Friedrich Merz Appoints Markus Braun as Germany’s New Finance Minister
Newly appointed Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made an unprecedented decision, naming Markus Braun, the former Wirecard CEO, as Germany’s new finance minister. Read on for the full story.
Which topics should we dive deeper into?
Select what genuinely interests you. Your picks feed directly into our editorial planning.
Crypto news that's actually worth your time.
Weekly. 60 seconds. Carefully curated by our editors: no hype, no promo flood, no spam.
Germany’s New Government Shakes Up Finance Leadership
Following the surprise collapse of Olaf Scholz’s coalition, Friedrich Merz has taken charge as Germany’s new Chancellor. But his first major appointment has left the entire nation in disbelief: Markus Braun, the disgraced former Wirecard CEO, has been chosen as the new Minister of Finance.
The decision, announced in an early-morning press conference, sparked an immediate media frenzy. Braun, currently serving a prison sentence for his role in the Wirecard fraud scandal, is set to take office next week. “Germany needs financial expertise,” Merz stated, “and who knows more about financial creativity than Markus Braun?”
Can a Convicted Fraudster Manage Germany’s Economy?
Markus Braun was the mastermind behind Wirecard’s meteoric rise and catastrophic collapse, which resulted in a €1.9 billion hole in company accounts. Critics argue that appointing him as finance minister is like hiring a fox to guard the henhouse.
However, Merz defended his choice: “Mistakes were made, sure, but Markus has the kind of outside-the-box thinking we need in German finance.” Reports suggest Braun will work remotely from prison, managing Germany’s budget via a high-security laptop provided by the government.
His first task? A complete restructuring of Germany’s tax system—though insiders joke he may start by “accidentally misplacing” a few billion euros.
Public Reaction: Outrage, Confusion, and… Applause?
Germans took to social media to express a mix of outrage, confusion, and dark humor. The hashtag #Braunomics is already trending, with users joking about “the best money laundering techniques for 2025.”
Meanwhile, Wirecard’s former investors are thrilled, seeing this as a sign that Braun could finally “pay them back.” Some even speculate that his appointment might be a secret plan to recover the missing billions.
The European Central Bank, however, issued a formal warning: “Germany’s financial stability should not be treated as an experimental playground.”
April Fools! Don’t Fall for Fake News!
If you’ve read this far and believed even a part of this story—congratulations, you’ve been April Fooled! 🎉
While Friedrich Merz might have some bold ideas for Germany’s economy, appointing a convicted fraudster as finance minister is definitely not one of them (at least, we hope not!).
April 1st is a time for wild and ridiculous headlines, and we couldn’t resist joining in. But this is also a reminder: always double-check your sources before believing breaking news—especially in politics and finance!
Now that you’re in on the joke, share this with your friends and see if they fall for it too! 😆
Related articles
- Can the Wirecard scandal be repeated with cryptocurrencies? Bitcoins in danger?
- Germany's Crypto Tax: 160 Million Euros for a 555-Billion Budget
- Germany’s Banking Giants Go Crypto: Deutsche Bank and Sparkassen, the 2026 Launch Status
- Crypto Exchange Tax Report Wrong: How to Correct It Before the Tax Office Does
- A Bitcoin State Reserve by Statute: What the US Bill H.R. 8957 Means for German Holders
Which topics should we dive deeper into?
Select what genuinely interests you. Your picks feed directly into our editorial planning.
Crypto news that's actually worth your time.
Weekly. 60 seconds. Carefully curated by our editors: no hype, no promo flood, no spam.
September 23, 2026 10:25 AM
Airdrop tax: when free coins are taxable in Germany
Whether you have to pay tax on an airdrop is decided by a single question: did you do something for the coins? This guide takes you through both cases, the valuation at the market price, and the records the tax office has demanded since the 2025 assessment period.
September 18, 2026 10:13 AM
Bitcoin and the German Exit Tax: What Applies When You Move Abroad
Anyone emigrating with Bitcoin expects an exit tax on unrealised gains and finds nothing of the sort in the statute. Where the real risks sit is decided at four points: residence, the holding period, the legal form of your investment, and automatic reporting from 2026.
