Germany

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Bitcoin Countries

Germany has one of the most Bitcoin-friendly tax environments in Europe — Bitcoin held for more than one year is completely tax-free upon sale. The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has provided clear Bitcoin licensing frameworks, and Frankfurt has become a hub for institutional Bitcoin services. Germany was notable for approving a regulated Bitcoin fund structure for institutions early in 2023, and the state of Saxony auctioned 50,000 BTC seized from a piracy operator in 2024.

Details

Status: tax_friendly
Notable: Tax-free BTC after 1-year hold
Mining Legal: Yes
Notable Policy: Germany held ~50,000 BTC from criminal seizures and controversially sold all of it in July 2024; exchanges regulated under BaFin
Btc Etf Approved: Yes
Regulatory Stance: cautious_friendly
Bitcoin Legal Status: Legal; regulated under EU MiCA framework (applies since Dec 2024)

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El Salvador

El Salvador made history on June 9, 2021, as the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender under President Nayib Bukele. The government continues to buy approximately 1 BTC per day, with its national treasury holding approximately 7,565 BTC as of February 2026. El Salvador built the state-sponsored Chivo wallet, launched volcanic geothermal Bitcoin mining operations, and proposed Bitcoin City — a special economic zone powered by a volcano. In 2025, El Salvador reached an IMF agreement that modified Bitcoin's legal tender status while maintaining its Bitcoin treasury strategy.

Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the most Bitcoin-friendly countries in the world, with the canton of Zug (dubbed "Crypto Valley") accepting Bitcoin for government services since 2016. Several Swiss cantons accept Bitcoin for tax payments, the country has clear digital asset property rights, and Switzerland is home to dozens of major Bitcoin and blockchain companies. Swiss banks like SEBA and Sygnum Bank offer institutional Bitcoin services, and the Swiss National Bank has explored digital asset frameworks.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has positioned itself as a global hub for Bitcoin and crypto businesses, with dedicated regulatory regimes in Dubai (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority — VARA) and Abu Dhabi (ADGM). Abu Dhabi holds Bitcoin through the Phoenix Group, a publicly listed Bitcoin mining company. Major crypto exchanges including Binance have received licenses to operate in the UAE. The country's zero income tax, strategic location, and regulatory clarity have attracted significant Bitcoin institutional and mining infrastructure.