What Is the Current IRS Guidance on the Tax Classification of Cryptocurrency?

The IRS classifies cryptocurrency as property, not currency, for US federal tax purposes. This means general tax principles applicable to property transactions apply.

When a taxpayer sells, exchanges, or uses cryptocurrency to pay for goods or services, it is treated as a taxable event, resulting in a capital gain or loss based on the fair market value at the time of the transaction.

Is Staking Reward Income Treated as Ordinary Income or Capital Gain?
How Do International Differences in Property Law Affect Cross-Border Crypto Futures Delivery?
How Is Mining Income Taxed Differently from Capital Gains on Crypto?
Does the Underlying Asset Being a Cryptocurrency Change the Non-Delivery Tax Treatment?
Are Funding Rate Payments Considered Taxable Events in Some Jurisdictions?
How Does the Use of Collateral (E.g. Stablecoins) in DeFi Futures Affect Tax Basis?
Has the IRS Issued Specific Guidance on the Taxation of Bitcoin or Ethereum Futures?
What Is the Tax Implication of Selling a Fractionalized Token?

Glossar