The Netherlands is planning a new capital gains tax that could require people to pay tax on profits from bitcoin and other major assets when those gains are realized, potentially from 2028. The proposal was announced by the Dutch government on Tuesday and presented to the House of Representatives in a cabinet letter, according to Bitcoin Magazine.
A shift from assumed returns to realized profits
Under the proposed system, investment gains would generally be taxed when an asset is sold or otherwise realized, rather than on increases in value that exist only on paper. That would represent a significant change for Dutch bitcoin holders whose assets have risen in value but have not been sold.
The cabinet said the Dutch economy’s earning capacity requires a wealth-tax system that supports investment. The proposal would apply to most financial instruments from 2028, while other assets would move into the new framework two years later.
The government’s announcement did not make clear whether digital assets, including bitcoin, would be covered by the 2028 start date or would instead transition in 2030. The timing therefore remains unresolved in the information provided.
How bitcoin is taxed today
Bitcoin and other digital assets in the Netherlands are currently taxed using an assumed annual return rather than each taxpayer’s actual investment performance. The tax authority assumes that assets generated a notional 4% return, regardless of whether the owner achieved that return in reality.
A realized-gains model would use the profit recognized through a transaction instead. In practical terms, a bitcoin holder could face tax on an increase in value when selling, although the exact treatment would depend on the final rules and whether digital assets are included in the first implementation phase.
The proposal has not yet been described as a completed law. It was sent to the House of Representatives as a plan, meaning the applicable start date and the precise scope for digital assets are not settled in the source material.
European crypto-tax backdrop
The Dutch proposal comes as European rules increasingly require greater visibility into crypto activity. Since January, the European Union’s DAC8 directive has required crypto exchanges to gather detailed information about users and their transactions and report it to national tax authorities, in a process comparable to reporting by banks on traditional accounts.
Tax treatment still varies across the bloc. Germany continues to exempt crypto held for more than one year, while Portugal applies a similar exemption after 365 days. These differences mean that the effect of a realized-gains regime depends heavily on each country’s rules and holding-period requirements.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at 09:48 on October 1, 2026, showed Bitcoin at $83,834.36, up 0.35% over 24 hours and 0.92% over seven days. Cap was priced at $0.0742192472, up 19.61% in 24 hours and 50.12% over seven days. Aethir stood at $0.0059324528, down 2.03% over 24 hours but up 6.09% over seven days. REAL was $0.2227338287, down 4.47% over 24 hours and 3.46% over seven days.
