Cryptocurrency regulation has entered a new phase.

In the latest announcement released on January 2nd, OECD announced that the "Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework" (CARF) will officially take effect in 2027. What does this mean? In simple terms, the first 48 countries and regions have already started from January 1, 2026, requiring domestic crypto service providers to report users' wallet information and transaction data. This includes centralized exchanges, some decentralized platforms, crypto ATMs, and brokerage agencies.

The framework's goal is clear—enhance tax transparency in the crypto sector and close loopholes for cross-border tax evasion and money laundering. In other words, crypto transaction data of global users will begin to be shared.

The schedule is as follows: the initial 48 jurisdictions are now starting data collection, while another 27 regions including Australia, Canada, and Switzerland plan to start in 2027, with full integration into the cross-border information exchange system by 2028. It will be rolled out gradually, and no one will be left behind.

But there is a detail worth pondering. Although CARF is nominally a tax framework, once user data is centrally collected, it’s hard to imagine that this data won't be exploited for other purposes—identity verification, anti-money laundering monitoring, and even criminal investigations. The long-standing privacy and anonymity touted by cryptocurrencies are quietly fading in this wave of regulation. This marks a turning point for the entire industry ecosystem.