The Second Front of the Crypto Bill Is Underway: Tax Policy Focuses on Disputes Over Deferring Taxes on Mining and Staking Income

BlockBeats News, June 22 — The main lobbying organizations in the U.S. cryptocurrency industry jointly sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, calling for the advancement of the "Tax Clarity for Mining and Staking Act," advocating for providing tax treatment options for crypto asset miners and staking reward recipients.

The bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Mike Carey, and its core content allows taxpayers to choose the timing of taxation when acquiring newly mined or staked assets — they can pay taxes at the time the assets are generated or defer until the final sale.

Industry associations including Blockchain Association, Digital Chamber, and Crypto Council for Innovation have expressed support, believing that the current tax system may force users involved in network security maintenance to bear tax burdens before realizing liquidity from their assets.

Supporters say that the proposal does not offer "indefinite deferral," but rather avoids immediate taxation on unrealized income, thereby improving cash flow pressures for miners and validators.

However, Democratic lawmakers and some external critics worry that this mechanism could be exploited by large mining companies for long-term tax deferral, especially in the context of some publicly listed or politically connected enterprises involved in mining operations, raising potential policy arbitrage concerns.

Meanwhile, the industry’s focus remains on the broader "Digital Asset Market Structure Bill" (Clarity Act), but tax issues have become a second key battleground, expected to continue advancing alongside regulatory framework legislation in the coming weeks.