President Donald Trump suggested eliminating capital gains taxes on cryptocurrencies issued by U.S.-based entities. This initiative's goal is to stimulate innovation within the domestic crypto industry and position the United States as a leading hub for cryptocurrency development and investment.
On January 25, 2027, Eric Trump, allegedly confirmed that U.S.-based cryptocurrency projects would be exempt from capital gains tax. Additionally, a 30% capital gains tax would be applied to non-U.S.-based projects.
What is a capital gains tax?
Capital gains tax is levied on the profit realized from the sale or exchange of a capital asset, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, or cryptocurrencies. In the U.S., the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classifies cryptocurrencies as property, making them subject to capital gains tax upon disposal.
The tax rate depends on the holding period: assets held for more than a year are subject to long-term capital gains tax rates, which are generally lower, while those held for a year or less are taxed at short-term rates, equivalent to ordinary income tax rates. Learn more about capital gains taxes here.
What is a U.S.-based cryptocurrency?
For a cryptocurrency to be considered "made in the USA," it must be issued by a company registered and operating within the United States. This designation implies that the entity behind the cryptocurrency complies with U.S. regulations and contributes to the domestic economy.
Under Trump's proposed policy, only cryptocurrencies meeting this criterion would qualify for the capital gains tax exemption, thereby incentivizing companies to establish and maintain their operations within the country.
What does this mean for investors like you?
Although the announcement is positive for projects based in the US, it has also raised concerns about potential market imbalances. Many projects outside the US have been developing in offshore jurisdictions because there was a lack of clarity in regulations, which made it difficult for companies to develop new projects in the US.
Top 30 cryptocurrencies issued in the United States
This list of cryptocurrencies based in the United States is arranged by their market capitalization as of the date this article was published.
XRP (Ripple)
XRP is designed to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments and remittances. It serves as a bridge currency in cross-border transactions, enabling real-time settlement and reducing reliance on traditional banking intermediaries. The XRP Ledger supports efficient, scalable, and sustainable digital payments.
Date of creation and registered company: XRP and the XRP Ledger were launched in 2012 by developers David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto. Ripple Labs Inc., a U.S.-based technology company, is behind XRP.
Website: ripple.com/xrp/
Solana (SOL)
Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to support scalable and user-friendly decentralized applications (dApps). Solana offers fast transaction speeds and low fees, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including DeFi, NFTs, and more.
Date of creation and registered company: Solana was officially launched in March 2020 by Solana Labs, a U.S.-based company founded by Anatoly Yakovenko.
Website: solana.comUSD Coin (USDC)
USD Coin is a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. It is a digital alternative to traditional fiat currency and is widely used in cryptocurrency trading, lending, and transferring value across blockchain networks.
Date of creation and registered company: USDC was launched in September 2018 by the Centre consortium, a collaboration between Circle and Coinbase, both U.S.-based companies.
Website: centre.io/usdc
Avalanche (AVAX)
Avalanche is a decentralized platform designed to enable the creation of custom blockchain networks and decentralized applications. It focuses on high throughput, low latency, and flexibility, aiming to provide developers with a scalable solution.
Date of creation and registered company: Avalanche was launched in September 2020 by Ava Labs, a U.S.-based company founded by Emin Gün Sirer.
Website: avax.network
Stellar (XLM)
Stellar is an open-source blockchain network designed to facilitate fast and low-cost cross-border payments. It was created to connect financial institutions, payment systems, and individuals, enabling efficient value transfer and access to financial services.
Date of creation and registered company: Stellar was launched in July 2014 by the Stellar Development Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization co-founded by Jed McCaleb and Joyce Kim.
Website: stellar.org
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR)
Hedera Hashgraph is a decentralized public network that utilizes the Hashgraph consensus algorithm to provide a fast, secure, and fair platform for decentralized applications. It offers high throughput and low latency for various use cases, including finance, supply chain, and gaming.
Date of creation and registered company: Hedera Hashgraph was launched in August 2018 by Hedera Hashgraph, LLC, a U.S.-based company co-founded by Mance Harmon and Dr. Leemon Baird.
Website: hedera.com
Sui (SUI)
Sui is a blockchain platform designed to provide a high-performance environment for decentralized applications. It focuses on scalability and security and is built to support a wide range of applications and services.
