2026-01-18 12:31:48

Starting next year, crypto players in Europe will face new challenges.

From January 1, 2026, all 27 EU member states plus the UK will officially implement the CARF (Crypto Asset Reporting Framework). It sounds very official, but simply put: cryptocurrency exchanges will now automatically collect your account information and all transaction data, then report directly to the local tax authorities.

In other words, the previously existing "gray areas" are rapidly disappearing. Crypto asset transactions are now integrated into the global tax automatic exchange system, subject to strict regulation just like stocks, bonds, and bank accounts. For exchanges, this means increased compliance costs; for users, transparency is improved, but it also means that the space to evade taxes is thoroughly closed.

This policy rollout also marks the crypto industry's rapid shift from the "gray zone" to the "sunlight."

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SmartContractDiver

· 7h ago

Is the gray area about to disappear? Damn, there's really no way out now. Europe's move is quite harsh, turning exchanges directly into eyes for tax authorities. CARF? That name already gives me a headache, and it's that automatic reporting system again. Industry compliance is probably the trend, but this way, small retail investors really have no way out. But on the other hand, as long as you're not trading in Europe, maybe it's fine. It's already 2026, crypto players should wake up, right? Gray area disappearing = wallets will also disappear? Haha. I bet five bucks there are still people trying to figure out how to bypass it. It's basically daylight robbery; once this policy is out, a lot of trading gains will die.

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PonziDetector

· 7h ago

There are no more gray areas; European friends need to be honest. With CARF coming, exchanges will directly send your data to the tax authorities, no escape. Now compliance is the right path; the era of wild growth is truly over. Europeans should have done this long ago; transparency is key to long-term play. Tax transparency is actually beneficial for the mainstream, a rhythm for market cleansing. 2026 is really a watershed; let's see who still dares to play tricks. It should have been a global standard long ago; it's a bit late now. Rising compliance costs are indeed painful, but much better than being shut down.

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rug_connoisseur

· 7h ago

The gray area is gone. From now on, we really have to pay taxes honestly. But this is also good, as it clears out a batch of fly-by-night exchanges.

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AirdropSweaterFan

· 7h ago

Europe is really coming, the gray area is completely gone, it seems that from now on everyone will have to honestly pay taxes.

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FOMOSapien

· 7h ago

Europe is really trying to bring us all into the open, the gray areas are truly about to disappear. Once CARF is implemented, the trouble for exchanges is probably going to double, and our freedom will also be cut back. I've known for a long time that it would happen sooner or later, just didn't expect it to come so quickly. The era of compliance has arrived, it seems we need to change some habits. Now, European friends need to be extra careful, as the tax authorities are watching very closely. Policies are coming aggressively, but it seems there's not much to do; anyway, transparency is the big trend. After CARF is launched, will the trading activity in Europe decrease? Closing loopholes is something that will happen sooner or later, but this speed is indeed a bit fast.

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