What happened?
The AfD in Germany filed a motion asking the government to exempt Bitcoin from the EU’s MiCA rules and to treat it more like digital gold than a speculative token. They want to keep a 12‑month tax‑free holding period, classify private mining and Lightning nodes as non‑commercial, and push a strategic statement calling Bitcoin “free, digital money.” The motion warns that heavy regulation or taxation could push capital and companies out of Germany and weaken its digital sovereignty.
Who does this affect?
This would touch crypto firms, exchanges and custodians that need BaFin or MiCA licenses, as well as miners and people running Lightning nodes. Retail investors and the roughly 27 million projected crypto users in Germany, plus institutions eyeing custody services like Deutsche Bank, would see tax and regulatory changes if the motion influences policy. It also matters to EU regulators and other member states because a German carve‑out could create regulatory friction across Europe.
Why does this matter?
If Berlin loosens rules or treats Bitcoin as a strategic asset, it could attract capital, boost institutional adoption, and increase demand for BTC, which would likely be positive for prices. At the same time, regulatory divergence from the EU could create uncertainty and short‑term volatility as markets price political risk and possible EU pushback. Either way, Germany taking a pro‑Bitcoin stance would reshape Europe’s crypto landscape, influence the digital euro debate, and help determine whether Europe builds its own crypto infrastructure or cedes ground to foreign payment systems.