US crypto tax policy could be headed for a reset. The Blockchain Association has released its Digital Asset Tax Principles and is meeting with key members of Congress to push for rules that are simpler, clearer, and easier to administer. The headline change is a proposal to treat stablecoins like cash for tax purposes, while carving out relief for small everyday crypto transactions.
Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger said that as Congress reviews digital asset tax legislation, any proposal should reflect economic reality and remain workable for both taxpayers and regulators. That position targets one of the biggest complaints around current reporting: routine crypto use can create tax complexity that feels disconnected from how people actually use these assets. If stablecoins are handled like cash, payment-related tax friction would fall sharply.
Small transaction relief and sale-based taxation for rewards
The group’s principles center on administrability and practicality. One major recommendation is a meaningful de minimis exemption for small transactions, which would reduce reporting demands tied to minor payments, transfers, and other everyday on-chain activity. Another is a consistent tax treatment for mining and staking rewards.
Under the proposal, mining and staking rewards would be treated as self-created property and taxed only when they are sold or transferred, not at the moment they are received. That would align taxation with actual economic exposure instead of technical receipt. For users who hold rewards over time, the reporting logic would become more straightforward.
Privacy, anti-abuse rules, and innovation incentives
The framework also tries to balance enforcement with privacy. It calls for closing tax loopholes without exposing unnecessary personal information. It also outlines a “safe zone” for foreign users on US crypto platforms, a move aimed at keeping more activity within the United States.
On anti-abuse policy, the proposal targets wash sale gaps but says routine crypto use should not be penalized in the process. It also mentions access through retirement accounts, mark-to-market accounting, and simpler charitable contribution treatment. Blockchain Association Chief Policy Officer Lindsay Fraser said tax policy should reflect the distinct attributes of blockchain technology and the everyday ways millions of Americans use digital assets. The framework also says blockchain innovation could qualify for R&D tax credits.