September 8, 2026 1:19 AM
Germany's Crypto Holding Period: What Happens Now Signing for Petition 201716 Closed on September 15
Recap as of September 27, 2026: the signature period for German parliamentary petition 201716, which asks for the one-year crypto holding period to be preserved, closed on September 15, 2026. This article explains what ended that day, how the petitions committee proceeds and why no investor has to sell because of it.
August 27, 2026 10:32 AM
A Securities Account at the Crypto Exchange: Why Capital Gains Tax and Anlage KAP Are on You
On August 18, 2026 Kraken opened trading in more than 7,000 US stocks to customers in the European Economic Area, provided by a Cypriot investment firm. That puts the securities account abroad, and German capital gains tax, loss offsetting and the saver’s allowance now run through your own tax return.
August 14, 2026 6:23 AM
Bitcoin Savings Plan and Tax: How the Holding Period, FIFO and the Exemption Limit Interact on Monthly Buys
Every savings plan instalment is a separate acquisition for tax purposes, with a holding period of its own. How the exemption limit, the order of disposal and record-keeping duties interact on monthly Bitcoin buys, with the sources from the statute and the Ministry of Finance circular.
July 31, 2026 10:59 AM
German Crypto Tax Return 2025: What You Should Know Now the July 31 Deadline Has Passed
Recap as of September 27, 2026: the deadline for the 2025 German tax return ended on July 31, 2026 at midnight. This article describes the situation on the day of the deadline: what crypto investors had to report and what happens if the deadline is missed.
September 6, 2025 11:00 PM
CONF3RENCE 2025: Dortmund Hosted Germany’s Successful Crypto Event
CONF3RENCE 2025 in Dortmund doubled in size, featuring OKX, Bitvavo, Tangem, Strategy, Robinhood, and key discussions on MiCA.
April 6, 2025 11:51 AM
Top 5 RWA Tokens to Buy in April 2025 Before They Skyrocket
After a sharp correction, RWA tokens are finally hitting critical support zones—making April 2025 a potential turning point. What are RWA tokens, why they matter, and which top 5 RWA tokens investors are eyeing right now.
September 15, 2026 4:12 AM
Using Hyperliquid from Germany: What Applies to Your Funds Without a MiCA Licence
Hyperliquid is not entered in any EU register as an authorised crypto-asset service provider, and for perpetual futures a MiCA licence would be the wrong paperwork anyway. Here is what that means in concrete terms for your funds, your keys and your tax return.
September 26, 2026 1:19 AM
Germany’s Crypto Holding Period Is Wobbling: What to Check Before December 31
A CDU member of the Bundestag makes it plain: the coalition agreement does not guarantee that the one-year holding period for crypto assets will survive. What that means for purchases made before the planned cutoff date of December 31, 2026.
September 25, 2026 10:14 PM
Sequans sells its last 314 bitcoin: what to check if you hold a treasury stock
Semiconductor maker Sequans has wound down its bitcoin reserve completely, 15 months after setting a target of one hundred thousand coins. What the case reveals about treasury stocks, and which tax rule applies to the share and to the coin.
September 19, 2026 4:19 AM
Bitcoin Cash Jumps by Double Digits: What the Grayscale ETF Filing Really Means for You in Germany
Bitcoin Cash gained double digits on September 18 because Grayscale wants to convert its BCH trust into an exchange-traded product. The filing itself, however, states that the basis for it has not been approved at all.
September 19, 2026 4:11 AM
WBT Hits All-Time High at $83.64: What WhiteBIT Token Holders Should Check Now
The exchange token WBT reached a new all-time high of $83.64 on September 18, 2026. What sits behind the rise, and the three points German investors should check now.
September 9, 2026 4:22 PM
Crypto Tax in Germany: What Applies in 2026 and What Is Set to Change in 2027
Crypto gains are tax-free after twelve months; before that your personal tax rate of up to 45 percent applies. What triggers tax, how the holding period is calculated, what happens with staking and losses, and what the draft bill would change from 2027.
