The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has rolled out final regulations requiring brokers, including decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, to report digital asset transactions. This landmark move expands existing tax reporting obligations to include decentralized exchanges and similar front-end platforms that facilitate crypto transactions.
Stricter Reporting Rules
Starting in 2027, brokers must report gross proceeds from the sale of digital assets, including detailed information about taxpayers involved in these transactions. While not all DeFi platforms are directly impacted, those that serve as trading front-ends or exercise significant control over transaction processes will now fall under the “broker” category. This includes platforms or even groups of individuals acting as intermediaries, regardless of their operational structure or legal entity status.
The IRS clarified that the regulations aim to provide consistent tax compliance standards, stating: “These final regulations will result in trading front-end service providers being able to provide to their customers the same useful information regarding gross proceeds as custodial brokers.”
Implications for DeFi and Taxpayer Transparency
The regulations will begin applying to digital asset transactions in 2027, with brokers required to start collecting relevant data by 2026. The IRS estimates that between 650 and 875 DeFi brokers will need to comply with the new rules. These platforms are expected to facilitate greater transparency by providing users with detailed transaction data, akin to what traditional custodial brokers already offer.
While some in the DeFi community have raised concerns about these rules discouraging innovation, the IRS dismissed claims of bias, stating that the regulations treat DeFi no differently than other industries. According to the IRS, these changes have been in place for brokers across various sectors for over 40 years, and the updated framework merely brings digital assets into the fold.
The potential impact is big, with the IRS estimating that up to 2.6 million taxpayers will be affected. By mandating this level of reporting, the agency aims to curb tax evasion and ensure that income from digital asset transactions becomes more transparent.
The move underscores the growing scrutiny of the cryptocurrency sector as regulators aim to close loopholes and integrate digital finance into the broader financial ecosystem.
