Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Regulation in Austria

• Legal: Legal to own and use, not legal tender; providers licensed under EU MiCA
• Tax: Crypto income and gains taxed at the 27.5 percent capital rate
• Buying: Via MiCA-authorised exchanges, brokers and apps after KYC

Austria treats Bitcoin and other crypto-assets as legal to own, buy, sell and use, while regulating the businesses that provide crypto services to the public. As a member of the European Union, Austria applies the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) on top of its own financial-market, tax and reporting rules. The Financial Market Authority (FMA / Finanzmarktaufsicht) is the national supervisor for crypto-asset service providers, and crypto income is taxed under a dedicated capital-income regime administered by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). The two headline developments for 2025-2026 are the end of the transition period for older virtual-asset providers and the entry into force of a new crypto tax-reporting law. This guide explains the current legal status, the regulators, how crypto is taxed, and the practicalities of buying, mining, sending and holding crypto in Austria.

This is general information as of 2026 and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Crypto rules change frequently; verify the details with the named official regulator, the FMA, and with the BMF and a qualified Austrian adviser before acting. See also our overview of crypto regulation.

Yes. Owning, buying, selling, holding and transferring Bitcoin and other crypto-assets is legal in Austria. There is no ban on individuals using cryptocurrency, and residents can freely hold crypto in self-custody wallets or with authorised providers.

What Bitcoin is not is legal tender. The euro is Austria's official currency, and no business is obliged to accept crypto as payment, though merchants may choose to do so voluntarily. For tax and regulatory purposes crypto-assets are generally treated as private capital assets rather than as money.

While ownership is unrestricted, the provision of crypto services to the public is regulated. Companies that exchange, custody, transfer or otherwise deal in crypto-assets for customers must be authorised, which is where MiCAR and the FMA come in.

Two bodies matter most. The Financial Market Authority (FMA / Finanzmarktaufsicht) is the national competent authority that supervises crypto-asset service providers and issuers under MiCAR. The Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF / Bundesministerium fuer Finanzen) sets and administers crypto taxation and reporting.

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), Austria's central bank, contributes to financial-stability monitoring and EU/eurozone policy but is not the day-to-day licensing authority for crypto firms; that role sits with the FMA. You can read about the regulator's mandate and the rules it applies on its official MiCAR page: FMA - Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). The BMF's tax guidance is published here: BMF - Tax treatment of crypto-assets.

Austria's crypto framework now rests primarily on the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114), which is directly applicable across member states and creates a single rulebook for issuing crypto-assets and for licensing and supervising crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) such as exchanges, brokers and custodians.

Austria added the national enforcement law, the MiCA-Vollzugsgesetz (MiCA-VVG / MiCA-Verordnung-Vollzugsgesetz), which was passed by the National Council (Nationalrat) on 3 July 2024 and entered into force on 20 July 2024. It designates the FMA as the competent authority and sets out national supervisory and enforcement powers.

On the tax side, the Krypto-Meldepflichtgesetz (Krypto-MPfG, Crypto Reporting Act) took effect on 1 January 2026, implementing the OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and the EU's DAC8 directive. Together these instruments cover licensing, conduct, stablecoin rules, anti-money-laundering obligations, market-abuse rules and cross-border tax reporting. Because exact transition lists and deadlines evolve, confirm current status on the FMA MiCAR page.

Under MiCAR, any firm that provides crypto-asset services to Austrian customers needs authorisation as a CASP from the FMA (or from another EU regulator, with passporting across the European Economic Area). Applications are made to the FMA under Article 62 of MiCAR, and a single authorisation can be passported to serve customers across the EEA.

Austria did not extend grandfathering for providers registered under its older virtual-asset regime. Virtual-asset service providers that were registered with the FMA for AML purposes before 30 December 2024 could keep operating during a transition that ran until the end of 31 December 2025, or until they were granted or refused a CASP authorisation. After that date, providers serving Austrian customers are expected to hold a MiCAR CASP authorisation rather than relying on the previous registration. Not all of the previously registered firms obtained a licence in time; those without one had to stop providing regulated services.

Key elements of the regime include:

• CASP authorisation: Exchanges, custodians, brokers and transfer services need FMA (or another EU regulator's) licence to serve Austrian customers.
• Stablecoins: Asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens face stricter reserve, disclosure and approval requirements.
• Issuer disclosures: Public offerings of crypto-assets generally require a published white paper.
• Conduct and market integrity: Governance standards plus rules against market abuse.

Always cross-check a provider's current authorisation in the FMA's official company register before depositing funds. The FMA explains its role in FMA takes over supervision of crypto-asset service providers in Austria.

Crypto taxation in Austria was overhauled by a tax reform that took effect on 1 March 2022, moving crypto into the country's capital-income tax regime. The BMF publishes the official guidance, summarised below; confirm current figures with the BMF or a tax adviser, and see our general guide to crypto taxes.

