How is crypto taxed?

In the U.S., crypto is considered a digital asset, and the IRS treats it generally like stocks, bonds, and other capital assets. Like these assets, the money you gain from crypto is taxed at different rates, either as capital gains or as income, depending on how you got your crypto and how long you held on to it.

How much tax do you owe on a crypto trade?

Profits on the sale of assets held for less than one year are taxable at your usual tax rate. For the 2024 tax year, that's between 0% and 37%, depending on your income. If the same trade took place a year or more after the crypto purchase, you'd owe long-term capital gains taxes.

Are crypto gains taxable?

Regardless, you’ll need to report these as income. If you’re holding crypto, there’s no immediate gain or loss, so the crypto is not taxed. Tax is only incurred when you sell the asset, and you subsequently receive either cash or units of another cryptocurrency: At this point, you have “realized” the gains, and you have a taxable event.