Germany Pushes for Bitcoin — Could Berlin Be the Next to Adopt BTC?

Core Insights - Germany's lawmakers are debating the regulation of Bitcoin, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party proposing to exempt it from heavy EU regulations to foster innovation and financial independence [1][2] - The AfD's motion emphasizes Bitcoin's unique characteristics, arguing it should be treated as a distinct asset class rather than a speculative token [2][3] - The proposal calls for a 12-month tax-free holding period for Bitcoin and classifies private mining and lightning node operations as non-commercial activities [2][3] Regulatory Context - Germany has been a leading crypto-friendly jurisdiction, integrating national regulations with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework [3] - The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) oversees crypto-asset service providers and enforces anti-money laundering and know-your-customer standards [4] - Since the implementation of MiCA in December 2024, BaFin has issued nine licenses, positioning Germany as a key hub for regulated digital asset activities in the European Economic Area [5]