US delays contentious crypto tax rule

Officials said the United States will postpone the effective date of a contentious crypto tax rule on October 2, 2026, a step officials said could ease near-term pressure on digital-asset prices.

Rule effective date delayed

Market participants said the delay removes an immediate compliance deadline that many exchanges and broker-like platforms had flagged as operationally challenging. Traders and fund managers expect the pause to reduce forced selling tied to rapid reporting changes, though no official market guidance was issued.

Officials said a new timetable will be published within two weeks; they said a formal announcement is due by October 16, 2026. That date will be the next market focal point, as its content — whether a short extension or a broader rewrite — determines how firms must change reporting systems and disclosures.

Observers said the key open question is whether the revision will alter reporting scope or merely shift timing; the industry’s medium-term compliance costs hinge on that choice.

Officials said the postponement follows sustained complaints from industry groups and questions from lawmakers about reporting requirements. The office handling the measure said it will use the delay to seek additional input and refine compliance timelines.