tax

According to Cointelegraph, the Illinois State Legislature has passed the budget for the fiscal year 2027, which includes a provision to impose a 0.2% tax on cryptocurrency transactions, to be collected by digital asset brokers. This measure, referred to as the "privilege tax," is part of the amendment to the "Digital Asset Privilege Tax Act," which includes registration requirements for any digital asset broker operating in Illinois.Starting from January 1, brokers who fail to comply with the relevant regulations may be classified as a Class 3 felony in the state, facing two to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $25,000. The budget has been approved by the state legislature on Monday but still requires the signature of Governor JB Pritzker to take effect. JB Pritzker has publicly stated multiple times that he plans to sign the bill as soon as possible, but as of Friday morning, he has not yet signed it. Legislators expect that the cryptocurrency tax will generate $60 million in revenue for the state.

According to a report by Reuters, two informed Greek government officials revealed that the Greek Ministry of Finance is preparing legislation to impose a 15% capital gains tax on cryptocurrencies, which is expected to be submitted to parliament for review in the coming months.Under the plan, the first 500 euros of earnings for each taxpayer will be tax-exempt; individual mining activities will not be taxed, but mining companies registered as businesses will be taxed. Currently, Greece does not have a complete tax framework for cryptocurrencies, and the tax rates vary significantly among EU countries, ranging from 8% in Cyprus to 30% in France.Officials stated that due to most Greek investors using offshore platforms, it is currently difficult to estimate the size of the country's cryptocurrency market, and there are no specific revenue forecasts available.

According to Bloomberg, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee is preparing legislation to establish a cryptocurrency tax structure, which could be released as early as Friday, followed by a hearing early next week. Committee Chairman Jason Smith will prioritize the development of a digital asset tax framework, with the Treasury Department also involved in the process.The committee is expected to release seven bills addressing when tokens obtained through mining or staking will be taxed, exempting certain stablecoin transactions from capital gains tax, equal tax treatment for digital assets and securities (including charitable donations), allowing foreign investors to trade U.S. securities without being taxed as domestic entities, and expanding wash sale rules to digital assets.

According to a report by Politico, a document submitted by the European Commission to member states and the European Parliament shows that the EU is assessing the possibility of incorporating the cryptocurrency industry into a unified tax system to find new sources of fiscal revenue for the 2028-2034 budget cycle.The document estimates that if a tax rate of 0.1% is applied to cryptocurrency transaction volumes, it could bring in about 3 billion to 4 billion euros in revenue for the EU each year; if capital gains from cryptocurrencies are taxed, it is expected to increase fiscal revenue by about 1 billion to 2.4 billion euros annually.However, the European Commission also pointed out that due to the still inadequate data related to the cryptocurrency industry, there is significant uncertainty in the current revenue forecasts, and the actual results may differ from the estimates.The relevant proposal is still in the evaluation stage, and to be formally implemented, it requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. If progress goes smoothly, this will become one of the most important discussions on unified tax policy for the cryptocurrency industry in the EU.

Jason Smith, the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' fundraising committee, stated that digital asset tax legislation must receive bipartisan support; otherwise, the related bill process will not advance. Subsequently, U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford, Max Miller, Suzan DelBene, and Mike Carey jointly proposed the "Digital Asset Protection, Accountability, Regulation, Innovation, Taxation, and Revenue Act" (PARITY Act). The bill aims to update digital asset tax rules, provide a clearer regulatory framework for the market, while enhancing investor protection and preventing market manipulation.Representative Steven Horsford stated that the bill will help ordinary investors participate more safely in the digital asset market and promote wealth accumulation opportunities. Max Miller believes that the current U.S. tax laws are unable to adapt to the rapid development of digital assets and modern financial technology. Currently, the PARITY Act and the advancing CLARITY Act are seen as important components of establishing a comprehensive regulatory system for crypto assets in the United States.The U.S. Congress released a tax policy discussion draft in March this year and held a bipartisan roundtable in May to discuss the tax framework for crypto assets. The market is closely watching whether the CLARITY Act can be passed by 2026. Analysts believe that if both the CLARITY Act and the PARITY Act are ultimately legislated and combined with the subsequent rule-making of the GENIUS Act, the U.S. crypto industry will welcome a clearer regulatory environment, further promoting Web3 and DeFi into the mainstream financial system.