• Special capital-income rate: Income from crypto-asset holdings, including both current income and gains on disposal, is generally taxed at the special rate of 27.5%, the same rate that applies to many securities.
• New vs old assets: The regime applies to crypto-assets acquired after 28 February 2021 ("new assets"). Holdings acquired on or before that date ("old assets") may be treated differently, so the acquisition date matters.
• Crypto-to-crypto swaps: Under BMF guidance, exchanging one crypto-asset for another is not a taxable disposal. Tax typically arises when you sell crypto for fiat (euros) or use it to pay for goods and services.
• Mining: Coins received through mining are treated as current income, taxed at the special rate when received.
• Staking: Where rewards arise primarily from staking existing crypto, they are not taxed at inflow but are deemed acquired at a cost of zero, so tax can arise on later disposal.
• Lending: Interest earned from lending crypto is current income subject to the 27.5% rate.
• Withholding at source: Since 1 January 2024, Austrian-based providers must deduct the 27.5% KESt (Kapitalertragsteuer) directly and remit it to the tax office. Where this happens correctly, the gain has a final-taxation effect and does not need to be declared separately. Providers that operate this deduction include Bitpanda, Coinfinity, 21bitcoin and Kurant. Foreign exchanges such as Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, Revolut and Bybit do not withhold Austrian KESt, so gains made there must be self-assessed in your tax return.

For the deduction to work, you generally have to provide the provider with your acquisition cost. If the stated cost is not plausible, the BMF rules allow 50% of the disposal proceeds to be treated as the acquisition cost. Keep detailed records of dates, amounts, euro values and counterparties. Source: BMF - Tax treatment of crypto-assets.

Authorised crypto providers in Austria must apply anti-money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist-financing controls in line with EU rules. In practice that means customer due diligence (KYC identity verification), transaction monitoring, and compliance with the EU's transfer-of-funds rules (the so-called "travel rule"), which require sender and recipient information to accompany crypto transfers above set thresholds.

From 1 January 2026, Austria also applies the Krypto-Meldepflichtgesetz (Crypto Reporting Act), implementing the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and the EU's DAC8 directive. Reporting crypto-asset service providers must identify reportable users and collect and report data such as names, tax identification numbers, wallet addresses and transaction volumes. The first reports for 2026 activity are due by 31 July 2027, and the information is exchanged automatically with tax authorities in other participating countries. The practical effect is that crypto activity is becoming far more visible to tax authorities, so accurate personal record-keeping is essential.

Austrians have a wide choice of ways to buy crypto. Domestic and EU-based exchanges, brokers and apps serve the market, and Austria is home to one of Europe's better-known platforms, Bitpanda. International exchanges also operate in Austria, typically under a MiCAR CASP licence held with the FMA or another EU regulator.

A typical path for a resident looks like this:

• 1. Choose a provider. Pick a MiCAR-authorised exchange, broker or app and cross-check its authorisation in the FMA's official register.
• 2. Verify your identity. Complete KYC by providing identity documents, as required by AML rules.
• 3. Fund your account. Deposit euros via SEPA bank transfer, card or another supported method.
• 4. Place an order. Buy your chosen asset; compare fees and spreads first.
• 5. Decide on custody. Leave assets with the provider or withdraw to your own wallet (a hardware wallet for larger amounts) and safeguard your recovery phrase.
• 6. Keep records. Save transaction details, dates and euro values for tax reporting.

Cash buyers can also use Bitcoin ATMs, found mainly in larger cities such as Vienna and Graz, or voucher services that let people buy crypto with cash at retail outlets. These options are subject to AML checks for larger amounts and usually carry higher fees than online exchanges. Using crypto for cross-border remittances is possible and can be fast, but prices are volatile unless a stablecoin is used, transfers through regulated providers are subject to AML and travel-rule requirements, and converting crypto to fiat can trigger Austrian tax.

Bitcoin mining is legal in Austria. There is no specific prohibition on running mining hardware, but miners operate within the country's general legal, tax and energy frameworks.

The main practical constraint is electricity. Austria's power prices are relatively high by global standards, which makes large-scale proof-of-work mining economically challenging compared with low-cost-energy jurisdictions. On the other hand, Austria generates a large share of its electricity from renewables, particularly hydropower, so mining using surplus or renewable power can have a lower carbon footprint.

From a tax perspective, mining rewards are treated as current income at the 27.5% special rate, valued in euros when received (see the taxation section). Anyone mining at scale should also consider business registration, VAT and energy compliance, and consult a professional. Hobby miners should still record the euro value of rewards for tax purposes.

Two changes define the current period. First, the MiCAR transition is complete: Austria let its pre-MiCA virtual-asset registration regime lapse at the end of 2025 without extended grandfathering. The transition for previously registered virtual-asset providers ended at the end of 2025, and only some of those firms secured a CASP authorisation in time; the rest had to stop offering regulated services. Supervision by the FMA is now the norm rather than the exception. A separate but related change took effect on 1 January 2024, when Austrian-based providers began deducting the 27.5% KESt at source for resident customers.

