How to Buy Crypto Futures in Germany Safely in 2025 (Legal & Tax Guide)

Germany is one of the most crypto-friendly countries in Europe. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are fully legal, clearly regulated, and integrated into the traditional financial system. 

That clarity makes Germany an attractive place for more advanced strategies such as crypto futures trading Germany, where traders speculate on price movements with leverage instead of just buying and holding coins.

However, once you move from spot buying into futures, you leave the comfortable world of one-year tax exemptions and step into a stricter regime. 

Understanding how to buy crypto futures in Germany means understanding not only how to place a trade, but also how BaFin, MiCAR and German tax rules treat derivatives.

This guide walks through the legal context, tax basics, and a practical step-by-step flow to buy crypto futures in Germany, plus a short FAQ at the end.

Is Crypto Legal in Germany?

Yes, cryptocurrency is completely legal in Germany and sits inside a well-defined regulatory framework rather than a grey area. Germany recognised Bitcoin as a “unit of account” as early as 2013, classifying it as a financial instrument rather than legal tender.

Supervision is handled by BaFin, the German financial regulator, which now applies the EU-wide Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). 

Under MiCAR, crypto-asset service providers, such as exchanges and custodians, need authorisation, must comply with strict anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer rules, and are supervised on an ongoing basis.

The bottom line: you are allowed to trade and hold crypto, and the environment is becoming more harmonised across the EU. That includes the ability to trade crypto derivatives Germany residents can access through licensed or passported platforms.

Read Also: Mastering Crypto Futures Trading: A Beginner's Guide

How Are Crypto Futures Taxed in Germany?

Germany is famous for its generous tax rule on spot crypto: if a private person holds coins such as Bitcoin or Ether for more than one year, capital gains can be completely tax-free.

Futures are different. Margin trading and futures transactions are treated as “Termingeschäfte” (futures transactions). Income from trading with futures is typically classified as capital income and subject to a flat 25 percent capital gains tax, plus solidarity surcharge and possibly church tax. 

The one-year holding period exemption that applies to direct spot holdings does not apply to futures profits.

In other words, if you trade crypto futures, plan for your profits to be taxed like classic financial derivatives, not like long-term private sales of coins. 

Keeping precise records of all trades is essential for filing your return correctly with the Bundesministerium der Finanzen.

Trade with confidence. Bitrue is a secure and trusted platform for Bitcoin and altcoin investors. Start trading on Bitrue.

Step-by-Step: How to Buy Crypto Futures in Germany

The exact interface will differ between exchanges, but the flow is similar whether you trade on Bitrue or another platform that serves EU users under MiCAR.

Step 1: Open an account with a compliant exchange

Choose a platform that is authorised in the EU and either licensed or passported for German clients. 

During registration, complete full KYC by submitting your ID and, if requested, proof of address. This is mandatory under BaFin and EU AML rules.

Step 2: Deposit funds to your main wallet

Once your account is verified, deposit either euros or crypto. If the exchange supports SEPA, you can send EUR from your German bank account and then convert it into USDT, USDC or another collateral asset. Alternatively, you can deposit crypto directly from a self-custody wallet.

Step 3: Move funds into the futures wallet

Most exchanges separate spot and futures balances. In your asset overview, transfer a chosen amount from your main or spot wallet into the dedicated futures wallet. 

This becomes your margin, so start with an amount you are comfortable risking.

Step 4: Select the crypto futures contract

Go to the futures trading section and choose the pair you want to trade, for example BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT perpetual futures. 

Review the contract details, including funding rates, minimum margin and maximum leverage. Make sure you understand the liquidation rules before proceeding.

Step 5: Set leverage and order parameters

Choose your leverage level. Beginners should keep leverage low, such as 2x–5x, rather than the 50x–100x figures that some platforms offer. 

Decide your order type (market for instant execution or limit for a chosen price) and enter your position size based on your margin and risk tolerance.

Step 6: Open a long or short position

If you expect the price to rise, open a long position. If you think the price will fall, open a short. 

Confirm the trade and check that your entry price, liquidation level and margin usage match what you intended.

Step 7: Set stop-loss and take-profit

Immediately after opening the trade, add a stop-loss to cap your downside and a take-profit to automatically secure gains at your target price. This is crucial in leveraged environments where prices can move quickly.

Step 8: Monitor and close the trade

Watch your position in the positions tab. You can manually close it at any time with a market or limit order, or allow the take-profit or stop-loss to trigger. 

Once closed, your realised profit or loss returns to your futures wallet and can later be withdrawn or used for new trades.

Maximize your crypto moves — trade futures with up to 125× leverage on Bitrue.

Learn more about how to buy crypto future in India from this Bitrue Futures Trading Tutorial Video 

Risk and Compliance Tips for German Traders

Futures introduce leverage and therefore magnify both gains and losses. Using high leverage brings the liquidation price dangerously close to your entry and can wipe out your margin on relatively small market moves. 

Discipline, position sizing and pre-defined exits matter more than “gut feeling.”

From a compliance perspective, make sure you download your trade history regularly, keep records for several years, and align your reporting with the latest guidance from the Federal Ministry of Finance on crypto-asset income.

Trading on MiCAR-aligned platforms and respecting Germany crypto regulations not only keeps you on the right side of BaFin, it also makes life easier when you eventually need to justify your activity to the tax office.

Read Also: How to Double Your Money with USDT Perpetual Futures Trading on Bitrue

Conclusion

Germany offers one of the clearest frameworks in the world for digital assets. Crypto is legal, exchanges are licensed, and investors enjoy a mix of opportunity and investor protection. 

For spot investors, the one-year exemption can be extremely attractive. For those who want to trade crypto derivatives Germany has a well-defined tax and regulatory setup, but also higher complexity and risk.

If you understand the rules, keep leverage modest, and treat futures as a professional tool rather than a casino bet, learning how to buy crypto futures in Germany can be a useful addition to your overall trading strategy.

Maximize your potential and minimize the guesswork with reliable insights and expert content. Discover what’s next on your crypto journey at Bitrue, register now!

FAQ

Is crypto legal in Germany?

Yes. Crypto is legal and regulated as a financial instrument, not legal tender, under BaFin supervision and the EU MiCAR framework.

Are crypto futures allowed for retail traders in Germany?

Yes. Retail traders can access crypto futures on authorised platforms, but these products are treated as derivatives and subject to stricter rules and risk warnings.

How are crypto futures profits taxed in Germany?

Profits from futures are usually taxed as capital income at a flat 25 percent rate plus surcharges, and the one-year tax-free holding rule does not apply.

Do I need to use a BaFin-licensed exchange?

You should use an EU-authorised or BaFin-supervised provider for safety, legal certainty and easier compliance with German AML and tax rules.

Is it safer to hold spot crypto than to trade futures?

From a risk perspective, unleveraged spot holdings are generally less risky than leveraged futures. Futures add liquidation risk and should be used with strict risk management.