Date of creation and registered company: Sui was developed by Mysten Labs, a U.S.-based company founded by former Facebook engineers. The platform's development was announced in 2021.
Website: mystenlabs.com
Litecoin (LTC)
Litecoin is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency created as a "lite" version of Bitcoin. Its goal is to provide faster transaction confirmation times and a different hashing algorithm, making it a more accessible and efficient medium of exchange.
Date of creation and registered company: Litecoin was released in October 2011 by Charlie Lee, a former Google engineer. It is an open-source project and not managed by a registered company.
Website: litecoin.org
Uniswap (UNI)
Uniswap is a decentralized exchange protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain. It allows users to trade ERC-20 tokens directly from their wallets without intermediaries, utilizing an automated market-making system.
Date of creation and registered company: Uniswap was launched in November 2018 by Hayden Adams. It operates as an open-source project and is not managed by a registered company.
Website: uniswap.org
NEAR Protocol (NEAR)
NEAR Protocol is a sharded, proof-of-stake, layer-one blockchain designed to be simple to use, secure, and scalable. Its purpose is to provide a high-performance platform for developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) with ease. NEAR focuses on usability and scalability, utilizing a sharded architecture to achieve high throughput.
Date of creation and registered company: Alexander Skidanov and Illia Polosukhin founded NEAR Protocol in 2017. The NEAR Protocol MainNet genesis occurred on April 22, 2020.
Website: near.org
Official Trump (TRUMP)
TRUMP is a meme coin launched to celebrate President Donald Trump's election win and his supporters. It capitalizes on the popularity of meme-based cryptocurrencies, offering enthusiasts a token associated with Trump. The coin has garnered significant attention in the crypto market, reflecting both its novelty and the influence of the Trump brand.
Date of creation and registered company: TRUMP was launched on January 17, 2025, by entities associated with Donald Trump, including CIC Digital LLC.
Website: https://gettrumpmemes.com/
Aptos (APT)
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to deliver a secure, scalable, and upgradable infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps). It utilizes the Move programming language, originally developed for Meta's Diem project, to enhance safety and flexibility in smart contract development. Aptos wants to provide high throughput and low latency, facilitating a wide range of applications in the Web3 ecosystem.
Date of creation and registered company: Aptos was launched on October 17, 2022, by Aptos Labs, a company founded by former Meta employees Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching.
Website: https://aptoslabs.com/
ALGO (Algorand)
Algorand is a decentralized, open-source blockchain network built for a borderless economy by providing fast, scalable, and secure transactions. It utilizes a Pure Proof-of-Stake (PPoS) consensus mechanism to achieve high throughput and low transaction fees, making it suitable for various applications, including finance, supply chain, and digital identity. Algorand also supports smart contracts and atomic swaps, enhancing its versatility for developers.
Date of creation and registered company: Algorand Inc., founded by cryptographer Silvio Micali, launched Algo in June 2019.
Website: https://www.algorand.com/
Filecoin (FIL)
Filecoin is a decentralized storage network that allows users to rent out unused hard drive space and provides a secure way to store and retrieve data. It incentivizes participants to contribute storage resources, creating a robust and efficient marketplace for data storage.
Date of creation and registered company: Filecoin mainnet was launched in October 2020 by Protocol Labs, a U.S.-based company founded by Juan Benet.
Website: https://filecoin.io/
Ondo Finance (ONDO)
Ondo Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that offers structured products to investors. Its purpose is to provide predictable yields and risk management solutions. It facilitates the creation of liquidity pools with different risk and return profiles, catering to both conservative and aggressive investors.
Date of creation and registered company: Ondo Finance was founded in 2021 by Nathan Allman and is registered in the United States.
Website: https://ondo.finance/
Render Token (RENDER)
Render Token is a decentralized GPU rendering network that connects artists and studios in need of rendering power with mining partners willing to rent their GPU capabilities. It was created to democratize high-performance rendering by providing cost-effective and scalable solutions for visual effects, motion graphics, and other computationally intensive tasks.
The platform leverages blockchain technology to securely manage and distribute rendering jobs and payments.