Strategy CEO Phong Le stated in an interview with Fox Business that the company purchased $1.6 billion in Bitcoin during the second week of May, which is more than the total holdings of most Bitcoin treasury companies in a week.Phong Le mentioned that the current Bitcoin price is attractive, and the company will continue to buy Bitcoin. Although there may be short-term sales of some Bitcoin due to reasons such as utilizing unrealized tax losses, the long-term strategy is to continuously net increase Bitcoin holdings and focus on enhancing the number of Bitcoin per share.He views Bitcoin as "digital capital," believing it is superior to traditional stocks, bonds, and gold, and emphasized that the company will pass Bitcoin earnings to shareholders, similar to the operating model of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

According to Edaily, South Korean digital asset custody company KDAC has been selected as the custodian and operational service provider for the seizure of virtual assets by the National Tax Service of South Korea. This is the first instance of the government entrusting the seizure of virtual assets to a private professional custody company. KDAC has signed a delegation contract with the National Tax Service and will launch the project in June.This project is a follow-up measure to the "Improvement Plan for the Holding and Management System of Virtual Assets in the Public Sector" jointly released by the government in April this year. It aims to establish a formal operational model through the introduction of a private custody and operational system after pilot operations. This model will serve as a reference case for public institutions such as the prosecution, police, and customs in managing virtual assets.

According to Cryptopolitan, Kenya's 2026 Finance Bill proposes a 10% consumption tax on virtual asset service providers, which is double the 5% rate for the gambling industry. The bill also requires crypto companies to pay a one-time licensing fee of 150 million Kenyan Shillings and an annual renewal fee of 2 million Kenyan Shillings before operating in Kenya, and to submit an annual report to the Kenya Revenue Authority containing user and transaction details.Analysts believe this move could force crypto trading platforms and users to relocate their business to countries that are more friendly to cryptocurrencies, undermining Kenya's significance in the African crypto market. Protests led by GenZ have resumed in places like Nairobi, protesting the increased tax burden on digital services, cryptocurrencies, mobile, and financial transactions.

According to the South Korean media outlet "Seoul Economy," a nationwide petition calling for the cancellation of cryptocurrency taxes has been included in the agenda for discussion in the National Assembly. The "Petition to Cancel Virtual Asset Tax," published on the National Assembly's electronic petition platform, garnered support from over 50,000 people in just eight days, meeting the criteria for submission to the permanent committee for review. The petition will be handed over to the Finance and Economy Committee, which oversees the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Tax Service, for examination, after which it will be decided whether to submit it for consideration by the plenary session. Petitioners argue that "since the financial investment income tax on stocks has been abolished and tax reduction policies have been implemented, it is unreasonable to impose a separate tax solely on virtual currencies," adding that "the current system needs a comprehensive review, not just simple supplementation."

A petition in South Korea calling for the abolition of a 22% tax on cryptocurrency investment gains has reached the threshold of 50,000 signatures and will be reviewed by the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee. This tax rate is set to take effect in January 2027. The petitioners argue that this tax system imposes financial and reporting burdens on investors while limiting upward mobility opportunities for young people who have been excluded from the housing market due to soaring property prices.The petitioners point out that imposing a 22% tax rate on cryptocurrency gains while offering more favorable tax treatment to other asset classes will weaken South Korea's share in the cryptocurrency market. They warn that forcibly imposing short-term taxes could lead to industry shrinkage and the outflow of capital and talent in the long run.Approximately 32% of South Korea's population holds cryptocurrency, but the market is contracting. The total value of cryptocurrency assets held by South Koreans has decreased from about 121.8 trillion won in January 2025 to about 60.6 trillion won in February 2026, and the daily trading volume of the five major exchanges has dropped from $11.6 billion in December 2024 to $3 billion in February.

According to Cryptopolitan, the Finance Committee of the German Bundestag rejected a proposal by the Green Party to increase cryptocurrency taxes, which aimed to eliminate the tax exemption for selling cryptocurrencies held for more than a year. Currently, German law stipulates that profits from the sale of cryptocurrencies held for more than a year are exempt from capital gains tax. The Green Party believes this regulation is unreasonable and argues that crypto assets should be treated equally to other investments.However, critics point out that the proposal would impose a higher tax burden on crypto investors compared to regular stock investors. The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union in the ruling coalition believes the proposal does not close loopholes and may instead create new ones. The Social Democratic Party prefers to wait for the finance minister to present their own plan. The Green Party estimates that eliminating the tax exemption could generate approximately 11.4 billion euros in additional tax revenue each year.

According to a report by the blockchain analysis platform Chainalysis, the economic and financial police department of Foggia, Italy, recently uncovered a tax evasion case. The individuals involved are suspected of using the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol and the BRC-20 token standard to create and resell tokens, concealing approximately $1.1 million (€1 million) in capital gains on-chain, with the profits continuously reinvested into new inscription operations.Chainalysis pointed out that although such emerging technological means may seem covert, the inherent transparency of blockchain leaves a permanent and immutable record of transactions. Blockchain intelligence can effectively track tax evasion by reconstructing financial networks and cross-referencing exchange declaration data. The agency warned that as new categories of digital assets continue to emerge, the gap between real on-chain wealth and declared tax status will become a key investigation target for global law enforcement agencies.

