The ECJ has ruled that the sale of gold coins in a computer game does not constitute a transaction in virtual currency
On March 5, 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a judgment in Case C-472/24, “ “Žaidimų valiuta” v Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija prie Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerijos” which was heard pursuant to a request for a preliminary ruling submitted on July 2, 2024, Tax Disputes Commission under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Commission referred the matter to the CJEU while examining a dispute concerning the trade in gold coins in a computer game conducted by a legal entity and the question of whether such transactions can be considered virtual currency transactions to which VAT does not apply.
The ECJ ruled that transactions involving the purchase and sale of gold coins in a computer game cannot be exempt from VAT as virtual currency transactions. These coins are used only within the specific game environment and therefore cannot be used to pay for real goods or services outside the game.
The ECJ also noted that gold coins in a computer game cannot be considered vouchers as defined under the VAT Directive, and therefore the VAT rules applicable to vouchers do not apply to them.
The Commission notes that the ECJ clarified that, to the extent that gold coins in a computer game are considered an electronic service, VAT on such transactions must be calculated on the total consideration received for the sale of the coins.
The ECJ’s judgment and its reasoning can be found in more detail at this link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62024CJ0472