Is crypto legal in Italy? Regulation & rules (2026)

Italy's securities regulator Consob continued ordering ISP blackouts of websites offering crypto-asset services to Italians without authorization, exercising powers granted by Legislative Decree 129/2024 and MiCAR; cumulative blocked sites have surpassed 1,400 since 2019. Shows active enforcement of the new licensing regime.

Italy extended the transitional window for incumbent virtual-asset providers, pushing the deadline to obtain a MiCAR licence from Bank of Italy/Consob and the full entry into force of the obligation to 30 June 2026. Gives Italian crypto firms more time to authorize under the new EU framework.

Consob issued secondary regulation operationalizing the supervision of crypto-asset service providers and offerings under MiCAR and Decree 129/2024. Completes the Italian rulebook governing how CASPs are authorized and conduct business.

Published in the Official Gazette, the decree designates Banca d'Italia and Consob as the competent authorities for crypto-assets and adapts the Banking and Finance Acts to MiCAR. Establishes the institutional architecture for crypto supervision in Italy.

Italy's tax authority published official guidance clarifying how the 2023 Budget Law's crypto-asset income rules apply, including computation of capital gains, losses and the optional reporting regimes. Provides taxpayers operational clarity on the new 26% regime.

Italy's Budget Law (Law 197/2022) created a dedicated income-tax regime taxing capital gains on crypto-assets at 26% (above a then-€2,000 threshold), plus a value-revaluation option. First comprehensive statutory tax treatment of crypto for individuals in Italy.

Following the MEF decree of 13 January 2022, crypto exchange and wallet providers had to enroll in a dedicated section of the OAM register and report client/transaction data to operate in Italy. Created the first mandatory licensing-style gateway for crypto businesses, on AML grounds.

Implementing Directive (EU) 2018/843, the decree broadened Italy's anti-money-laundering perimeter over virtual-currency and wallet service providers. Extended AML obligations and laid groundwork for the OAM registration requirement.

Conversion law of the 'Decreto Crescita' empowered Consob to order ISPs to black out websites of abusive financial intermediaries — a tool later extended to unauthorized crypto-asset services. Underpins Italy's ongoing crackdown on illegal crypto platforms.

The central bank issued a formal public warning describing the risks of Bitcoin and similar assets — volatility, lack of regulation/guarantee, and money-laundering exposure. Italy's first official position on crypto, signaling caution while no specific rules yet existed.