In a sweeping change to the country’s digital economy landscape, Slovenia’s Ministry of Finance has disclosed draft legislation that would impose a 25% tax on cryptocurrency trading profits. The proposal, disclosed on April 17, 2025, aims to close a significant loophole where individual crypto profits largely escaped taxation, unlike their traditional investment counterparts such as stocks and bonds.
The draft law targets personal profits made by Slovenian residents when cryptocurrency is converted to euros or used to purchase goods and services. Curiously, crypto-to-crypto exchanges and wallet transfers between the same owner’s accounts would remain tax-free, creating a breathing space in what some view as an otherwise restrictive framework. With IRS property classification setting a global precedent, Slovenia’s approach mirrors international trends in crypto taxation.
Crypto-to-crypto exchanges escape Slovenia’s tax net, offering digital nomads a narrow passage through increasingly regulated financial waters.
“We’re not chasing revenue here,” Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič insisted, though skeptics might raise an eyebrow. “It’s about fairness.” His words hang in the digital air like pixels waiting to be validated on a blockchain.
Currently, Slovenia only imposes a 10% tax on crypto withdrawals, implemented in 2023. The new proposal represents a significant shift, more than doubling the tax burden while expanding its scope. The country’s previous attempt in 2022 to implement a modest 5% tax on profits exceeding €10,000 withered on the legislative vine.
If approved following the public consultation period ending May 5, 2025, the new tax regime would take effect January 1, 2026. The proposal could significantly impact the approximately 98,000 crypto users in Slovenia who represent about 4.6% of the country’s population. Crypto holders can breathe a sigh of relief regarding one aspect—a “reset provision” guarantees only gains accrued after the implementation date face taxation.
The proposal carefully carves out exceptions for certain digital assets including NFTs, security tokens, and CBDCs. Taxpayers would need to maintain detailed transaction records and file annual returns by March 31, beginning in 2027. The government expects this tax initiative to generate between €2.5 million and €25 million annually for the Slovenian treasury.
As Slovenia aligns with international standards like the EU’s MiCA and OECD’s CARF frameworks, crypto enthusiasts find themselves at a crossroads. The wild, untaxed frontier of digital wealth is gradually being mapped, measured, and yes—taxed—like the traditional financial landscapes before it.
