Denmark's Tax Law Council has proposed significant reforms that could impact crypto investors. Starting January 1, 2026, Danish investors may face taxes on unrealised gains and losses. This pioneering approach seeks to align crypto asset taxation with that of traditional financial assets such as stocks and bonds.
The council's 93-page report outlines three potential models for taxing crypto assets: capital gains tax, warehouse taxation, and inventory taxation. The preferred method, inventory taxation, would treat an investor’s crypto holdings as a single portfolio, assessing taxes based on the value of these assets at a specific date each year, regardless of whether the assets have been sold. This model aims to simplify the taxation process by enabling continuous taxation of capital income from crypto assets.
Tax Minister Rasmus Stoklund highlighted the need for a fairer and simpler taxation framework. According to the current regulatory process, many Danish investors in cryptocurrencies experience difficulties resulting from the matters and inconsistencies of the crypto transactions' taxation terms. The new approach will also provide easier implementation and aim to be fairer when it comes to handling losses and gains because it will permit offsets of positions on different forms of financial instruments.
Most of the rules outlined for implementation would not be effective until 2026, which would allow investors and crypto service providers to transition adequately. Exchange platforms and payment services, which mostly fall under the category of CASPs, would have to provide a range of data regarding customers’ transactions. This data would be available throughout the European Union, which increases transparency and compliance with EU legislation.
The proposal also includes mechanisms to offset losses from one crypto asset against the gains from another within the same tax period, potentially reducing the taxable income for investors who actively trade or hold multiple cryptocurrencies.
The proposed tax reforms are part of a broader effort to integrate crypto assets into the global financial regulatory framework. Like recent initiatives in other countries, Denmark is looking to provide clear regulations to manage digital currencies' growing influence. The Danish Parliament will discuss these recommendations, and a bill is expected to be introduced by early 2025.