CoinDesk
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 38-5 on Wednesday to advance the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act, sending the bipartisan bill to the full House less than 24 hours after the Senate failed the industry's top priority, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.
The legislation would set a de minimis exemption for small crypto transactions, set at just $10 in this version, ending the current setup where routine payments trigger taxable events for users. Committee Chairman Jason Smith argued that without relief, buying a cup of coffee "triggers an absurd maze of compliance." The bill also covers how crypto income is recognized for tax purposes, transfers, wash sale rules, mining, staking, broker requirements and special treatment for qualifying dollar stablecoins, generally seeking parity between digital assets and other financial products.
Why it matters
Tax treatment has long been a structural brake on crypto payments. A $10 threshold is far lower than earlier draft proposals, but the 38-5 margin signals that crypto tax reform retains real bipartisan legs even after the market structure bill went down in the Senate. Representative Steven Horsford, a Nevada Democrat who backed the effort, said the package "establishes basic tax rules for digital assets."
The pushback was pointed. Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, called the committee "the only place in Congress that's rushing to provide favors to this industry," tying the bill to President Trump's industry ties and questioning why crypto deserves attention over other taxpayer needs.
Market impact
Timing is the main risk: the congressional session is nearly done, with roughly five weeks of scheduled work between the November elections and January. Even if the bill stalls, the strong committee vote builds momentum for identical efforts next session. For payments-focused stablecoins and everyday crypto use, de minimis relief remains the single most direct legislative unlock on the table.
Frequently asked questions
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What is the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act?
A bipartisan bill advanced by the House Ways and Means Committee in a 38-5 vote that would clarify crypto tax treatment, including a de minimis exemption for small transactions, wash sale rules, mining, staking and broker requirements.
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What is the de minimis threshold in the bill?
The current draft sets the small-transaction exemption at $10, significantly lower than earlier proposals, but designed to make everyday crypto payments practical without triggering taxable events.
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How does this bill relate to the Clarity Act?
It advanced less than 24 hours after the Senate failed to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, the industry's market structure priority. Tax policy was the industry's other major legislative goal.
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What does the bill say about stablecoins?
According to Representative Steven Horsford, the package provides specific tax treatment for qualifying dollar stablecoins as well as small network and transaction fees.
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What are the bill's chances of becoming law this session?
Timing is tight: only about five weeks of congressional work are scheduled between the November elections and January. Even if it stalls, the strong bipartisan committee vote builds momentum for future efforts.
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