Date of creation and registered company: Render Token was launched in 2017 by OTOY Inc., a U.S.-based cloud graphics company founded by Jules Urbach.
Website: https://rendertoken.com/
Optimism (OP)
Optimism is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that increases transaction throughput and reduces fees by using optimistic rollups. It enables faster and more cost-effective transactions while maintaining the security and decentralization of the Ethereum network. Optimism is designed to support the seamless deployment of Ethereum-compatible smart contracts, enhancing the scalability of decentralized applications.
Date of creation and registered company: Optimism was launched in 2021 by the Optimism Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization.
Website: https://optimism.io/
Stacks (STX)
Stacks is a blockchain platform that brings smart contracts and decentralized applications to Bitcoin, enabling new functionalities without altering Bitcoin's protocol. It uses a unique consensus mechanism called Proof of Transfer (PoX), which anchors Stacks to Bitcoin's security. Stacks wants to enhance Bitcoin's capabilities by introducing programmable features while leveraging its robust security and stability.
Date of creation and registered company: Stacks 2.0 mainnet was launched in January 2021 by Hiro Systems PBC (formerly Blockstack PBC), a U.S.-based company co-founded by Muneeb Ali and Ryan Shea.
Website: https://stacks.co/
Movement (MOVE)
Movement is a decentralized platform that uses blockchain technology to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles. It rewards users with tokens for participating in various forms of exercise and wellness activities, promoting overall health and well-being.
Date of creation and registered company: Specific details about Movement's launch date and the company behind it are not readily available.
Website: https://www.movementnetwork.xyz/
Injective (INJ)
Injective is an interoperable Layer 1 blockchain designed for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. It provides developers with on-chain financial infrastructure modules to build decentralized exchanges, prediction markets, and lending protocols.
Date of creation and registered company: Injective was launched in 2020 by Injective Labs, a U.S.-based company.
Website: injective.com
Bonk (BONK)
Bonk is a meme-based cryptocurrency that emerged as a community-driven project. It was created to provide a fun and engaging token within the Solana ecosystem, often compared to other meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.
Date of creation and registered company: Bonk was launched in December 2022; it is a community-driven project without a central governing company.
Website: bonkcoin.com
The Graph (GRT)
The Graph is a decentralized indexing protocol that enables querying of blockchain data. It allows developers to build and publish open APIs, known as subgraphs, making it easier to access and organize data from various blockchain networks. The platform's purpose is to facilitate efficient and reliable data retrieval for decentralized applications.
Date of creation and registered company: The Graph was launched in December 2020 by The Graph Foundation, a U.S.-based organization.
Website: thegraph.com
Theta Token (THETA)
Theta is a blockchain-based video delivery network that claims to decentralize video streaming. It incentivizes users to share their bandwidth and computing resources, improving streaming efficiency and reducing costs. The platform wants to provide high-quality video content delivery without centralized infrastructure.
Date of creation and registered company: Theta was launched in March 2019 by Theta Labs, Inc., a U.S.-based company.
Website: thetatoken.org
Worldcoin (WLD)
Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project, wants to create a globally inclusive financial system by providing a universal basic income through digital currency. It utilizes biometric identification to ensure the unique and equitable distribution of tokens to individuals worldwide.
Date of creation and registered company: Worldcoin was announced in 2021 by Tools for Humanity, a U.S.-based company.
Website: worldcoin.org
GALA (GALA)
GALA is the native token of the Gala Games ecosystem, which focuses on creating blockchain-based games where players own in-game assets. The platform aims to decentralize the gaming industry by giving players control over their game content and experiences and empowering gamers through asset ownership and community-driven development.
Date of creation and registered company: Gala Games was founded in 2019 by Eric Schiermeyer, co-founder of Zynga, a U.S.-based company.
Website: gala.games
Onyxcoin (XCN)
Onyxcoin is the native token of the Onyx Protocol, whose purpose is to provide decentralized financial services such as lending, borrowing, and yield farming. It focuses on creating a secure and efficient platform for DeFi applications, enabling users to manage their digital assets effectively.
Date of creation and registered company: Onyx Protocol was launched in 2021 by Onyx Finance, a U.S.-based company.
