The biggest obstacle to Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>) being used as a payment method is tax policy, not scaling technology that reduces settlement times and transaction costs, according to Pierre Rochard, a board member for Bitcoin treasury company Strive.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s a metaphor: the best athlete can win against the worst athlete 100% of the time, if the best athlete plays. It drops to 0% if he doesn\u2019t play and lets the weak athlete win,\u201d Rochard said<\/a> about BTC\u2019s current lack of use as a method of payment.<\/p>\n In December 2025, the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a non-profit policy advocacy organization, sounded the alarm on the lack of a de minimis tax exemption<\/a> for small Bitcoin transactions. <\/p>\n The lack of a de minimis tax exemption means that using BTC for payments can trigger a taxable capital gain or loss, hindering its use as a medium of exchange.<\/a><\/p>\n US lawmakers are considering limiting the de minimis tax exemption to overcollateralized dollar-pegged stablecoins<\/a>, which are tokenized US dollars, backed 1:1 by fiat cash deposits or short-term government securities, which sparked backlash from Bitcoiners.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>Netherlands risks capital flight with unrealized gains tax on stocks, crypto<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n In July 2025, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, an ally of the crypto industry, introduced a bill<\/a> proposing a de minimis tax exemption<\/a> on digital asset transactions of $300 or less.<\/p>\n The bill placed a $5,000 annual limit on exemptions and also included provisions to exempt cryptocurrencies used for charitable donations.<\/p>\n Lummis\u2019 bill proposed deferring income from staking crypto to secure proof-of-stake blockchain networks or income earned from mining proof-of-work cryptocurrencies until those assets were sold.<\/p>\n Jack Dorsey, the founder of Block (formerly Square), which integrated Bitcoin payments <\/a>into its point-of-sale systems in October, called for a tax exemption <\/a>on small BTC transactions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want BTC to be everyday money ASAP,\u201d Dorsey said<\/a>. Meanwhile, others like Bitcoin advocate and co-founder of the Truth for the Commoner (TFTC) media outlet, Marty Bent, said<\/a> the proposed tax exemption for stablecoins is \u201cnonsensical.\u201d<\/p>\n Magazine: <\/strong><\/em>How crypto laws changed in 2025 \u2014 and how they\u2019ll change in 2026<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n <\/template><\/div>\n Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph\u2019s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/editorial-policy<\/a><\/p>\n![\"bitcoins](\"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2026-01\/019bf1ff-0f2e-7493-b6fd-b519e8120426.png\")
Bitcoins The Bitcoin community reacts to the lack of de minimis exemptions for BTC<\/h2>\n
![\"bitcoins](\"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2026-01\/019bf203-972c-7d17-b22e-aa8e6c70fe64.png\")