In 2025, held in Naples in Naples from July 17-19, Italian lawmaker Marcello Coppo joined industry experts to discuss the future of regulating Italian digital assets.
In a conversation with Beincrypto, members of the parliament of Fratelli D’Italia (The Italian Brothers) shared their views on crypto taxation, the idea of national Bitcoin reserves, and popular recruitment in one of Europe’s most mature crypto markets.
From code skepticism to strategic policy
Coppo is more than just a politician. He is a lawyer with a long record of asserting legal clarity and political leadership in complex regulatory issues.
As a member of the Congress’s “Public and Private Labor Commission,” his work focuses on protecting the interests of citizens in the rapidly evolving sector.
One of his most visible efforts was to oppose aggressive tax proposals on the benefits of crypto.
Respond to excessive crypto taxation
Beincrypto: One of the first major steps of the Meloni government was to introduce a crypto tax framework. What was that decision?
Marcello Coppo: I believe every part of the economy deserves clear rules. Cryptography is no exception. Our goal is to create a structured environment that encourages legitimate projects and creates value in the country.
Beincrypto: The law treats crypto as an investment asset, but applies capital gains tax. Is that a fair compromise?
Coppo: I was one of the key voices pushing the tax rate down to 26%. Originally, the proposal was aimed at 42%.
Unfortunately, an additional 33% rate will come into effect in 2026, which I strongly oppose. I filed a formal complaint in Parliament, and the government accepted it.
I can’t guarantee the outcome yet, but I’m working on either equalizing other capital gains and crypto taxation, or at least slowing down this increase.
Future budget laws will begin in the Senate and will not be directly involved in that phase.
However, at the end of the year, there will be a legislative window called “Milprologue,” which begins at the chamber of commerce and industry of lawmakers. We will intervene as needed.
Should Italy adopt a strategic Bitcoin reserve?
Beincrypto: There is growing debate in the US about holding Bitcoin as part of a national reserve. Can Italy think of something similar?
Coppo: I think it’s inevitable that topics will come up even if they’re not our current priorities. Italy holds one of the world’s largest gold reserves worldwide, but that doesn’t mean we cannot diversify.
First we face practical hurdles. There is no budget classification for seized or forfeitured crypto assets.
Today, Crypto is seized in legal investigations and is scattered across various jurisdictions, with no centralized surveillance or accounting.
The government has not yet commercialized these assets, but if Bitcoin is being treated as part of a diverse strategy, there is a need for a way to track and evaluate it.
Ultimately, you need to decide. Should these assets be liquidated or kept as part of the state artefact?
The term “strategic reserve” sounds impressive, but technically, these assets are already under the umbrella of state property, like state-owned buildings.
Some properties have lost their value over time. Bitcoin may offer better upside down in the long run.
Push towards large-scale adoption
Despite the recent Gemini report, Coppo has seen a long way to public understanding and political acceptance, despite its name to Italy and being named one of Europe’s most mature crypto markets.
Beincrypto: Crypto continues to face political skepticism. Do you think they are considered the core part of the financial system?
Coppo: You need to distinguish. Bitcoin is serious. It has sustainability. Next is the potential altcoins. And there’s what I call “junk coins.” They should be avoided entirely.
When I talk about cryptography sets, I mean trustworthy. But let’s be honest. I go to the supermarket and ask someone and get called Mrs. Maria and she knows about codes and the answer is “not that much.” That indicates that adoption is still low.
The real challenges now are mass education and broader adoption. That should be our focus.
In a post by Marcello Coppo, he discussed the ambitions of Italy’s Bitcoin Reserve, the crypto tax, and more.
