Do you own crypto? Then you need to declare it to the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst). In the Netherlands, crypto falls under box 3, just like savings, stocks, and other investments. Here's how it works and what to watch out for.
Crypto in box 3
The Dutch Tax Authority classifies cryptocurrency as 'other assets' in box 3. This means you are not taxed on your actual profit or loss, but on the value of your crypto on the reference date: January 1 of the tax year.
In practice: if you hold 10,000 euros in crypto on January 1, you pay tax on that value, regardless of whether you made a profit or loss during the year.
How do you declare crypto?
When filing your tax return, you declare the total value of all your crypto as of January 1. This includes:
- Crypto on exchanges (Bitvavo, Kraken, Binance, etc.)
- Crypto in personal wallets (hardware wallets, software wallets)
- Staked crypto
- DeFi positions and liquidity pools
- NFTs with financial value
You must determine the value yourself based on the market price on January 1. Use the rates on the exchange where you trade, or a reliable source such as CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap.
How much tax do you pay?
Box 3 works with a deemed return. The Tax Authority assumes a fictional return on your assets. Since 2023, a distinction is made between savings and investments. Crypto falls under 'investments and other assets' with a higher deemed return than savings.
You pay 36% tax on the deemed return (2025 rate). There is a tax-free allowance of approximately 57,000 euros per person (2025). If your total box 3 assets are less than this amount, you pay no tax.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay tax if I sold crypto at a loss?
Under the current box 3 system, you pay tax based on the value on January 1, not on realized profit or loss. If you held crypto on January 1, you pay tax on it, even if you sold at a loss later in the year.
What if I have crypto on a foreign exchange?
It doesn't matter. All crypto you own, wherever in the world, must be declared in your Dutch tax return.
Do I need to track every transaction?
For the current box 3 return, you only need to know the value on January 1. However, it's advisable to keep records of all your transactions. The Tax Authority may request them, and it helps when calculating your reference date value.
What about staking rewards?
Staking rewards increase your crypto holdings. The value on January 1, including received rewards, counts toward box 3.
Do I need to declare airdrops and forks?
Yes. If you hold tokens on January 1 that you received through an airdrop or fork, their value counts as well.
Tips for your records
- Take a screenshot of all your exchange balances and wallets on January 1 each year
- Use portfolio tracking tools to keep track of your total value
- Save transaction histories from your exchanges. You can usually export these as CSV files.
- Don't forget crypto held in DeFi protocols or staking. These are easily overlooked.
Future changes
There has been discussion for years about a new box 3 system based on actual returns instead of deemed returns. If this goes ahead, you'll pay tax on your actual crypto gains. Until then, the current system with reference dates applies.
Keep your crypto portfolio organized with a tool like JackBot, which combines your crypto and stocks in a single dashboard. That way, you always have instant insight into your total assets on January 1.