Bulgaria vs Germany
Crypto regulation comparison
Bulgaria
Germany
Legal
Legal
Cryptocurrency is legal in Bulgaria and subject to a flat 10% tax on capital gains, one of the lowest in the EU. Bulgaria adopted the EU's MiCA framework and requires crypto service providers to register. The country has a notable history with crypto due to a large government Bitcoin seizure in 2017.
Germany has one of the most well-defined crypto regulatory environments in Europe. BaFin has regulated crypto custody as a financial service since 2020. Notably, crypto held for over one year by individuals is completely tax-free, making Germany one of the most favorable jurisdictions for long-term holders.
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Type
Capital gains
Tax Rate
10%
Tax Rate
0-45%
Exchanges
Yes
Exchanges
Yes
Mining
Yes
Mining
Yes
Regulator
NRA (National Revenue Agency), FSC (Financial Supervision Commission)
Regulator
BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht)
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under EU MiCA framework
Stablecoin Rules
Regulated under MiCA; BaFin already licensed crypto custody under existing German law since 2020
Key Points
- Flat 10% personal income tax rate applies to crypto capital gains
- VASPs must register with the NRA for AML compliance
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024
- Bulgaria reportedly seized approximately 200,000 BTC in a 2017 crime bust (status debated)
- No specific crypto legislation beyond EU directives and general tax law
Key Points
- Crypto held for more than 1 year is completely tax-free for individuals
- Short-term gains (under 1 year) taxed as income at up to 45% plus solidarity surcharge
- Annual exemption of €1,000 for short-term crypto gains (since 2024, previously €600)
- BaFin licenses crypto custody businesses under the KWG (German Banking Act) since January 2020
- MiCA framework applicable from December 2024, complementing existing German regulation