September 8, 2026 10:21 PM
Crypto Holding Period and Grandfathering: Why December 31, 2026 Becomes the Cut-Off in Germany's Draft Bill
A ministerial draft bill from Germany's finance ministry names a cut-off date for the first time: crypto assets acquired after December 31, 2026 are to fall under the flat-rate withholding tax. What that means for legacy holdings, running savings plans and staking income, and why nothing has been decided yet.
August 11, 2026 9:13 PM
Germany's Crypto Holding Period Faces Abolition: What Petition 201716 and the Cabinet Decision Mean for Your Tax
Petition 201716 in the German Bundestag calls for the one-year holding period for crypto assets to be kept and has already passed the quorum of 30,000 signatures. This article sets out what the cabinet decision of July 6, 2026 provides for, how much of it is binding and which records you should be pulling together now.
January 1, 2026 3:12 PM
Crypto Taxes 2026 in Germany: Automatic Reporting Under DAC8, What Applies Now
Since 1 January 2026 crypto providers in the EU must record their customers' transactions for the tax authorities. The first report for 2026 follows in 2027. What investors need to know.
November 11, 2025 10:25 AM
US Government Reopens After 41 Days – What It Means for Bitcoin, Crypto, and Global Markets
The US government reopens after a record 41-day shutdown. Rate cuts, QT ending, and new crypto laws could reshape markets—here’s what investors must know.
July 23, 2025 11:00 PM
Limited-Time Offer: Explore OKX and Earn up to 100€ in Bitcoin!
OKX is now live in Germany and Austria! New users can earn up to 100€ in Bitcoin by completing simple tasks. Here's how to claim your bonus.
April 18, 2025 1:05 PM
Massive BTC & ETH Options Expiry Today – What It Means for the Market
Over $2.25 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options are expiring today, sending ripples across the crypto market. With traders eyeing the “max pain” levels, could we see sudden price swings in BTC and ETH?
March 24, 2025 6:00 AM
SOLANA May Be a Top Crypto Investment for April 2025, Here's WHY?
Solana is emerging as one of the top crypto investments. Here is a Solana price prediction and key levels to watch in April 2025.
January 25, 2025 11:46 AM
Wall Street News under Musk Influence: Crypto Integration and X Debt Offload
Wall Street banks are navigating a transformative moment. Here's how traditional finance and blockchain are converging under a pro-crypto administration and Musk's influence.
October 26, 2024 5:01 PM
What Is AI TOKEN?
AI Tokens are making waves in the finance world. And now with autonomous AI agents, what to expect for the crypto market?
June 10, 2024 4:40 PM
Is Ripple (XRP) ETF Approval Next, Following Bitcoin (BTC) & Ethereum (ETH) ETFs Approval?
Following Bitcoin (BTC) ETF approval first, and later that of Ethereum (ETH) ETF, not long ago, which Altcoin will be next is what everyone is wondering. Could it be XRP?
November 19, 2023 2:11 PM
Why did Yearn Finance Crash? YFI Price tumbles around -45%
Yearn finance YFI token experienced a crash, plunging over 43%. Why did Yearn Finance crash? Was it a rug-pull or a price adjustment?
October 11, 2023 5:09 AM
Top 5 NFT Lending Dapps for October 2023
Explore the top 5 NFT Lending Dapps of October 2023. Dive into platforms like Pawnfi, PWN, PawnSpace, Frakt, and Honey Finance that are revolutionizing the NFT space by offering innovative lending solutions.
December 9, 2020 5:50 PM
Why Yearn Finance YFI Could Cross $50K This Dec With V2 Launch
The long awaited second iteration of yield farming and DeFi strategy platform Yearn Finance was launched on 7th Dec. In the coming weeks, it will be deployed gradually and it is being expected that the complete deployment would finish by the end of Dec 2020. Besides bringing major capability enhancements to the premier Decentralized Finance (DeFi) protocol and is highly likely to push the YFI price past $50K, if not more. Here's why.
More from CryptoTicker