Crypto Taxation in Switzerland: What You Need to Know in 2025

When you trade or hold cryptocurrency in Switzerland, a country with one of the most crypto-friendly legal environments in Europe. Also known as the crypto valley, it treats digital assets as property, not currency—meaning every sale, trade, or use can trigger a tax event. Unlike the U.S. or Germany, Switzerland doesn’t have a single federal crypto tax law. Instead, each canton, a semi-autonomous region with its own tax authority. Also known as Swiss cantons, it sets its own rates and rules. That means someone in Zug might pay 15% on crypto gains while someone in Geneva pays 22%. The federal government only steps in for income tax on mining or staking rewards, and for VAT on business transactions.

For most individuals, crypto is treated like stocks. If you buy Bitcoin and sell it later for a profit, that’s a capital gain—and it’s taxable. But here’s the catch: if you hold it for more than a year, many cantons waive the tax entirely. That’s a big deal. Mining and staking are different. The rewards you earn are treated as income, taxed at your personal income rate in the year you receive them. You don’t pay tax on holding, only on selling or spending. So if you bought ETH in 2021 and used it to buy a laptop in 2025, you owe tax on the gain from purchase to sale. But if you just kept it? Nothing. No reporting needed. Swiss tax authorities, the local tax offices that enforce crypto rules. Also known as cantonal tax offices, it only audits if you’re flagged for high-volume trading or if you’re a professional trader. Most people never hear from them.

What about exchanges? If you use a Swiss-based platform like Bitpanda or Bitcoin Suisse, they may provide tax reports. But if you trade on Binance or KuCoin, it’s on you to track every transaction. You need to record dates, amounts, values in CHF at time of trade, and fees. No fancy software? A simple spreadsheet works. Just be consistent. Many Swiss residents use tools like Koinly or CryptoTaxCalculator to auto-import their wallets and generate reports for their canton. Don’t wait until April to start—start now. And if you’re unsure? Talk to a local tax advisor who knows crypto. It’s not expensive, and it’s worth avoiding a surprise bill.

The posts below cover real cases: how people in Zurich handled their crypto gains, what happened when someone mined ETH and forgot to declare it, how NFT sales are treated differently than coin trades, and why some Swiss cantons are cracking down on unreported DeFi income. You’ll also find guides on how to file your crypto taxes without a CPA, what documents to keep, and how to prove your cost basis if you bought crypto years ago. Whether you’re a casual holder or an active trader, this collection gives you the facts—no fluff, no theory, just what you need to stay legal and keep more of your crypto.