Netherlands Plans Capital Gains Tax on Bitcoin Starting in 2028

WHY IT MATTERS

When you make money by selling an investment for more than you paid, that profit is called a capital gain. Many countries tax these gains, but the Netherlands has historically used a different approach — taxing people based on what the government assumed they earned, not what they actually earned. Think of it like being charged rent based on what your landlord guesses you can afford, rather than a fixed agreed-upon amount. The new plan would switch to taxing only actual profits, which is how most countries handle it. For crypto holders in the Netherlands, this means their tax bill would be tied to real gains from selling Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, rather than a government estimate. This matters beyond the Netherlands because it shows how governments worldwide are building specific tax rules around cryptocurrency, making it increasingly important for crypto users everywhere to understand their local tax obligations.