CoinDesk Podcast Network Three Tax Hurdles Stifling U.S. Crypto Innovation
Jan 31, 2026
Colin McLaren, Head of Government Relations at the Solana Policy Institute, works on crypto policy and tax advocacy. He discusses three tax hurdles: wash sale parity, de minimis rules for stablecoins and fees, and fair treatment of staking rewards. The conversation covers why tax clarity matters for U.S. blockchain innovation and how Congress is moving bipartisan proposals forward.
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Congress Moving To Reduce Crypto Friction
- Congress is actively shaping crypto tax to reduce frictions and keep innovation in the U.S..
- Bipartisan work in Ways and Means aims to produce tax clarity aligned with industry needs.
Write Fair Wash Sale Rules
- Draft tax legislation should include a carefully crafted wash sale rule that treats crypto fairly versus securities and commodities.
- Industry should engage with Congress to align token classification and avoid unequal treatment of commodities like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Include De Minimis For Tiny On‑Chain Moves
- Include a de minimis rule to exclude tiny stablecoin fluctuations and small gas/transaction fees from taxable events.
- Remove tracking burdens for economically insignificant on-chain transactions to enable everyday on-chain economy use.