How to buy bitcoin in Germany

STATUS: LEGAL TO BUY AND HOLD

    As of: June 2026
    Last reviewed: January 22, 2026
  

This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.

Quick answer

Buying and holding bitcoin is legal in Germany as of January 2026. Buy through a platform that holds MiCA authorisation supervised by BaFin, fund it with euro, and you can move the bitcoin to your own wallet. Buying is not a taxable event, and a later gain is tax free if you hold for more than one year under section 23 of the Income Tax Act. This is general information, not financial advice.

Is it legal to buy bitcoin in Germany

Yes. Buying, holding, and selling bitcoin is legal in Germany as of January 2026. Bitcoin is not legal tender, which means no one is obliged to accept it as payment, but it is fully lawful to acquire and hold as a private asset. There is no cap on how much bitcoin an individual may hold. The rules that apply are about who you buy through and how a later disposal is taxed, not about whether you may own bitcoin at all.

How to buy bitcoin compliantly

Choose an authorised platform

Use a platform that holds authorisation under the EU Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation, known as MiCA, supervised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, known as BaFin, or one passported into Germany from another EU member state. Several established platforms operate for German residents, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, Bitvavo, and Bitstamp. Confirm a platform holds current authorisation before depositing funds, since Germany ended its national transition period on 31 December 2025 and unauthorised providers are not permitted.

Verify your identity and fund in euro

Authorised platforms apply identity verification under anti money laundering rules, so expect to provide identification before you trade. Fund the account in euro, commonly by SEPA transfer or another supported method, then place an order for bitcoin. Larger transactions may trigger additional verification. There is no legal purchase cap, but each platform sets its own limits.

Move to self custody and keep records

Once you hold bitcoin, you can keep it on the platform as a custodian or withdraw it to your own self custody wallet, which is legal in Germany. Moving bitcoin between wallets you own is generally not a taxable event. Keep a clear record of the purchase date and the euro value, because the one year holding period that determines your tax position runs from the date you acquired the bitcoin.

Tax when you buy and sell bitcoin

Not tax advice, verify before filing

Buying bitcoin with euro is not itself a taxable event in Germany. Tax can arise later, when you sell, swap, or spend it. The Federal Ministry of Finance, known as the BMF, treats a gain on disposal as a private sale transaction under section 23 of the Income Tax Act, as of January 2026. If you hold the bitcoin for more than one year before disposal, the gain is tax free. If you dispose of it within one year, the gain is taxable at your personal income tax rate, with a 1,000 euro per calendar year exemption threshold for total private sale gains.

A reported budget proposal to abolish the one year holding rule has not become law as of January 2026, and the rule remains in force. This is general information, not tax advice, so verify the current position with the BMF and a qualified tax adviser before filing.

Compare available options

To buy bitcoin compliantly, compare platforms that operate for German residents under MiCA authorisation. The module below lists authorised options. We do not present any listing as an editorial recommendation, and we never link a platform whose availability in Germany is unconfirmed.

Act legally in Germany

Compare exchanges available to Germany users

Platforms that operate for Germany residents under MiCA authorisation include Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, Bitvavo, and Bitstamp. See the authorised options side by side, then verify the current position with the platform and BaFin before you sign up.

Compare available exchanges

Regulator and sources

Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) supervision of crypto asset service providers under MiCA, current to June 2026.
Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) authorisation and passporting framework, with Germany's national transition ending 31 December 2025.
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) guidance on the income tax treatment of crypto assets, including section 23 of the Income Tax Act and the one year holding period.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to buy bitcoin in Germany?

Yes. Buying and holding bitcoin is legal in Germany as of January 2026. Bitcoin is not legal tender, but it is lawful to buy, hold, and sell. Buy through a platform that holds MiCA authorisation supervised by BaFin, or one passported into Germany from another EU member state.

Where can I buy bitcoin in Germany?

You can buy bitcoin through MiCA authorised platforms that operate for German residents, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, Bitvavo, and Bitstamp, as of January 2026. Confirm a platform holds current authorisation with BaFin or the platform before depositing funds.

Do I pay tax when I buy bitcoin in Germany?

Buying bitcoin with euro is not itself a taxable event in Germany. Tax can arise when you later sell, swap, or spend it. Under section 23 of the Income Tax Act, a gain is tax free if you held the bitcoin for more than one year. This is general information, not tax advice.

Can I hold bitcoin in my own wallet in Germany?

Yes. You can legally hold bitcoin in a self custody wallet in Germany as of January 2026. There is no ban on self custody and no cap on personal holdings. Moving bitcoin from an exchange to your own wallet is generally not a taxable event.

How much bitcoin can I buy in Germany?

There is no legal cap on how much bitcoin an individual may buy or hold in Germany as of January 2026. Platforms apply their own identity checks and limits under anti money laundering rules, and larger transactions may require additional verification.

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Risk and change note: crypto rules and platform availability change frequently and can shift with little notice. The MiCA transition affects which platforms may operate in Germany, and a proposal to change the one year holding rule has been reported for a future budget. The positions above carry an as of date and were last reviewed on June 21, 2026. Confirm the current rules with the named regulator and a qualified local professional before you act.

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