Coinbase survey finds over half of customers don’t understand crypto tax

A recent survey conducted by Coinbase and Cointracker, outlined in the 2026 Crypto Tax Readiness Report, found that only 49% of cryptocurrency investors correctly understand that crypto is taxable upon sale. Nearly a quarter mistakenly believe that simple transfers trigger tax events. The survey of 3,000 U.S. crypto users also highlighted the challenges of cost basis calculation due to the use of multiple platforms and self-custodial wallets, with only 35% having adjusted their cost basis in the past. Coinbase anticipates issuing over four million 1099-DA forms to customers with under $600 in proceeds, and notes that over 60% of its customers have incomplete cost basis data. Experts like Matt Price of Elliptic believe standardized reporting, like the new 1099-DA forms, will ultimately aid crypto adoption and allow for more targeted enforcement by tax authorities.

(Source：CoinDesk)