German Bundestag Petition Reaches 30,000 Signatures Against Crypto Tax Reform
An online petition launched on 4 August 2026 on the German Bundestag’s platform seeks to keep the one‑year holding period for tax‑free cryptocurrency gains under § 23 EStG. The petition, numbered 201716, requires 30 000 signatures by 15 September 2026 to trigger a public hearing in the Petitions Committee. It has now reached the required quorum, prompting the committee to schedule a hearing.
The German Finance Ministry’s 2027 budget proposal would reclassify crypto‑asset gains as capital income, subjecting them to a flat tax of 25 % plus solidarity surcharge (a rate of 26.375 %). Vice‑Chancellor Lars Klingbeil expects the change to generate billions of euros in additional revenue. Critics warn that abolishing the holding‑period exemption would hurt long‑term investors, reduce private retirement savings, and weaken Germany’s standing as a digital‑innovation hub. Around nine million Germans currently hold crypto assets, and the reform could affect their tax liabilities dramatically.
Entities: Bitcoin · Cryptocurrency investors · German Bundestag · German Federal Ministry of Finance · German Finance Ministry · Lars Klingbeil · Petition No. 201716 · § 23 Income Tax Act (EStG)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The petition seeks to retain the one‑year holding period for tax‑free cryptocurrency gains under § 23 EStG. (Petition launched Aug 4 2026; multiple articles describe the goal.)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Critics argue the reform would disadvantage long‑term crypto investors and weaken Germany’s innovation location. (Multiple articles quote industry critics and experts.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Current law treats cryptocurrency like gold, foreign currency, art, with tax exemption after one year of holding. (Background information in articles.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Vice‑Chancellor Lars Klingbeil expects the reform to generate billions of euros in additional revenue. (Quoted in several articles.)
- [● 10 SOURCES] The petition reached the required 30,000 signatures, meeting the quorum. (Reported in all German articles.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The petition was launched on 4 August 2026 on the German Bundestag’s online platform. (Stated in the articles.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Finance Ministry plans to tax cryptocurrency gains regardless of holding period at a flat rate of 26.375 %. (Mentioned in the budget proposal description.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The petition requires 30,000 signatures by 15 September 2026 to trigger a public hearing. (Stated in the petition details.)