Spanish Tax Agency to Seize Cryptocurrency for Tax Debts

The Spanish Ministry of Finance is set to expand its control over cryptocurrencies in the country, allowing it to seize digital assets to settle tax debts. Proposed legislative reforms to the General Tax Law would empower the Spanish Tax Agency to identify and take over crypto assets owned by taxpayers with overdue debts. This move follows a royal decree that came into effect on February 1, expanding the entities authorized to collect taxes on behalf of the government. In addition, the Treasury plans to combat tax evasion by requiring banks and electronic money institutions to report all card transactions. Spanish residents holding crypto assets on non-Spanish platforms have until the end of March to declare them to tax authorities.

The rapid implementation of these changes presents regulatory challenges as Spain proactively seeks to regulate the crypto industry. The country also plans to adopt the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), the first comprehensive EU crypto framework, in December 2025, six months ahead of the official deadline.