Romanian President Nicușor Dan has returned to Parliament for reexamination a law that would exempt profits from cryptocurrency transactions from income tax. Although the bill was adopted in late 2024, it has not yet entered into force.
In his request, the head of state argued that the measure “contradicts the fiscal policies assumed by the Government in the current context.” According to the Presidential Administration, the law undermines both the principles of fiscal fairness and Romania’s commitments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), specifically Component 8 on fiscal reform.
The disputed provision, introduced through an amendment in Parliament, would temporarily exempt income derived from cryptocurrency transactions. However, the government has recently implemented fiscal tightening measures, including eliminating several tax facilities and raising the tax on cryptocurrency income from 10% to 16% as part of Reform Package II.
“The introduction of such an exemption creates a dangerous precedent of preferential treatment, weakens trust in the coherence of fiscal policy, and sends an unclear signal to taxpayers and financial markets,” the President said.
On Facebook, Nicușor Dan further explained his decision:
“In recent months, Romania has made significant efforts to reduce the budget deficit—eliminating tax breaks, introducing new taxes where necessary, and asking both citizens and businesses to contribute. One such measure was the increase in tax on cryptocurrency income from 10% to 16%. It is not fair that, while most citizens pay their share, certain categories of income—some very large—should benefit from exceptions, especially without a clear analysis of the budgetary impact.”
The original law, passed in November 2024, established a temporary exemption valid until July 31, 2025, but the measure was never applied. Meanwhile, the government’s Reform Package II provides for the higher tax rate of 16% on cryptocurrency gains beginning with income earned in 2026.
By sending the bill back to Parliament, President Dan emphasized the need for “clear, stable, and fair fiscal rules, not rushed exceptions that undermine the collective effort of economic recovery.”
