Pragmatic Cryptocurrency

What is cryptocurrency and how is cryptocurrency different that other currencies?
How do I buy and trade cryptocurrency?

Australia – crypto as a capital gains tax asset

The latest guidance from the Australia Taxation Office describes crypto as not a foreign currency, but a CGT asset.

Yes. Bitcoin is a ‘CGT asset’ for the purposes of subsection 108-5(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997).

TD 2014/26

Many CGT assets are easily recognisable, for example, land, shares in a company, and units in a unit trust. Other CGT assets are not so well understood such as contractual rights, options, foreign currency, cryptocurrency and goodwill. All assets are subject to the CGT rules unless they are specifically excluded.

What is a CGT asset?

Depending on how long and for what purpose you hold cryptocurrency, you can classify your crypto transactions as an investment.

Yes. Bitcoin, when held for the purpose of sale or exchange in the ordinary course of a business, is trading stock for the purposes of subsection 70-10(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997).

TD 2014/27


Cryptocurrency as an investment