Why 31 December 2025 matters
The Belgian tax on gains applies from 1 January 2026. Gains built up before that date stay tax-free. For coins you already held at the end of 2025, their value on 31 December 2025 counts as the purchase value, not what you originally paid.
Your higher purchase price, until 2030
If you paid more for those coins than they were worth on 31 December 2025, you can ask to use your original purchase price instead, for sales until the end of 2030. According to the circular this is the average purchase price of the coins you held on 31 December 2025, and you have to be able to prove it, for example with exchange statements.
A loss only counts from the 31 December value
The higher purchase price can bring a gain down to zero, but it cannot create a loss below the 31 December 2025 value. Three sales of a coin worth €20,000 on 31 December 2025 and bought earlier for €30,000:
- Sold for €35,000: a gain of €5,000 (sale price minus the higher purchase price).
- Sold for €25,000: no gain and no loss.
- Sold for €15,000: a loss of €5,000, counted from the €20,000 value.
Keep a record of what you held
Note what you held on each exchange and wallet on 31 December 2025, with that day's price, and keep your old exchange statements: exchanges close accounts and change their exports over the years.
With Pro, Compass-Alpha builds this holdings statement from your exchange files: per exchange and coin, the amount, the price on 31 December 2025, the value and the average purchase price, as a PDF to keep with your tax papers.