Second, the Krypto-Meldepflichtgesetz (Crypto Reporting Act) entered into force on 1 January 2026, bringing CARF and DAC8 into Austrian law. Providers must record transaction data from the start of 2026, with the first reporting cycle due by 31 July 2027 and automatic exchange of that data with dozens of other countries. The broad direction of travel is more regulation, more consumer protection and more reporting, rather than prohibition.

MiCAR brings a more standardised, supervised market, including governance standards, disclosure rules and protections around stablecoins. But regulation does not remove the underlying risks of crypto:

• Volatility: Prices can swing sharply and you can lose part or all of your capital.
• Platform and counterparty risk: Exchanges or stablecoin issuers can fail; authorisation reduces but does not eliminate this risk.
• Security: Hacks, phishing and lost private keys can mean permanent loss of funds.
• Scams: Be sceptical of guaranteed returns, unsolicited offers and "get rich quick" promises.

Sensible precautions include using only MiCAR-authorised providers, verifying authorisation in the FMA register, securing your recovery phrase offline, and investing only money you can afford to lose. None of this is financial advice; consider speaking to a licensed Austrian adviser. For more context, see our regulation hub.

Because crypto rules and authorised-provider lists change, always confirm specifics against primary official sources rather than relying on summaries:

• FMA - Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR): the regulator's overview of the rules, CASP licensing and the company register.
• FMA - takes over supervision of crypto-asset service providers: explains the FMA's role under the MiCA-VVG.
• BMF - Tax treatment of crypto-assets: the official guidance on the 27.5% rate, new vs old assets, swaps, mining, staking and lending.

To check whether a specific exchange or broker is allowed to serve Austrian customers, look it up in the FMA's official company database before depositing money. This article is general information as of 2026 and is not legal, tax or financial advice; verify your situation with the FMA, the BMF and a qualified adviser.

Yes. Buying, holding, selling and transferring Bitcoin and other crypto-assets is legal in Austria. However, crypto is not legal tender (the euro is), so no one is required to accept it as payment, and businesses that provide crypto services to the public must be authorised under the EU's MiCAR rules.

The Financial Market Authority (FMA / Finanzmarktaufsicht) is the national competent authority supervising crypto-asset service providers under MiCAR, following Austria's MiCA-Vollzugsgesetz (MiCA-VVG), which took effect on 20 July 2024. Tax matters are handled by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). Always check a provider's current authorisation in the FMA's official register.

Since the reform that took effect on 1 March 2022, income from crypto-assets, including current income and gains on disposal, is generally taxed under the capital-income regime at a special rate of 27.5%. The rules apply to assets acquired after 28 February 2021. Crypto-to-crypto swaps are not treated as a taxable disposal, while selling crypto for euros or spending it can trigger tax, and mining and lending income are taxable. Confirm the current treatment with the BMF or a tax adviser.

Yes. Exchanges, custodians, brokers and transfer services must be authorised as crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) under MiCAR, either by the FMA or by another EU regulator with passporting across the EEA. Austria's older virtual-asset registration regime ended on 31 December 2025 without extended grandfathering, so providers serving Austrian customers are expected to hold a MiCAR CASP licence.

From 1 January 2026 Austria applies the Krypto-Meldepflichtgesetz (Crypto Reporting Act), implementing the OECD CARF framework and the EU DAC8 directive. Crypto-asset service providers must identify reportable users and report data such as names, tax IDs, wallet addresses and transaction volumes, with the first reporting due by 31 July 2027 and automatic exchange with other countries. In practice, crypto activity is becoming far more transparent to tax authorities, so accurate record-keeping is essential.

Use the FMA's official company database to confirm a provider holds a MiCAR CASP authorisation before depositing funds. You can start from the FMA's MiCAR page at fma.gv.at. This is general information as of 2026 and not legal advice; verify details with the FMA, the BMF and a qualified Austrian adviser.

If you use an Austrian-based provider, usually yes. Since 1 January 2024, domestic providers such as Bitpanda, Coinfinity, 21bitcoin and Kurant deduct the 27.5% KESt (Kapitalertragsteuer) at source and pass it to the tax office, which generally means the gain does not need to be declared again. Foreign exchanges like Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, Revolut and Bybit do not withhold Austrian KESt, so gains made there must be self-assessed. Confirm your situation with the BMF or a tax adviser.

Virtual-asset providers that were registered with the FMA for anti-money-laundering purposes before 30 December 2024 could keep operating during a transition that ran until the end of 31 December 2025, or until they were granted or refused a CASP authorisation. Austria did not extend grandfathering, so providers that did not obtain a MiCAR CASP licence in time had to stop offering regulated services to Austrian customers.

Last updated: 2026-06-30.

• Crypto regulation in Belgium
• Crypto regulation in France
• Crypto regulation in Germany
• Crypto regulation in Ireland
• Crypto regulation in Luxembourg
• Crypto regulation in United States
• Crypto Taxes Explained
• How to Buy & Sell Crypto