- Airdrops are taxable on receipt as miscellaneous income (33% + municipal surcharge)
- The EUR value at the time of receipt is the taxable amount
- That same value becomes your cost basis for a later sale
- From 2026: capital gain on sale taxed at 10% (with EUR 10.000 exemption)
- Cryptotax detects airdrops automatically and records the value on receipt
Last updated: March 2026 · Reading time: 5 minutes
You have received tokens from a protocol: an airdrop, a claim or a token unlock. But did you know that those tokens are taxable in Belgium at the moment of receipt, not only when you sell?
Many Belgian crypto users underestimate the tax consequences of airdrops. In this guide we explain how airdrops, token claims and token unlocks are taxed, what documentation you need to keep, and how to correctly calculate the capital gain when you later sell.
💡 What is an airdrop?
The term "airdrop" covers various ways in which you can receive tokens without buying them. The Belgian tax authority makes no distinction between the variants: they are all taxable on receipt.
Classic airdrops
Tokens sent automatically to your wallet based on on-chain criteria. Think of the UNI airdrop from Uniswap or the ARB airdrop from Arbitrum. You don't have to do anything, the tokens appear in your wallet.
Token claims
You have to actively claim tokens via a smart contract (often a MerkleDistributor). The taxable moment is the moment of the claim transaction, not when you became "entitled" to the tokens.
Token unlocks and vesting
Tokens that gradually become available from a vesting contract. Each unlock is a separate taxable moment. The EUR value at the moment of each unlock counts individually.
Retroactive rewards
Protocols that reward users afterwards for earlier activity, such as EigenLayer or Spark. Identical for tax purposes to an airdrop: taxable on receipt.
Hard forks
In a hard fork, a blockchain splits into two chains and you automatically receive tokens on the new chain. Well-known examples are Bitcoin Cash (BCH) after the Bitcoin fork and Ethereum Classic (ETC) after the Ethereum fork.
The Belgian tax authority treats hard fork tokens the same way as airdrops: the market value in EUR at the moment the tokens become available is taxable as miscellaneous income (33% + municipal surcharge). That value then becomes your cost basis for calculating any capital gain on a later sale.
⚙️ How are airdrops taxed in Belgium?
The Belgian tax treatment of airdrops takes place in two phases: on receipt and on a later sale.
On receipt: miscellaneous income
Airdrops are regarded as miscellaneous income (article 90 WIB 92). The taxable amount is the market value in EUR at the exact moment of receipt. The rate is 33% + municipal surcharge.
Anyone who trades crypto professionally (structurally, with a profit motive) risks the tax authority treating this as professional income, with progressive rates up to 50%.
Cost basis for a later sale
The EUR value at the moment of receipt becomes the purchase price (cost basis) of the tokens. This is crucial for calculating your capital gain on a later sale.
On sale: capital gains tax
From 2026 there is a capital gains tax of 10% on the profit when selling crypto assets, with an annual exemption of EUR 10.000. The capital gain is the difference between the sale price and the cost basis (= value at receipt of the airdrop).
✅ Updated: The capital gains tax on crypto was approved by the Chamber on 3 April 2026. Cryptotax is fully aligned with the new legislation.
| Moment | Tax | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt (airdrop/claim) | Miscellaneous income | 33% + municipal surcharge |
| Later sale (capital gain) | Capital gains tax (from 2026) | 10% (after EUR 10.000 exemption) |
| Later sale (loss) | Offsettable within crypto | Deductible |
📋 Practical example
Bob receives 500 UNI tokens as a retroactive airdrop on 17 September 2025. The market value at that moment is EUR 3,50 per UNI.
On receipt:
- Taxable amount: 500 × EUR 3,50 = EUR 1.750
- Tax (miscellaneous income): EUR 1.750 × 33% = EUR 577,50 (+ municipal surcharge)
- Cost basis per UNI: EUR 3,50
On sale (15 March 2026):
- Bob sells 500 UNI for EUR 6,00 each = EUR 3.000
- Capital gain: EUR 3.000 − EUR 1.750 = EUR 1.250
- This falls under the annual exemption of EUR 10.000, so no extra tax
Without correctly recording the value on receipt, Bob would have to declare the full EUR 3.000 as a capital gain instead of EUR 1.250.
🧾 What documentation must you keep?
The Belgian tax authority can go back up to 7 years in an audit. Make sure you keep this data for each airdrop:
- Transaction hash of the receipt or claim transaction
- EUR value at the exact moment of receipt (Cryptotax records this automatically)
- Protocol or source: which project the airdrop came from
- Date and details of each later sale or swap
- FIFO lot calculation from receipt to sale (see FIFO method)
With the introduction of DAC8, exchanges and protocols will automatically share data with European tax authorities from 2026. Correct documentation is no longer optional, it is a requirement.
❓ FAQ: frequently asked questions
Do I have to declare an airdrop if I have not sold the tokens?
Yes. Airdrops are taxable on receipt, regardless of whether you sell them. The EUR value at the moment of receipt is taxable as miscellaneous income.
What if the airdrop had no value at the moment of receipt?
If the tokens were truly worth EUR 0 (e.g. no liquidity on an exchange), then there is no taxable income. The cost basis is EUR 0, which means the full sale price later counts as a capital gain.
Are token unlocks the same as airdrops?
For tax purposes: yes. Each token unlock is a taxable moment at the EUR value at that moment. With multiple unlocks, multiple FIFO lots arise, each with its own cost basis.
How does the tax authority know about my airdrops?
Via DAC8 (automatic exchange of information), plus the fact that blockchains are public. The chance of detection increases every year.
Can I deduct claim costs (gas fees)?
Gas fees for claiming an airdrop are costs that reduce your net income. Cryptotax automatically accounts for transaction costs in the calculation.
📊 Distinction from other crypto income
Airdrops are not the only way to receive crypto. Below is an overview of how the various forms of crypto income are treated for tax purposes in Belgium.
| Type | On receipt | Cost basis | On sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airdrop / hard fork | Miscellaneous income (33%) | EUR value at receipt | 10% capital gain on profit |
| Staking rewards | Movable income (30%) | EUR value at receipt | 10% capital gain on profit |
| Mining | Miscellaneous or professional income | EUR value at receipt | 10% capital gain on profit |
| DeFi lending yield | Movable income (30%) | EUR value at receipt | 10% capital gain on profit |
The key difference: airdrops and hard forks are taxed as miscellaneous income (33%), whereas staking rewards and lending yield are regarded as movable income (30%). Mining can be qualified as miscellaneous income or as professional income, depending on the scale and the professional character.
Want to know more about the other categories? Read our guides on staking tax, mining tax, DeFi staking and liquidity pools.
✅ Try Cryptotax
Cryptotax detects airdrops automatically on Ethereum, Base and Arbitrum. The EUR value on receipt is recorded and carried over as the cost basis on a later sale, including a correct FIFO calculation.
Start a free scan to map out your airdrops and other crypto transactions. Also check out our tax calculator and reports for a complete overview.
Want to read more? Check out our overview article on crypto taxes in Belgium or our guide on staking tax.
Sources:
⚠️ Disclaimer: This article is purely informational and not individual tax advice. For specific cases: consult a certified Belgian tax adviser or request a ruling from the Office for Advance Tax Rulings (Dienst Voorafgaande Beslissingen).
