How this tool works
Each action is mapped to what CRA's crypto-asset pages (modified 2025-10-29 to 2025-12-02, checked 2026-10-30) actually say. Where CRA has addressed the action, you see its position and the source. Where CRA is silent, the tool says so and lists the questions a tax professional will ask, rather than guessing.
For most actions, whether a gain is a capital gain (one-half taxable) or business income (fully taxable) depends on your facts. CRA looks at frequency, holding period, knowledge, time spent, debt financing and advertising. See capital vs business.
Limits
- Education, not tax advice. Your facts decide your treatment.
- Based on CRA pages as checked on 2026-10-30; guidance may change.
- Provincial rules and GST/HST for businesses are not covered here.
Questions people ask
Is trading one crypto for another taxable in Canada?
Yes. CRA lists trading or exchanging one crypto-asset for another as a disposition, which can produce a capital gain or loss, or business income, measured in Canadian dollars.
Is moving crypto between my own wallets taxable?
CRA's crypto pages list dispositions such as selling, trading, gifting and paying for goods. A transfer between wallets you own is not on that list, but network fees and records still matter. Keep the addresses and dates.
Has CRA published DeFi tax guidance?
As of 2026-10-30, CRA's crypto-asset pages do not address DeFi lending, borrowing, liquidity pools, wrapping or bridging.
Sources and dates
- Understanding crypto-assets and your tax obligations — Canada Revenue Agencyin force
No date shown on page · checked 2026-10-30. Defines crypto-assets; lists dispositions (sell, trade, barter, gift, gamble) and acquisitions including mining/staking rewards. - Reporting income from crypto-asset transactions — Canada Revenue Agencyin force
Page date 2025-12-02 · checked 2026-10-30. Business income vs capital gains is case by case; lists business indicators; crypto-to-crypto trades are dispositions; half of a capital gain is taxable. - Reporting income from crypto-asset mining and staking activities — Canada Revenue Agencyin force
Page date 2025-11-10 · checked 2026-10-30. Mining is usually a business; staking rewards on a centralized platform are generally income when credited. Silent on self-custody/DeFi staking. - Keeping books and records of crypto-assets for tax filing — Canada Revenue Agencyin force
Page date 2025-11-10 · checked 2026-10-30. What to record per transaction, wallet addresses, yearly balances; export platform history; keep records at least six years. - Reporting your capital gains as a crypto-asset user (tax tip) — Canada Revenue Agencyin force
Page date 2024-10-22 · checked 2026-10-30. ACB is usually the weighted average cost; half of a capital gain is reported as income.
Education only. Nothing on this page is financial, investment, tax or legal advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell, stake, lend or borrow any crypto-asset. Crypto-assets can lose some or all of their value and are not covered by CDIC. Canadian rules change: check the dated sources above and talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Full disclaimer.