Resistance Grows in German Union Against Abolition of Crypto Holding Period

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The planned abolition of the one-year holding period for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is facing growing resistance within Germany's Union parliamentary group (CDU/CSU). According to reports, Union finance politicians reject new taxes, including the proposed change to crypto taxation. Several CDU state premiers have also indicated that they do not want to support further burdens. The group's finance policy spokesperson, Fritz Güntzler, had already defended the existing regulation in May, pointing out that a tightening of crypto taxation was not agreed upon in the coalition agreement and that a one-year holding period also applies to gold and foreign currencies. Changes to income tax, which include crypto taxation, require the approval of the Bundesrat (Federal Council), as revenues also flow to the states and municipalities. A corresponding draft bill from the Ministry of Finance, which would tax cryptocurrencies acquired after December 31, 2026, regardless of the holding period, would need to find a majority there. The growing resistance could significantly delay or even prevent the implementation of these plans.