Earn Bitcoin in Europe: Staking & Lending (MiCA)

Europe has the most complete crypto rulebook in the world, and it shapes how you can earn. Under MiCA, exchanges and brokers are licensed and supervised, but your own self-custody wallet isn't a regulated service: you can hold, stake and lend from your own keys.

That's how Virtex Wallet works in the EEA and the UK: non-custodial only. You can stake SOL, ETH, TRX and BNB or lend USDC and USDT from your own wallet, then swap the rewards into Bitcoin. Bitcoin itself can't be staked, and Virtex doesn't lend out your BTC.

At a glance

Earning crypto in Europe: key facts

Main crypto law	MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), fully applicable across the EU since 30 December 2024
Self-custody wallets	Not a regulated service under MiCA; you can stake and lend from your own keys
Stablecoins	USDC is authorised under MiCA; many EU platforms stopped offering USDT to EEA customers
Tax reporting	DAC8: crypto service providers report customer activity to tax authorities from 1 January 2026
Virtex Wallet modes	Non-custodial only. Custodial mode isn't available in the EEA or the UK

Ways to earn

How Europeans earn Bitcoin with Virtex Wallet

Lend USDC, stack BTC

USDC is the MiCA-compliant dollar stablecoin and easy to buy in Europe. Lend it non-custodially, then swap the interest into Bitcoin. See non-custodial lending.

Stake SOL or ETH

Delegate from your own keys and convert rewards to BTC whenever you like. Start with how to stake crypto.

Keep BTC in self-custody

Your Bitcoin stays in your own wallet, never lent out. That's the lesson Europeans who used failed lenders in 2022 learned the hard way.

Rules & tax

Rules and tax in Europe

MiCA and your own wallet

MiCA licenses crypto-asset service providers (exchanges, brokers, custodians). It doesn't regulate you holding coins in software only you control. Lending and borrowing services are largely outside MiCA's scope, and staking isn't explicitly covered either, so national rules and consumer protection still matter. Using regulated exchanges for buying and selling gives you the most protection.

Why USDT is harder to buy in the EU

USDT's issuer isn't authorised under MiCA, so many EU platforms stopped offering it to EEA customers in 2025. You can still hold, send and lend USDT you already own in a self-custody wallet, but most Europeans now on-ramp with USDC, which is authorised. Both can be lent in Virtex Wallet.

The travel rule and self-custody

Under the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation, exchanges must collect sender and recipient details for crypto transfers and may ask you to prove you own a self-custody wallet, usually for transfers above €1,000. Have your wallet address ready; some exchanges ask for a small test transfer or a screenshot.

How staking and lending are taxed

Tax is national, not EU-wide. At the time of writing: in Germany, staking and lending rewards are usually taxed as income when received (small totals under €256 a year are exempt), while coins held over a year can be sold tax-free. In France, gains are generally taxed at a flat rate only when you sell crypto for euros, and crypto-to-crypto swaps aren't taxed. Portugal taxes gains on crypto held under 365 days and can tax rewards as income. The Netherlands taxes a deemed return on your total assets instead. In the UK, HMRC treats staking rewards as income and disposals as capital gains. Check your national tax authority or an adviser.

DAC8: what it means for you

From 2026, exchanges and brokers operating in the EU report customer crypto transactions to tax authorities, who share them across member states. A self-custody wallet doesn't report anything, but the exchanges you buy and sell through will, so keep your own records of rewards and swaps.

Rules are changing fast. This summary reflects the situation in October 2026. Tax treatment depends on your country and circumstances. Staking rewards and lending rates are estimates, never guaranteed. This page is general information, not financial advice.

Calculator

Estimate what you could earn and stack into BTC

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Estimate only. Typical ranges are rough market figures that change with network conditions, validator commission and lending demand. They are not a rate offered or promised by Virtex. Rewards are paid in the coin you hold, so their dollar value moves with its price. This is not financial advice. Always check the live rate in the app before you confirm.

FAQ

Earning crypto in Europe: questions

Is crypto staking legal in Europe?

Yes. Staking from your own self-custody wallet is legal across the EU and the UK. MiCA regulates businesses that provide crypto services, not individuals using their own wallets.

Can I lend USDT in Europe?

In non-custodial mode you can lend USDT you already hold. Many EU platforms no longer sell USDT to EEA customers because it isn't authorised under MiCA, so many Europeans lend USDC instead. Both are supported in Virtex Wallet.

Why can't I use custodial mode in Europe?

Virtex doesn't offer custodial staking or lending in the EEA or the UK. Non-custodial staking and lending work normally, and your coins stay under your own keys.

Are staking rewards taxed in Germany?

Generally yes, as other income at their euro value when you receive them, with a small annual exemption for total other income under €256. Coins held for more than a year can usually be sold tax-free. Check with a tax adviser for your situation.

Does DAC8 apply to my self-custody wallet?

DAC8 applies to crypto service providers such as exchanges and brokers, not to wallet software you control. Your duty to declare income and gains is unchanged, and exchanges you use will report your activity.

Can I earn interest on Bitcoin in the EU?

Not natively: Bitcoin has no staking. In Virtex Wallet you earn on USDC, USDT or proof-of-stake coins and can swap the rewards into BTC. Read how to earn Bitcoin.

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Earn Bitcoin & Crypto in Europe