Why the US Crypto Tax Could Be Killing Innovation—and What Cato Urges Next

Ever wonder what it’d be like if every time you swiped your Bitcoin card for a latte, you had to tackle a mountain of tax forms? Yeah, sounds insane — but that’s exactly the reality many crypto users face thanks to capital gains taxes. The Cato Institute just fired a shot across the government’s bow, arguing it’s high time to ditch these pesky taxes on Bitcoin and its digital cousins. They say this move could unleash a wave of currency competition, making the financial playground a lot more exciting (and a heck of a lot less stressful at tax season). Imagine cutting through that red tape so you can actually use crypto without the headache—sounds like a win-win, right? If only buying a coffee didn’t come with a 100-page tax return! Intrigued? Dive into the debate on whether scrapping capital gains taxes could spark a new economic era in currency freedom. LEARN MORE.

Cato Institute, a US-based think tank, has argued the government should remove capital gains taxes on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to open the door for more currency competition.

Capital gains tax (CGT) is discouraging the use of alternative currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) as it incentivizes long-term holding and adds extra burdens to reporting requirements, Nicholas Anthony, a policy scholar and research fellow at the Cato Institute, said in a report on Wednesday.

He argued the simplest option is to end capital gains taxes completely; however, another option could be removing them on crypto and foreign currency use to “take the government’s thumb off the scale and let competition be the true decider of the best money.”

“Bitcoiners know the frustration of tax season all too well. It’s never been easier to use Bitcoin as money,” he said. “Yet, at the same time, the tax code puts an incredible burden on law-abiding citizens. Something as simple as buying a cup of coffee every day with Bitcoin can result in more than 100 pages of tax filings.”

The Cato Institute is a US public policy think tank that tries to influence policy through research and reports. Its members have testified before lawmakers advocating for crypto in the past.

Imagine every swipe of your card turning into a tax form.
That’s what happens when spending Bitcoin.
If you buy a coffee with Bitcoin, the government makes you pay capital gains taxes on top of sales taxes.
Spending Bitcoin daily can turn into 70 pages in tax filings. pic.twitter.com/4At19JCFey
— Nick Anthony (@EconWithNick) April 15, 2026

No capital gains tax could create a more competitive economy

Using crypto to pay for goods and services can trigger a taxable event in some cases because it falls into the same broad category as stocks, real estate, and other capital assets, according to investment management firm VanEck.

Anthony argued another solution could be to remove CGT just for purchases of goods or services, but also warns it “risks creating its own compliance nightmare if people are required to prove the transactions. That’s better than being taxed, but the process would still be taxing.”

He also pointed to a de minimis tax as another possible avenue, where CGT is not triggered unless a specific threshold is met.

“The only thing worse than getting robbed would be having the robber demand endless forms about the money they are taking from you. Taxes are no different,” Anthony said.

“Congress should simplify the tax code so the average American can do what’s required with ease. Doing so would go a long way toward easing Americans’ stress each tax season and creating a more competitive economy.”

A 2025 National Cryptocurrency Association survey found that 39% of US crypto holders reported using crypto to purchase goods and services.

Meanwhile, the academic publishing company Springer Nature identified about 11,000 merchants worldwide using BTC Map data that currently accept Bitcoin as payment.

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