Crypto options in Germany: Kraken opens bitcoin and ether options, and the gate is a questionnaire

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry a high degree of risk. Always conduct your own research.On October 26, Kraken opened options on bitcoin and ether to retail clients in the European Economic Area, with access tied to a derivatives account and a passed appropriateness assessment. For German tax purposes, the one-year holding period does not apply; Section 20 of the Income Tax Act taxes gains at 25 percent from the first euro.Add as a preferred source on GoogleFollow on Google NewsYou can trade crypto options in Germany, but only through a provider with a MiFID licence and only after passing an appropriateness assessment. Since October 26, 2026, Kraken Pro is one of them: the exchange has opened European-style options on bitcoin and ether to clients in the European Economic Area. What this means for access, settlement and tax had not yet been brought together in German anywhere. This article fills that gap. Two points matter before going into detail. First, an option is not a coin. You are not buying bitcoin; you are buying a right to a cash amount derived from the bit...