The German finance minister plans to adjust the tax system for cryptocurrency assets, possibly abolishing the one-year tax exemption policy for Bitcoin

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that the German government plans to tax Bitcoin and crypto assets in a way that differs from current rules, potentially abolishing the existing policy that allows for tax exemption after holding for more than a year, and aligning its tax treatment more closely with that of stock assets.

The related adjustments have raised concerns among some legal scholars, who argue that if stricter tax regulations are implemented solely for Bitcoin, it may involve the equal protection principle in the German Constitution. Previously, Austria had already abolished a similar long-term holding tax exemption policy.