Is crypto staking legal in Italy?
Staking crypto is legal in Italy as of February 2026. You can stake your own assets and use staking services, and where a platform offers staking to Italian residents as a service it does so under the European Union Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation, supervised by CONSOB and the Banca d'Italia. Staking rewards are taxable. The Agenzia delle Entrate has not issued detailed, dedicated guidance on every staking scenario as of February 2026, so the precise treatment can be uncertain, and a conservative approach is to declare rewards as income at their euro value when received and to treat a later sale as a separate taxable event.
The legal position
Staking is the act of committing crypto to help secure a proof of stake network, or delegating it through a service, in return for rewards. As of February 2026 Italy does not ban staking and does not require a private holder to hold a licence to stake their own assets. Where a firm offers staking to Italian residents as a service, that service sits within the European Union Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation, known as MiCA, which applies directly in Italy. A platform that provides crypto services to residents must be authorised as a crypto asset service provider, supervised by the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa, CONSOB, on the opinion of the Banca d'Italia.
MiCA changed how custodial staking and similar yield products can be marketed and operated, and providers have adjusted their offerings to comply. The legal availability of a specific staking product can therefore differ from one platform to another, and from one period to another, as firms align with the rules. Whether you stake directly on a network or through a provider, the activity itself is lawful as of February 2026, but the way a service is structured and offered is shaped by MiCA.
How staking is taxed
Staking rewards are taxable in Italy, but the detailed treatment is not fully settled. As of February 2026 the Agenzia delle Entrate has not published comprehensive, dedicated rules covering every staking arrangement, and commentary differs on whether rewards are best treated as miscellaneous income taxed under personal income tax, IRPEF, at progressive rates, or as part of the crypto regime. A common conservative approach is to value rewards in euros at the moment they become available to you and to declare that value as income, then to treat a later sale or swap of the staked assets as a separate disposal under the substitutive tax on crypto gains, which is 33 percent from 1 January 2026, up from 26 percent in 2025. Italy also applies an annual stamp style duty on the value of crypto holdings and a monitoring obligation for assets held abroad, reported on the RW section of the return. Because the position on staking specifically is not fully clarified, take professional advice and verify before filing.
Practical points
If you stake, keep records of the date and euro value of each reward as it becomes available, the platform or protocol used, and any later sale. Note that some custodial staking products available elsewhere may not be offered, or may be offered in a restricted form, to Italian residents under MiCA, so confirm what a platform actually provides to Italy before you rely on it. Staking carries technical and counterparty risks such as lock up periods, slashing on some networks, and platform failure. This page does not assess whether staking is a good or bad use of your assets.
Compare available exchanges in Italy
Some platforms that serve Italy under the MiCA framework as of February 2026 also offer staking related services to residents, subject to the rules. We list a platform here only where it is genuinely available to this country. Check each platform's current staking terms for Italy before you sign up.
Regulator and sources
Crypto services in Italy, including staking offered as a service, are supervised by CONSOB on the opinion of the Banca d'Italia. Tax is handled by the Agenzia delle Entrate.
- European Union Regulation on Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA), which governs crypto services including custodial staking offered to residents.
- CONSOB and Banca d'Italia, on the authorisation and supervision of crypto asset service providers.
- Agenzia delle Entrate, on the taxation of crypto income and gains and the related reporting obligations. As of February 2026 detailed staking specific guidance is limited.
- Law 199 of 2025 (the 2026 Budget Law), on the crypto gains rate of 33 percent from 1 January 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- Is crypto staking legal in Italy?
- Yes. As of February 2026 staking is legal in Italy. You can stake your own assets, and staking offered as a service to residents falls under MiCA, supervised by CONSOB and the Banca d'Italia.
- How are staking rewards taxed in Italy?
- Staking rewards are taxable, but as of February 2026 the Agenzia delle Entrate has not issued full dedicated guidance. A conservative approach declares rewards as income at their euro value when received, with a later sale taxed as a gain at 33 percent under the substitutive tax. Verify with a professional.
- Do I need a licence to stake my own crypto in Italy?
- No. A private holder does not need a licence to stake their own assets as of February 2026. A firm that offers staking as a service to residents must be an authorised crypto asset service provider under MiCA.
- Can I use exchange staking services in Italy?
- Some platforms that serve Italy under MiCA offer staking related services to residents, subject to the rules, while some products available elsewhere may be restricted. Confirm what a platform currently offers to Italy before relying on it.