Swiss Crypto Tax Rules: What You Actually Pay and How to Stay Compliant

When it comes to Swiss crypto tax rules, a decentralized, canton-by-canton system that treats cryptocurrency as private property rather than currency. Also known as Swiss crypto regulations, this framework makes Switzerland one of the few countries where holding crypto long-term can mean paying zero capital gains tax. Unlike the U.S. or Germany, Switzerland doesn’t impose a federal tax on crypto profits if you hold assets for more than a year. That’s not a loophole—it’s the law. But here’s the catch: while the federal government stays out of it, each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons sets its own rules on income, mining, and reporting.

That’s why crypto capital gains Switzerland, the profit you make when selling or trading crypto. Also known as crypto profits, it’s treated as private wealth in most cantons, not earned income. If you bought Bitcoin in 2020 and sold it in 2025, you likely owe nothing—unless you live in a canton like Geneva or Zug that taxes speculative gains. Mining and staking? Those count as income and are taxed at your personal rate, but only when you convert them to fiat or trade them. Holding ETH from staking rewards? No tax yet. Selling those rewards for CHF? That’s taxable income.

Reporting requirements are just as messy. You don’t file crypto transactions with the federal tax office, but some cantons require you to list your crypto holdings in your annual wealth declaration. If you hold more than CHF 100,000 in crypto, Zurich might ask for a wallet address. Basel might want a statement from your exchange. And if you use a non-custodial wallet? Good luck proving you didn’t sell anything. Most people just keep records of buys, sells, and swaps—no need to track every tiny transfer unless you’re trading daily.

Switzerland’s real edge isn’t zero tax—it’s predictability. There’s no VAT on crypto-to-crypto trades. No withholding tax on staking. No blanket ban on exchanges. You can legally use Coinbase, Kraken, or a local Swiss platform without fear of sudden crackdowns. That’s why so many crypto founders set up shop here. But don’t assume it’s a free pass. If you’re earning crypto as salary, that’s taxable income. If you’re running a business that accepts crypto, you need to track every transaction. And if you’re a non-resident? You’re not taxed unless you’re physically living there.

What you’ll find below are real, up-to-date breakdowns of how crypto taxes work in Zurich, Geneva, Zug, and other key cantons. We’ve pulled data from Swiss tax offices, legal firms, and trader forums to show exactly what gets taxed, what doesn’t, and where people are getting tripped up. No fluff. No theory. Just what you need to know to avoid penalties or surprise bills. Whether you’re holding for five years or trading every week, the rules here are clear—if you know where to look.