36% tax on crypto — even without selling.
By Maxime Laurent · 2026-02-17 13:49
36% tax on crypto — even without selling.
The Netherlands may tax unrealized gains. Paper profits could become real liabilities.
I read the news twice this morning because it felt surreal. The Dutch parliament approved a reform introducing an effective 36% tax on capital income — including stocks and crypto.
Yes, crypto too.
And here’s the twist: taxation could be based on asset value at the reporting date, even if you didn’t sell anything. In other words — unrealized gains may be taxed.
This is happening in Netherlands, a country often seen as financially progressive and innovation-friendly.
Let that sink in.
Imagine holding $BTC through a volatile year. December snapshot shows a big gain. You haven’t sold. No liquidity event. But you owe tax on “paper profits.”
If price drops in January? The tax bill doesn’t magically disappear.
From a state perspective, I understand the logic: capital is mobile, digital assets are easy to hide, governments want predictable revenue. But from an investor perspective, this changes behavior dramatically.
You don’t just invest.
You manage snapshots.
It pushes people to either:
– de-risk before reporting dates
– hold assets through entities
– or consider relocation
And yes, some crypto investors are already discussing moving abroad.
Here’s the deeper issue: taxing unrealized gains increases systemic fragility. In volatile markets like crypto, forced liquidity to cover taxes can amplify downturns. It creates artificial selling pressure.
We’ve always said crypto is borderless.
Policies like this test that idea.
Will capital adapt? Of course. It always does. The question is whether innovation stays where it’s welcomed — or quietly migrates to friendlier jurisdictions.
As someone living by the Mediterranean, watching governments compete for tax base while builders compete for freedom, I can tell you one thing:
Crypto doesn’t sleep.
But it does move.
Ça commence à faire cher la liberté. 🌊
#Crypto #Bitcoin #Tax #Netherlands #Investing #Regulation
The Netherlands may tax unrealized gains. Paper profits could become real liabilities.
I read the news twice this morning because it felt surreal. The Dutch parliament approved a reform introducing an effective 36% tax on capital income — including stocks and crypto.
Yes, crypto too.
And here’s the twist: taxation could be based on asset value at the reporting date, even if you didn’t sell anything. In other words — unrealized gains may be taxed.
This is happening in Netherlands, a country often seen as financially progressive and innovation-friendly.
Let that sink in.
Imagine holding $BTC through a volatile year. December snapshot shows a big gain. You haven’t sold. No liquidity event. But you owe tax on “paper profits.”
If price drops in January? The tax bill doesn’t magically disappear.
From a state perspective, I understand the logic: capital is mobile, digital assets are easy to hide, governments want predictable revenue. But from an investor perspective, this changes behavior dramatically.
You don’t just invest.
You manage snapshots.
It pushes people to either:
– de-risk before reporting dates
– hold assets through entities
– or consider relocation
And yes, some crypto investors are already discussing moving abroad.
Here’s the deeper issue: taxing unrealized gains increases systemic fragility. In volatile markets like crypto, forced liquidity to cover taxes can amplify downturns. It creates artificial selling pressure.
We’ve always said crypto is borderless.
Policies like this test that idea.
Will capital adapt? Of course. It always does. The question is whether innovation stays where it’s welcomed — or quietly migrates to friendlier jurisdictions.
As someone living by the Mediterranean, watching governments compete for tax base while builders compete for freedom, I can tell you one thing:
Crypto doesn’t sleep.
But it does move.
Ça commence à faire cher la liberté. 🌊
#Crypto #Bitcoin #Tax #Netherlands #Investing #Regulation
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice.