最新报道：According to the Bijie.com news website, the UK's approach to taxing digital assets is increasingly causing friction among cryptocurrency users. The main issues stem from how the tax authority, HMRC, classifies cryptocurrencies and imposes what many consider to be onerous requirements for recording transactions and disclosing personal data. In an appearance on the BeInCrypto podcast, Susie Violet Ward, CEO of Bitcoin Policy UK, warned that the country's current tax and regulatory policies pose a serious threat to the cryptocurrency industry. In her view, without urgent reform, these rules could permanently reverse the industry's growth in the UK. Cryptocurrency Conundrums: In the UK, cryptocurrency users have expressed serious concerns about the regulatory environment, citing issues such as overregulation, the dismantling of banking services, and a general lack of transparency. At the heart of these issues lies how the country's tax authorities view and treat digital assets, which many believe is hindering the industry's growth. The challenges facing UK cryptocurrency users are numerous, ranging from improper classification of digital assets to strict restrictions on capital gains allowances to significant privacy concerns. The Bitcoin vs. "Crypto" Divide: For many advocates, the most fundamental flaw in the UK's approach lies in its failure to clearly distinguish Bitcoin from thousands of other crypto assets. While the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) maintains a taxonomy for tokens, it broadly categorizes Bitcoin as a "transaction token," applying a blanket regulatory lens to all cryptocurrencies. Ward argues that this one-size-fits-all approach is misguided because Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are fundamentally different. This fundamental disconnect in classification has very real implications for how the government treats each transaction for tax purposes. The "Exchange" Issue and the Burden of Tracking: A major tax issue for UK cryptocurrency investors stems from how the tax authorities classify digital assets. The UK tax agency, HMRC, does not consider cryptocurrencies to be currencies. Instead, it treats them as property or assets, like shares or jewelry. This crucial distinction has an important consequence: every time a user disposes of an asset, it is considered a disposal, which can trigger a tax event. This event is particularly problematic for cryptocurrency exchanges, which involve exchanging one cryptocurrency for another. While users may view it as a simple transaction, HMRC considers it to be two separate, taxable events. In effect, a person "sells" one asset and then "buys" a new one. Even if not a cent of cash changes hands, capital gains or losses on the disposal of assets must be calculated using the current value in pounds sterling. This regulation also requires active traders to keep detailed logs of every transaction they make. Meanwhile, UK cryptocurrency investors' tax-free profit allowances continue to shrink, requiring them to pay tax on smaller gains than in previous years. A Declining Capital Gains Allowance Besides the complexities of cryptocurrency exchanges, UK tax policy has created another obstacle for investors: a shrinking capital gains tax (CGT) allowance. This term refers to the profit a person realizes from the sale of assets, including cryptocurrencies, before tax is paid. In a move strongly criticized by cryptocurrency advocates, the UK government systematically cut this allowance over three years. It will drop from £12,300 in 2022 to £6,000 in 2023, and then to £3,000 a year later. Ward believes this reduction is a significant disincentive for anyone looking to invest. From an economic perspective, she believes the policy is counterproductive. Ward added that the UK has seen high-net-worth individuals and successful investors relocate to more tax-friendly jurisdictions, such as the United Arab Emirates, the United States, or Singapore. Ultimately, this reduced tax burden places a financial burden on investors large and small, contributing to a flawed economic strategy that could ultimately undermine the UK's long-term fiscal health. Other recent changes introduced by the UK tax authorities regarding cryptocurrency taxation have raised serious concerns about data privacy and security. Privacy, surveillance, and a data "honeypot" Starting in January 2026, UK cryptocurrency platforms will be required to share user data with HMRC, a shift that has caused anxiety among many in the cryptocurrency community due to significant privacy concerns. This new requirement is part of the UK's adoption of the Crypto Assets Reporting Framework (CARF), a global standard developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to combat tax evasion. Previously, the UK's approach to cryptocurrency tax compliance relied primarily on voluntary disclosures by individuals. Under the new CARF framework, the reporting responsibility is shifting to the platforms themselves, providing HMRC with a direct and comprehensive flow of transaction data. Next year, cryptocurrency service providers will be required to collect and report comprehensive identity and transaction data on their users. The details include name, date of birth, address and tax identification number, which HMRC will use to cross-reference with self-assessment tax returns and identify potential irregularities. In this case, scammers defrauded HMRC of £47 million in tax refunds through fraudulent means. They did this by creating or hijacking approximately 100,000 HMRC online accounts using personal data. Ward believes that this concern is more than theoretical. The CARF framework is not the only existing rule that will increase data collection on cryptocurrency taxpayers. FATF Travel Rule: A Misguided Effort? In an effort to bring the cryptocurrency industry into line with traditional finance, the UK government implemented the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Travel Rule for cryptocurrency businesses in September 2023. The move was in direct response to the global standards set by the FATF, an international body that develops measures to combat money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism.The rule requires these businesses to collect and share the personal information of senders and recipients of cryptocurrency transfers. It was motivated by the FATF's finding that the cryptocurrency industry faces increasing risks due to its pseudonymous nature and the ease of cross-border transfers. The UK's adherence to this standard aims to demonstrate its commitment to global norms. Unlike some countries, the UK does not have a minimum transaction threshold, meaning the rule applies to all cryptocurrency transfers, regardless of value. The FATF travel rule was originally designed for wire transfers but has not eliminated these risks in the traditional banking system. While the rule adds a layer of transparency, criminals continue to find ways to move illicit funds, demonstrating that it is not a foolproof solution. Ward questions the logic of applying this rule to cryptocurrencies, arguing that its effectiveness in traditional finance is questionable. With so much at stake, the debate over UK cryptocurrency tax policy is entering a critical new phase. Calling for Change Ward's concerns stem from a regulatory framework widely viewed as ill-suited to the unique attributes of decentralized technologies. These policies are more than just bureaucratic obstacles. In the view of many cryptocurrency advocates, they are actively discouraging investment, innovation, and talent from entering the UK. Meanwhile, the number of cryptocurrency users across the UK continues to grow. The latest data from the FCA shows that approximately 12% of UK adults now own or have owned cryptocurrency, a significant increase from 4% in 2021. As adoption continues to increase, the discussion around how cryptocurrencies are taxed will undoubtedly intensify.