Kategorie: Crypto News

• Wet werkelijk rendement Box 3 is set to begin on January 1, 2028, according to the Dutch parliament.
• A 36% flat tax will apply to positive net returns above a €1,800 threshold per person.
• Losses can be carried forward to offset future gains.

The Netherlands is preparing to change how it taxes investors, and the shift could have a direct impact on people holding Bitcoin and other crypto assets.

Starting in 2028, the country plans to tax unrealised gains, meaning investors could owe tax even if they have not sold their holdings.

According to a post shared by Crypto Rover, the Netherlands is moving towards taxing unrealised Bitcoin gains, bringing fresh attention to how governments may treat crypto under mainstream investment rules.

The policy is expected to cover a broad set of assets, including Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, stocks, bonds, and similar investments.

For many investors, the key issue is that tax would be triggered by changes in value over time, not by selling and locking in profits.

That makes the reform especially relevant for crypto holders, who often deal with sharp price swings and long holding periods.

Netherlands plans overhaul of Box 3 wealth tax

According to the Dutch parliament, the Netherlands will introduce a new tax system called Wet werkelijk rendement Box 3 starting January 1, 2028.

The idea is to tax investors based on the actual returns they make each year, rather than on estimated returns set by the government.

Under the planned approach, authorities would compare the value of a person’s assets at the start and end of the year. Any income earned during that period would also be included in the calculation.

This means investors could be taxed on both realised profits and unrealised gains that only exist on paper.

The tax will apply to Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, and traditional investment products.

The reform is designed to treat different asset classes equally and apply one consistent method across a modern portfolio.

Why the Netherlands is changing its tax model

The proposed change follows a court ruling that found the old Box 3 system unfair.

Under the previous framework, investors were taxed based on assumed returns, even if their holdings did not perform in line with those assumptions.

Lawmakers argue the new structure is more accurate because it is based on the real change in value of assets, rather than an estimate that may not reflect actual outcomes.

Supporters of the change believe it improves fairness, especially for investors whose returns have historically been overstated by the assumed-return method.

The planned system also reflects how investment behaviour has evolved over the years.

Many households now hold a mix of traditional assets and crypto, and the government appears to be moving towards rules that apply consistently across both categories.

How unrealised gains would be taxed each year?

Under the new rules, the government would calculate a person’s yearly investment result by comparing asset values at the beginning and end of the year, plus any income earned during that period.

A 36% flat tax would apply to positive net returns above a €1,800 annual threshold per person.

In simple terms, the tax would be linked to annual performance rather than transactions.

That means an investor could owe tax if their portfolio rises in value, even if they did not sell anything and did not receive cash from their holdings.

If an investor records a loss, that loss can be carried forward and used to offset future gains.

This gives investors some protection during negative years, although the timing mismatch between paper gains and cash flow remains a concern for some.

What the reform could mean for Bitcoin and crypto holders

For crypto investors, the biggest challenge is volatility. Bitcoin and other digital assets can rise sharply in a short time, and then fall just as quickly.

A year-end value increase could create a tax bill, even if the investor has not sold any crypto and has no cash available from those gains.

Critics warn this could create liquidity pressure, especially for long-term holders who do not want to sell their Bitcoin just to fund tax payments.

Some also fear it could push investors and crypto businesses to relocate if the system becomes too costly or difficult to manage.

With the Box 3 reform planned for 2028, the Netherlands is positioning itself for a major shift in investor taxation, and crypto holders may soon face annual tax calculations tied to market movements rather than selling decisions.

The post Netherlands to tax unrealised Bitcoin gains under new Box 3 rules appeared first on CoinJournal.

• The SSC launched the process after the Ministry of Finance issued Decision No. 96.
• Banks and brokers, including SSI, VIX, and major lenders, are preparing to apply.
• Rules include 10 trillion dong capital, 65% institutional ownership, and a 49% foreign cap.

Vietnam has formally moved closer to running a regulated crypto market after opening applications for licences to operate digital asset trading platforms.

The step brings the country’s long-planned pilot programme into action, setting the stage for approved exchanges to operate under direct regulatory oversight.

The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) said the licensing window opened on Tuesday, following the introduction of new administrative procedures under Decision No. 96 by the Ministry of Finance.

The decision implements a resolution on piloting a regulated crypto asset market, which Vietnam has been developing for years.

Even with the licensing process now live, the market is still in its early phase.

No platform has yet been licensed, and regulators have not announced approvals since the application window opened.

SSC opens licensing window under new procedures

The SSC confirmed that applications under the new administrative procedures will be accepted beginning January 20, 2026.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance issued Decision No. 96 as part of implementing the country’s resolution to pilot a regulated crypto asset market.

The SSC framed the move as a step towards bringing crypto under formal regulatory supervision.

The opening of the licensing window also follows a key legal shift. Vietnam’s Law on the Digital Technology Industry entered into force on Jan. 1, defining digital and crypto assets in statute for the first time.

Under the law, Vietnam recognises crypto assets as property. However, it explicitly excludes them from legal tender status.

The country also maintains restrictions on the use of crypto as a means of payment, keeping the pilot focused on regulated market activity rather than consumer transactions.

Domestic banks and securities firms prepare applications

While the licensing window marks progress, Vietnam’s regulated crypto market is still waiting for actual approvals.

That said, early interest from domestic financial firms appears to be emerging.

Vietnam News reported on Wednesday that around 10 securities companies and banks have publicly announced plans and their readiness to participate in the crypto asset market once licensed.

The report stressed that these institutions are preparing applications rather than already operating approved platforms.

Among the firms named was SSI Securities, which established SSI Digital in 2022.

Another is VIX Securities, which has invested in its VIXEX digital asset exchange unit.

Several major banks were also listed, including Military Bank, Techcombank, and VPBank.

The institutions indicated they plan to begin operations only after receiving regulatory approval.

No crypto exchange licensed as pilot enters operational phase

Even though Vietnam has opened the licensing window, the pilot framework remains at the starting line in practical terms.

That context matters because the latest application process does not automatically mean platforms will launch quickly.

Vietnamese regulators have not announced any receipt or approvals of applications since the licensing window opened, meaning the number of applicants and their progress remains unclear.

For investors and market participants, this suggests Vietnam is moving in a controlled and staged way, with formal procedures advancing before any exchange can legally operate under the pilot regime.

Vietnam’s strict licensing framework shapes market entry

Vietnam’s crypto licensing framework is among the most restrictive in the region, reflecting the government’s cautious approach to market development.

Applicants must be Vietnamese entities with a minimum paid-in capital of 10 trillion dong, roughly $380 million.

At least 65% of the capital must be held by institutional shareholders, setting a high barrier that favours established domestic firms.

Foreign ownership is capped at 49%, restricting overseas participation and reinforcing Vietnamese control of licensed operators.

Taken together, these conditions show Vietnam is prioritising large-scale, institution-led platforms with strong capital bases.

The focus appears to be on controlling systemic risk and ensuring compliance standards from the start, rather than allowing fast, open-ended growth across the crypto sector.

The post Vietnam launches formal licensing for digital asset trading platforms appeared first on CoinJournal.