Spain Set for Sweeping Crypto Regulation Changes in 2026

Quick breakdown

• Spain will fully enforce MiCA and DAC8 in 2026, tightening oversight and licensing requirements for the crypto market.
• DAC8 introduces strict tax reporting obligations, giving authorities visibility into user balances and transactions.
• Proposed domestic tax reforms target key laws, further increasing compliance and transparency for crypto users and firms.

Spain is heading toward a major regulatory overhaul of its cryptocurrency sector in 2026, driven by the full implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the Eighth Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC8). Together, the two frameworks will tighten market supervision, reshape crypto business operations, and expand the government’s visibility into digital asset activity.

Spain will fully implement two key cryptocurrency regulations in 2026: the EU MiCA and DAC8. MiCA will come into effect on July 1, 2026, requiring all crypto service providers to obtain full authorization to continue operations. DAC8 will be enforced starting January 1, 2026,…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 24, 2025

MiCA forces licensing shake-up for crypto firms

MiCA will complete its transitional phase in Spain on July 1, 2026, after which only crypto asset service providers authorised under the regulation will be permitted to operate. Companies that fail to obtain approval will be required to shut down or leave the Spanish market. The framework introduces harmonised rules for issuing and marketing crypto assets across the EU, covering utility tokens, asset-referenced tokens, and stablecoins.

In Spain, enforcement will fall under the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), which already supervises more than 60 registered crypto-related firms, including banks and exchanges. The end of the transition period is expected to accelerate consolidation in the sector, favouring well-capitalised firms able to meet stricter governance, disclosure, and capital requirements.

DAC8 expands tax reporting and asset seizure powers

Running alongside MiCA, DAC8 will come into force on January 1, 2026, imposing automatic tax reporting obligations on crypto exchanges and service providers. Platforms will be required to report detailed user data, including balances, transactions, and transfers, to tax authorities across the European Union.

For Spanish users, this means tax authorities will gain broad access to crypto transaction data and the legal power to freeze or seize digital assets held on exchanges to recover unpaid taxes. While self-custodied wallets are not directly covered by DAC8, any interaction with regulated platforms will fall within the reporting regime.

Beyond EU-level regulation, Spain’s Parliamentary Group Sumar has introduced amendments in Congress proposing substantial tax reforms affecting cryptocurrencies. The proposals target three core statutes: the General Tax Law (Law 58/2003), the Personal Income Tax Law, and the Inheritance and Donations Tax Law.