Finland is set to become the first EU member state to implement international rules for crypto-asset reporting from 2026. The Nordic nation will lead the way in adopting the OECD’s framework designed to reduce tax evasion linked to international crypto transactions. Other EU countries are expected to follow in 2027 or 2028.
Finland is moving quickly with new crypto tax regulations, planning to introduce a domestic reporting framework by 2026. According to Bloomberg, this step positions Finland as a clear leader among EU member states. The main goal is to clarify taxation on all digital assets and to align with global efforts toward financial transparency.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has developed the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), a new global standard promoting the automatic exchange of information between countries. CARF defines “crypto assets” as a “digital representation of value that relies on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger or a similar technology to validate and secure transactions.”
Under the new rules, crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) in Finland will be required to start detailed data collection in 2026, with the first annual reports due in January 2027.
CARF aims not only to combat tax evasion, but also to enhance transparency, reduce the risk of fraud and money laundering, and strengthen compliance in the crypto market. However, CARF does not replace the EU’s MiCAregulation, which covers broader aspects such as licensing requirements for CASPs and rules for stablecoins. Both frameworks are designed to complement each other.
More than 50 countries have already committed to implementing CARF by 2027, with another 20 planning adoption by 2028. Finland’s proposal goes even further than the OECD’s minimum standards and the EU’s DAC8 directive, introducing stricter reporting requirements for CASPs to improve officials’ ability to assess capital gains and losses among Finnish residents.
Sources:
https://www.six-group.com/en/newsroom/news/financial-information/2025/carf-article.html
https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/crypto-news-finland-to-launch-crypto-reporting-framework-by-2026/
https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/networks/global-forum-tax-transparency/commitments-carf.pdf