Germany's Bundestag has approved legislation allowing customs authorities to temporarily seize assets suspected of coming from illicit sources before a criminal case begins. Crypto is explicitly within scope.
What the law allows
The law is formally called the Zollfinanzgerechtigkeitsgesetz, or Customs Financial Justice Act. The Bundestag passed it on November 12, 2026.
Under the measure, customs can investigate and secure assets whose lawful origin appears doubtful without first opening criminal proceedings. Officials do not need a conviction or an indictment; they need grounds to doubt where the money came from.
Thresholds and crypto scope
The general trigger is assets worth more than €100,000. For registerable items such as real estate and vehicles, the threshold is €50,000.
Crypto falls under the law as defined by the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, or MiCA. Tying the German law to MiCA means the seizure powers cover the broad set of tokens EU regulators already recognize. Bitcoin has been cited as one asset that could be affected, but the law does not single out particular tokens or companies; it sets a general framework for digital assets.
Time limits and court approval
The seizure is initially temporary. Customs can hold suspect assets for up to 30 days without criminal proceedings. After that, a finance court can extend the hold by up to 150 days, putting the maximum at 180 days with court approval.
Final confiscation is a separate step. Permanently taking the assets requires a court ruling. Customs can freeze, but only a judge can take.
Policy context and expected revenue
The law sits within a broader campaign against organized crime, money laundering and financial misconduct. It builds on the Joint Action Plan against Organised Crime, which Germany launched in February 2026.
The act also supports the Financial Intelligence Unit, known as the FIU, and expands data-sharing between authorities. The FIU receives and analyzes suspicious transaction reports.
The vote drew support from several parties, including the CDU/CSU, the SPD and the AfD.
The German government expects the new powers could generate approximately €308 million in annual revenue by 2028, once enforcement is running across asset classes.
What comes next
The law is not yet in force. It is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, pending approval from the Bundesrat, the upper house representing Germany's federal states.
For crypto holders in Germany, the most direct effect concerns provenance. Holding a substantial amount of crypto makes it more valuable to be able to show where it came from. The law requires reasonable suspicion, not proof of wrongdoing, to trigger a temporary seizure.
Because the law relies on MiCA's definition of crypto assets, it fits into the EU's shared regulatory language. That could make the German model easier for other member states to study, and potentially copy, if Berlin's projected revenue materializes.
