According to a Coinbase study of 3,000 investors, only 49% of respondents know that their cryptocurrencies are taxable when they make a sale.
While tax declarations start in most countries (and particularly in France from April 9), American investors are not really aware of the tax regime applied to cryptocurrencies.
According to a study by the giant Coinbase, if 79% of respondents know that their activities in cryptocurrencies are taxable, they do not know exactly which transactions are taxable. In fact, only 49% of Americans know that their cryptocurrencies are taxable on each sale. On the other hand, 21% consider – wrongly – that their cryptocurrencies are taxable when transferred between crypto accounts.
The study was carried out among 3,000 crypto users between September and October 2025. In 2025, between 15 and 20% of Americans hold cryptocurrencies. The sector is booming under the leadership of Donald Trump, who is working towards its development.
Crypto income declaration
As a reminder, cryptocurrencies are mainly taxable in two scenarios: when a user sells their cryptocurrencies for traditional currency or when they buy a good or service with their cryptocurrencies, such as paying for a meal at a restaurant in cryptocurrencies. Payments in stablecoins, increasingly popular, and “gas” fees on Ethereum are also subject to taxes.
In France for example, all these “transfers” must be declared one by one via the Cerfa 2086 form, calculating whether the user has made a capital gain or a capital loss (see our article on how to declare your cryptos for tax). On the other hand, exchanging cryptocurrencies for other cryptocurrencies is not taxable. Likewise, keeping your cryptos on a Ledger-type crypto wallet (or on a platform for those who have difficulty with self-preservation) without carrying out a sale transaction is not subject to tax.
In the United States, crypto holders call on tax lawyers or heavily use tax software to help declare their crypto income. According to the study, 30% of respondents say they are ready to use AI to make their declarations.
