Proposed US bill wouldn’t allow taxing block rewards at acquisition

As a seasoned crypto investor with a deep understanding of the industry, I welcome this new bill introduced by Representatives Ferguson and Nickel to provide tax clarity for digital asset miners in the United States. The current complex taxation system has been causing confusion, double taxation, and even driving American businesses overseas.


Two US legislators have put forth a proposal to bring clarity to the taxation of Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrency miners regarding block rewards.

In a statement released on April 30, Congressmen Drew Ferguson and Wiley Nickel announced the introduction of the Providing Tax Clarity for Digital Assets Act to the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill aims to clarify taxation rules regarding digital assets by defining staking rewards as created property under U.S. tax law, and mandating that taxes on block rewards be paid at the point of acquisition.

“Representative Ferguson pointed out that while the US has historically been at the forefront of innovation and technology, it now lags behind other countries in offering clear tax guidelines for the burgeoning digital asset sector. The intricate US regulations surrounding digital asset rewards create uncertainty among investors, result in double taxation, and drive American businesses to seek opportunities abroad.”

Proposed US bill wouldn’t allow taxing block rewards at acquisition

An advocacy group for cryptocurrencies named Coin Center considered the proposed bill to have rational provisions by imposing taxes on rewards from proof-of-work and proof-of-stake networks when they are either sold or utilized, instead of taxing them upon acquisition. The CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, Sheila Warren, commended the legislation as being particularly relevant and clear in its guidance.

As a crypto investor, I believe that block rewards should be viewed as the value generated from my active participation in the network, rather than a form of income derived from an employer. This perspective would significantly simplify the current taxation structure for cryptocurrencies and bring it on par with traditional financial systems.

Approximately ten days following Bitcoin‘s fourth halving event, which reduced miner rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC per block on the blockchain, the legislation was enacted. Historically, halvings have led to a decrease in new supply and subsequently boosted the cryptocurrency’s price. At the point of writing, Bitcoin was priced at $58,030, representing an approximately 11% decline since the halving on April 19.

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2024-05-01 23:16