The Netherlands does not tax crypto trading gains directly. Instead, crypto is taxed as part of your wealth under Box 3.
The Dutch Box System
| Box | What’s Taxed | Rate (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Box 1 | Income from work and home | Progressive (up to 49.5%) |
| Box 2 | Substantial interest (5%+ in a company) | 26.9% |
| Box 3 | Savings and investments (including crypto) | 36% on deemed return |
How Box 3 Works
Box 3 doesn’t tax actual gains. It taxes a deemed return on your total assets.
Step 1: Calculate Net Worth
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Crypto holdings (market value on 1 Jan) | €50,000 |
| Bank savings | €20,000 |
| Other investments | €30,000 |
| Total assets | €100,000 |
| Minus: Debts (over threshold) | -€10,000 |
| Minus: Tax-free allowance | -€57,000 (2026 est.) |
| Taxable base | €33,000 |
Step 2: Apply Deemed Return Percentages
| Asset Category | Deemed Return (2026) |
|---|---|
| Bank savings | ~1.0% |
| Investments (crypto, stocks) | ~6.0% |
| Debts | ~2.5% |
Example calculation:
- Savings: €10,000 × 1% = €100
- Crypto: €50,000 × 6% = €3,000
- Debts: €10,000 × 2.5% = €250
- Total deemed return: €3,000 - €250 = €2,750
- Box 3 tax: €2,750 × 36% = €990
What This Means
| Scenario | Tax Impact |
|---|---|
| Crypto goes up 100% | Same tax as going up 10% (tax on deemed return, not gains) |
| Crypto goes down 50% | Still pay tax on deemed return |
| No trading all year | Same tax as active trading |
| Holding on exchange | Same tax as in cold wallet |
The deemed return system is controversial because it taxes unrealised gains and doesn’t account for losses.
Staking and DeFi
Staking rewards are treated as new assets and added to your Box 3 wealth at their market value when received.
| Activity | Box 3 Treatment |
|---|---|
| Staking rewards | Added to wealth at market value |
| Airdrops | Added to wealth at market value |
| DeFi interest | Added to wealth at market value |
| Mining rewards | Box 1 (self-employment income) |
Mining
Mining is considered business income and taxed in Box 1:
- Progressive income tax rates
- Deductible expenses: electricity, hardware, rent
- VAT may apply
Reporting
| What to Report | Where |
|---|---|
| Crypto holdings (amount + value) | Box 3 in tax return |
| Value on 1 January | Use reputable exchange rate source |
| Cost basis | Not needed for Box 3 |
| Transaction records | Keep for 5 years |
Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CryptoKitten | Dutch-specific crypto tax tool |
| Blockpit | Supported by Dutch tax office |
| Koinly | Generate Box 3 reports |
Tax-Free Allowance
The 2026 Box 3 tax-free allowance is approximately €57,000 per person. If your total net worth (including crypto) is below this, you pay no Box 3 tax. For couples filing jointly, it’s approximately €114,000.
Bottom Line
The Netherlands taxes crypto as wealth, not income. For most holders, you pay 36% on a deemed return of roughly 6% of your crypto holdings above the €57K tax-free threshold. The actual return doesn’t matter — you pay the same whether you gain or lose. This makes crypto tax in the Netherlands predictable but can be painful in bear markets.