Exchanging One Cryptocurrency for Another Is a Taxable Event

Let’s assume I own some Bitcoins and you own some Ethereum; these are two cryptocurrencies. We think they’re each worth $5,000 and we agree to swap them. Do we have a taxable event?

The IRS consideres cryptocurrencies to be akin to stocks and bonds. That means any time I sell or otherwise dispose of cryptocurrency I have a realized capital gain or loss. A client was told by a cryptocurrency trader that exchanging one cryptocurrency for another is not a taxable event. That individual is mistaken.

Let’s look at an analogous situation: You and I each own $5,000 worth of a stock (say General Motors and Ford). We swap stocks. I no longer own Ford, so I have a gain (or loss) on my Ford stock; you have a gain or loss on your General Motors stock. No one can successfully argue that this swap doesn’t result in a taxable event for each of us.

As I said swapping one cryptocurrency for another is analogous. Is a Bitcoin identical to an Ethereum? No; they’re each different cryptocurrencies. If you sell or dispose of a cryptocurrency, you have a taxable event. It’s very clear that such swaps absolutely must be reported on Schedule D.

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