Coinbase is pushing US lawmakers to reform crypto tax rules, calling current laws outdated
The post Coinbase is pushing US lawmakers to reform crypto tax rules, calling current laws outdated appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
Coinbase and its top executives have always been seeking clarity from US watchdogs on the use of crypto. In a fresh move, the exchange is ramping up pressure on US lawmakers to revamp how digital assets are taxed. They are arguing that current rules are stuck in a pre-crypto era, which is hampering adoption. Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s CPO, believes that a basic mismatch might be a blockage here. The US tax code was designed for “20th-century money,” while crypto operates in an entirely different way. However, treating crypto purely as “property” means that even the smallest transactions can trigger tax obligations. This will lead to a system where everyday usage is a compliance headache. Coinbase sees 34% jump in tax queries Shirzad mentioned that under the current rules, something as simple as paying a gas fee or using a stablecoin for a routine transaction is technically a taxable event. He added that the users are expected to calculate cost basis, track gains or losses, and report them. This happens even when the amounts involved are negligible. He noted that crypto’s ability to move seamlessly across wallets and platforms makes this even harder. It often leaves gaps in reporting that brokers themselves cannot fully resolve. According to a report, Coinbase has seen a 34% jump in customer service inquiries. All of them were linked to tax reporting compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, the introduction of new reporting needs is generating what the company describes as a paperwork overload. It added that millions of Form 1099-DAs will be issued for the 2025 tax year. However, many of them are tied to extremely small transactions. A big portion of these forms relates to proceeds under $600, and hundreds of thousands even track activity below $1. The volume of reporting risks…
Filed under: News - @ March 26, 2026 10:19 pm