Netherlands to Tax Your Daydreams… Literally!

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The Netherlands, ever the innovators in bureaucratic nonsense, is now planning to tax your imaginary wealth. Starting 2028, they’ll slap a tax on Bitcoin gains you haven’t even realized yet. Because why let your fantasies go untaxed?

That’s right-just holding onto your crypto, stocks, or bonds while dreaming of riches could land you a bill. The Dutch government clearly has nothing better to do than micromanage your financial daydreams.

Netherlands Plans to Tax Unrealized Gains

Brace yourselves, folks. The Dutch parliament just passed a law called Wet werkelijk rendement Box 3, effective January 1, 2028. Let me translate: They’ll now tax you every year based on how much your assets pretend to be worth, even if you haven’t sold them. Because nothing says “fair” like taxing gains that don’t exist yet.

Bitcoin, crypto, stocks, bonds-all fair game. Even your savings account might get in on the action if it dares to accumulate interest. The Dutch love a good tax buffet.

Instead of pretending they know what your assets are worth (like the old system did), they’ll now actually check their value at the start and end of the year. Groundbreaking. Now you’ll pay taxes on gains that might exist if the market decides to cooperate. A 36% tax rate on anything above €1,800? A nice touch of Dutch efficiency.

WARNING: NETHERLANDS TO TAX UNREALIZED BITCOIN GAINS.

The Netherlands will tax your crypto gains before you even sell them. Because nothing says “freedom” like being taxed for hoping your investment works out.

Parliament already approved this madness, which taxes investors annually on asset value changes whether sold or not.

– Crypto Rover (@cryptorover) January 22, 2026

Why the Netherlands Is Changing Its Tax System

Apparently, the old system was deemed “unfair” because it taxed people based on assumed returns. Who knew? Now they’ll tax you based on actual returns… as long as the government defines “actual.” Because nothing’s more reliable than a bureaucrat’s opinion of your portfolio’s value.

Supporters call this “fairness.” I call it a way to make sure you’re broke by the time you retire. At least now they’re taxing your crypto and your stocks. Why stop there? Next, they’ll tax your ability to imagine owning a yacht.

How the New Tax Will Work

Here’s the breakdown: They’ll calculate your tax by comparing your assets’ value at the start and end of the year. If it went up? Pay up. If it went down? Congrats, you can use that loss to offset future gains. Because nothing says “balance” like letting you write off imaginary losses.

What This Means for Crypto Investors

Critics are already panicking. Paying taxes on gains you haven’t sold? That’s like being taxed for wanting to win the lottery. Some investors might just flee the Netherlands. Others will sell their crypto just to pay the government. Either way, the Dutch win.

For crypto folks, this is a nightmare. Bitcoin’s so volatile, your tax bill could fluctuate more than your portfolio. One day you’re a millionaire, the next you’re paying taxes on a €50,000 gain that just evaporated. The government wants their cut and your sanity. Why not?

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2026-01-22 14:52