Netherlands Set to Tax Unrealized Bitcoin Gains from 2028

The Netherlands is preparing to overhaul its Box 3 system, which could impact Bitcoin and other crypto holders by taxing unrealized gains from 2028.

Under the proposed Actual Return Box 3 Act, taxpayers will be required to declare their cryptocurrency holdings and may face a capital growth tax on annual price gains, even without selling them. Losses can be carried forward against future gains.

The current system uses fixed or notional returns instead of actual income and asset performance. The government aims to replace this structure with taxation based on actual income and asset performance from 2028.

A new government proposal could eventually move crypto to taxation at the point of sale, rather than taxing annual unrealized gains.