Is crypto legal in Italy?

Yes, crypto is legal in Italy. Individuals can buy, hold, trade and sell bitcoin and other crypto, while companies that provide crypto services must be authorised under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA). The euro remains the only legal tender, as in every euro area country since 2002.

Is bitcoin legal in Italy?

Yes. No Italian law bans owning or using bitcoin. Italy implemented MiCA through Legislative Decree 129/2024, which entered into force on September 14, 2024. Before MiCA, crypto firms had to register in a special section of the register kept by the OAM, the body that oversees agents and credit brokers.

Gains are taxed under a specific crypto regime, explained in how crypto is taxed in Italy. For the EU framework itself, see our guide to MiCA.

What are Italy's crypto regulations?

Italy splits supervision between two authorities, according to a joint note by the Bank of Italy and Consob. Consob, the securities regulator, authorises specialised crypto-asset service providers after consulting the Bank of Italy. It also supervises conduct, transparency and client protection for all providers, and has sole oversight of crypto trading platforms. The Bank of Italy handles prudential supervision for the firms it authorises, anti-money laundering supervision for all providers, and the authorisation of stablecoin issuers.

Firms on the OAM register by December 27, 2024 benefited from a transition. A 2025 decree extended it so they could apply for a MiCA licence by December 30, 2025 and keep operating until June 30, 2026 at the latest, CMS reported.

Which crypto exchange is legal in Italy?

Since July 2026, a crypto exchange can legally serve Italian customers only if it holds MiCA authorisation in Italy or in another EU country and has passported its services. For example, Consob authorised the Italian exchange Cryptosmart on June 24, 2026 to offer custody, exchange, order execution, placement and transfer services, FinanzaOnline reported.

Cryptoweek does not rank exchanges. Whether a specific platform is authorised can be checked in the national and EU registers of MiCA providers. Our guide on why Binance is banned in some countries covers how licensing gaps affect large platforms.

Is crypto mining legal in Italy?

Mining is not banned in Italy. It is treated as a lawful activity for tax purposes: occasional mining falls under miscellaneous income, while a continuous operation with many machines is usually treated as a business that needs a VAT number and registration with the chamber of commerce, according to the tax site Fiscomania. Miners also follow normal energy and business rules.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the regulator or a qualified professional for your own situation.