Germany’s Finance Ministry is drafting tax changes that would subject gains on Bitcoin and other crypto assets acquired after Dec. 31, 2026 to tax, ending the current exemption generally available when privately held assets are sold after more than one year, WELT reported. Existing holdings would remain subject to the current rules. The legislation is planned to take effect in 2027, with the first tax withholding potentially beginning in 2028, though the proposal remains at an early stage and may change. The report adds detail to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil’s earlier statement that the government was preparing crypto-tax legislation for its 2027 fiscal plans. The proposed shift has become part of a wider political debate in which the Alternative for Germany opposes ending the one-year rule, while federal lawmakers retain authority over tax policy.