that tells you how you’ll be taxed. The tax authorities look at the full picture and may consider:
- Your intention (long‑term investment or quick profit)
- How often and how much you trade
- The level of risk you take (for example, leveraged trading)
- The type of crypto you hold (established coins vs. obscure tokens)
- Your background and knowledge (if you work in finance or IT, they might assume you understand the risks)
If you’re not sure where you stand, it’s worth speaking to a tax advisor who understands crypto. They can help you interpret your situation. You can also request a binding ruling from the Belgian tax authorities, which gives you official confirmation of how your crypto will be taxed. Just remember: tax rules are evolving. What’s true today could change with the next law.
ETF investing: a more sensible alternative to crypto
Investing in crypto can be exciting, but it also comes with significant risks: extreme volatility, unclear regulation, and a high chance of loss. For many Belgians looking to grow their savings over time, ETF investing offers a safer, more reliable path.
What are ETFs?
ETFs (exchange-traded funds) let you invest in a large number of companies all at once. Instead of trying to pick individual winners like Amazon or Tesla, or hoping your favourite crypto coin goes up, you invest in the entire market through a single, diversified fund. For example, an S&P 500 ETF lets you invest in the 500 largest companies in the US, while a MSCI World ETF gives you exposure to over 1,500 companies across developed markets worldwide.
By spreading your investments across thousands of companies, you reduce your risk. You’re not gambling on one meme coin or one tech company, you’re investing in the global economy. History shows that it pays off too:
ETFs are tax efficient
You have to pay the Belgian transaction tax, which is known as the TOB. This tax is between 0.12% and 1.32% depending on the ETF. And the 30% dividend tax can be avoided by investing in accumulating ETFs rather than distributing ETFs. Accumulating funds reinvest the dividends rather than paying them out to you.
Curvo: the easiest way to invest in ETFs
Choosing the right ETFs to invest in can be a challenge. But that's not all. You have to understand the intricacies of investing, comprehend the impact of taxes on your portfolio, learning how to use your broker, and know when to rebalance your portfolio. That's why we built Curvo. To make things easy so you can spend your free time on the things that matter most to you.
Get the best portfolio tailored to you and your goals
Invest in one of five portfolios, each optimised for a particular financial goal and appetite for risk. When you sign up, you're asked a series of questions to get to know you and learn what type of investor you are. Based on your answers, you are matched with the best portfolio. Your financial situation and goals (and even your attitude to risk) may change over time. That's why this process is repeated regularly to make sure that your investment strategy always remains aligned to you and your needs.
Diversification at its core
Each portfolio is globally diversified and invests in over 7,500 companies. That's a lot more than investing all your savings in a crypto coin.
All your money is invested
Your investments work with fractional shares. This means that all your money is put to work. There will never be cash sitting on your account doing nothing.
No transaction tax
There is a way to passively invest in ETFs while not having to worry about the transaction tax. At Curvo, all taxes are taken care of.
Invest sustainably
Sustainable investing is challenging because everyone has different beliefs and values. That's why your investments focus on one guiding principle: none of the portfolios invest in companies that are considered destructive to the planet.
Built for monthly investing
You can set up a monthly savings plan where your selected amount is automatically debited from your bank account and invested in your portfolio at the start of each month. This way, it's easy to adopt the best saving habits. Also, Curvo does not charge any transaction fees. And your investments support fractional shares meaning all your money is invested. So Curvo is ideal for monthly investing.
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Summary
The crypto tax landscape in Belgium is shifting from the Wild West to proper regulation. With the 10% capital gains tax coming and new reporting requirements on the horizon, you can't ignore the tax implications anymore. This complexity, combined with crypto's notorious volatility, makes it a challenging investment for most people.
That's why many investors are turning to ETFs for steady, long-term growth. You get the diversification of thousands of companies without the regulatory headaches or sleepless nights watching price charts. The path to building wealth doesn't have to be complicated or stressful. Keep good records whatever you invest in, stay updated on tax changes, and remember that boring often beats exciting when it comes to growing your money over time.