According to CoinDesk, bipartisan lawmakers Steven Horsford, Max Miller, Suzan DelBene, and Mike Carey jointly reintroduced the "Digital Asset Protection, Accountability, Regulatory, Innovation, Taxation, and Revenue Act" (also known as the "Equality Act") this Wednesday. The new version of the bill mainly covers the following points: first, it stipulates that regulated payment stablecoins do not generate gains or losses if the cost basis is not less than 99% of the redemption value; second, it establishes a safe harbor for broker-dealer transactions or taxpayer account transactions; third, it clarifies that "wash sale" rules apply to digital assets; fourth, it requires the IRS to assess the current tax burden of small cryptocurrency transactions and to study the feasibility of establishing a tax exemption for transactions under $200 and the potential risks of abuse.The cryptocurrency industry has long advocated for tax exemptions on small transactions to promote the use of cryptocurrencies in everyday payment scenarios. Lawmaker Horsford stated that tax policy is the foundation of the cryptocurrency regulatory framework, and that current tax laws have not clearly addressed many core issues related to digital assets.

Cointelegraph posted on the X platform that the governor of South Carolina has signed Bill S.163. The bill protects the self-custody rights of Bitcoin, prohibits discriminatory taxes on Bitcoin, and safeguards the rights of proof-of-work mining in the state.

Documents from the U.S. Department of Justice show that Trump has reached an unusual settlement agreement with the federal government, terminating a $10 billion lawsuit filed by him and his businesses against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and further expanding the relevant terms.The agreement states that the IRS will be "permanently prohibited" from investigating or continuing existing audits related to tax returns previously submitted by Trump, his businesses, and family members. The Department of Justice stated that this restriction only applies to the scope of existing audits.Meanwhile, the U.S. government has agreed to establish a "Deweaponization Fund" of up to $1.8 billion to compensate individuals or groups claiming to have been improperly treated during government investigations. This arrangement has been criticized by some Democratic lawmakers as a "disguised transfer of benefits," and has also raised questions within the Republican Party.Former IRS Commissioner pointed out that there has never been a precedent showing that the tax agency would permanently waive its right to review the historical filings of specific individuals or businesses, emphasizing that tax enforcement principles should remain consistent for all taxpayers. The Senate indicated that there are still many unresolved issues with this agreement, which is expected to continue to spark political controversy and regulatory discussions.

According to a joint article by several executives in the French cryptocurrency industry, the current tax policy on stablecoins is severely outdated. Under current regulations, converting stablecoins to fiat currency and withdrawing to a bank account incurs taxes, forcing a large amount of crypto assets to remain outside the traditional financial system, which is expected to result in a tax loss of 1 billion to 3 billion euros annually.The article calls for the French government to make targeted adjustments to the "2027 Budget Bill" within the next six months, as AI agents are increasingly adopting stablecoins for payments. It suggests following the practices of other countries by defining the conversion of stablecoins to fiat currency as a "tax-free withdrawal." Industry experts warn that if this critical six-month window is missed, France may miss out on significant industrial benefits brought by the integration of AI and cryptocurrency payments.

According to Digital Asset, Jeong Tae-ho, a Democratic Party official from the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee in South Korea, stated that the taxation of digital assets "has already been postponed and should be implemented as planned," and mentioned that internal party discussions will begin once the tax reform proposal is submitted to the committee.This statement marks a significant shift from his more reserved stance a month ago. The South Korean government has also officially confirmed that it will impose taxes on the transfer and rental income of digital assets starting January 1, 2027. Several hardline lawmakers within the Democratic Party have recently voiced their support for advancing the timeline as scheduled.

According to BBX data, institutional demand for Bitcoin ETFs maintained strong momentum yesterday. Today, both houses of Congress are advancing cryptocurrency legislation simultaneously for the first time, with the core dynamics as follows:The U.S. Bitcoin spot ETF recorded a total net inflow of approximately $358.1 million yesterday (May 13), with BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: $BLK) subsidiary iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: $IBIT) seeing a single-day net inflow of $269.3 million, the strongest single-day data in recent weeks; the overall U.S. Bitcoin spot ETF has recorded net positive inflows for seven consecutive weeks, further reinforcing the structural signal of institutional capital returning. Bitcoin closed above $80,000 yesterday, with a year-to-date increase of about 14%, and market sentiment remains relatively optimistic on the eve of the CLARITY Act markup.The House Ways & Means Committee held a closed-door meeting today (May 14) on cryptocurrency tax reform in sync with the Senate Banking Committee's CLARITY Act markup, covering topics such as the treatment of capital gains tax on crypto assets, tax reporting responsibilities for DeFi protocols, and the tax classification of Bitcoin mining and staking income; this marks the first time in 2026 that both houses of Congress are advancing cryptocurrency regulatory legislation on the same day, indicating that cryptocurrency regulatory legislation has expanded from a single market structure issue to a complete legislative ecosystem of "regulatory framework + tax system."