Georg Brameshuber, a crypto advisor, has emphasized the need for Germany to establish a crypto tax framework that encourages “innovation” and the growth of the “ecosystem,” as well as the “legal classification of stablecoins as crypto assets.” Brameshuber made these statements in a February 16 post on X.
“From the incoming administration, we need: Exemption of Crypto-to-Crypto Transactions from Taxable Realization,” said Brameshuber, crypto advisor and co-founder. “Crypto-to-crypto transactions shall not trigger a taxable event. Instead, the tax basis of the exchanged assets shall be carried over to the newly acquired crypto assets. Legal Classification of Stablecoins as Crypto Assets. The law shall explicitly clarify that stablecoins, including E-Money Tokens (EMTs) and Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs), are classified as crypto assets for regulatory and tax purposes. Now, it’s time to establish a crypto tax framework that fosters innovation and ensures our ecosystem thrives in Germany.”
In his post, Brameshuber outlines key proposals for Germany’s incoming administration. He calls for the “exemption of crypto-to-crypto transactions from taxable realization,” where the tax basis is carried over to new assets. He also advocates for the “deferral of taxation on staking and validation rewards,” with taxes only applying when converted to fiat currency. Additionally, he urges the “legal classification of stablecoins as crypto assets,” specifically E-Money Tokens (EMTs) and Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs).
According to Blockpit, cryptocurrency gains and income in Germany are subject to personal income tax, which ranges from 0% to 45%. Key points include tax-free gains for cryptocurrencies held for over a year or when the annual profit is under €1,000. Crypto income from activities like staking, mining, and lending is tax-free up to €256 per year.
Member of the European Parliament Stefan Berger has expressed that Europe should aim to remain competitive in stablecoins and innovation. “One thing is clear: Europe must not be left behind and should be an attractive hub for innovation,” he said in a post on X. Berger has also called for the European Union to appoint a dedicated cryptocurrency representative, stating that “The EU needs a crypto representative.” His remarks followed Trump’s appointment of Sacks as the White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar, according to a report by Crypto Republique.
Brameshuber is co-founder of Validvent and serves as a board member of the Digital Asset Association Austria (DAAA). He is a certified tax advisor and Web3 entrepreneur with five years of experience researching and teaching crypto economics at the University of Vienna. According to his LinkedIn page, Brameshuber offers crypto tax and digital assets tax advisory services and provides consulting for Web3 startups.