Website: onyx.finance
Aerodrome Finance (AERO)
Aerodrome Finance is a decentralized finance platform that focuses on providing liquidity and yield farming opportunities. It aims to create a robust ecosystem for users to earn rewards by participating in liquidity pools and staking activities.
Date of creation and registered company: Aerodrome Finance was launched in 2023; it operates as a decentralized platform without a central governing company.
Website: https://aerodrome.finance/
Helium (HNT)
Helium is a decentralized network designed to provide wireless connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It enables low-power devices to communicate with each other and transmit data over its network of nodes, known as Hotspots. Participants who operate these Hotspots are rewarded with HNT tokens for providing network coverage and validating data transmissions.
Date of creation and registered company: Helium was founded in 2013 by Amir Haleem, Shawn Fanning, and Sean Carey. The network was officially launched in July 2019 by Helium Systems Inc., a U.S.-based company.
Website: helium.com
Zcash (ZEC)
Zcash offers enhanced privacy and selective transparency of transactions. It utilizes advanced cryptographic techniques to provide users with the option of "shielded" transactions, which obscure the sender, recipient, and transaction amount on the blockchain. This ensures that transaction details remain confidential while still maintaining a secure and decentralized ledger.
Date of creation and registered company: Zcash was launched on October 28, 2016, by the Electric Coin Company, a U.S.-based organization founded by Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn.
Website: z.cash
Kava (KAVA)
Kava is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that offers a range of financial services, including lending, borrowing, and staking. It allows users to collateralize their crypto assets to mint USDX, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, enabling them to earn rewards and access liquidity without selling their assets.
Date of creation and registered company: Kava was launched in November 2019 by Kava Labs Inc., a U.S.-based company co-founded by Brian Kerr, Ruaridh O'Donnell, and Scott Stuart.
Website: kava.io
Final thoughts
It is unlikely that users will completely stop using cryptocurrencies that are not issued in the United States. However, a potential change in the capital gains tax policy for cryptocurrencies based in the US could affect investor preferences.
We might see an increase in liquidity and demand for cryptocurrencies based in the US. At the same time, interest in cryptocurrencies from other countries that are still subject to capital gains tax might decrease.
Many cryptocurrencies based outside the US, such as Cardano and Ethereum, have a strong global presence, established use cases, and deep liquidity. It is unlikely that they will be completely abandoned.
Many investors value decentralization and global accessibility more than tax benefits. This means they may still prefer established projects, regardless of their tax status.
FAQ: Capital Gains-Free U.S.-Based Cryptocurrencies
What is Trump proposing regarding crypto taxes?
President Donald Trump proposed eliminating capital gains taxes on cryptocurrencies that are issued by U.S.-based entities. This policy aims to encourage domestic crypto innovation and make the U.S. a more attractive hub for blockchain development and investment.
What is capital gains tax, and how does it affect crypto?
Capital gains tax is a tax on the profit made from selling or trading an asset, including cryptocurrencies. In the U.S., crypto is considered property, meaning investors typically owe taxes on any gains when they sell, trade, or use crypto for purchases.
How would this tax exemption benefit crypto investors?
If capital gains taxes are removed for U.S.-based cryptocurrencies, investors would be able to trade, sell, or spend these assets without incurring additional tax liabilities. This could make crypto investing more profitable and encourage wider adoption for everyday transactions.
What qualifies a cryptocurrency as “U.S.-based”?
To be considered “U.S.-based,” a cryptocurrency would likely need to be issued by a company registered and operating in the United States. Details on the exact criteria are not yet defined, but factors may include headquarters location, regulatory compliance, and company ownership.
Will this policy make U.S.-based cryptocurrencies more popular?
Yes, a tax advantage could make U.S.-based cryptocurrencies more appealing to investors, leading to increased liquidity and adoption. However, established non-U.S. cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are unlikely to be abandoned due to their strong ecosystems and global usage.
What happens to non-U.S. cryptocurrencies under this policy?
Non-U.S. cryptocurrencies would still be subject to regular capital gains taxes, meaning investors would owe taxes on any profits when selling or trading them. This could create a tax-driven shift toward U.S.-based alternatives.
Could this policy encourage crypto companies to move to the U.S.?
Yes, if the tax benefits are significant, some international crypto projects may choose to register or relocate their operations to the U.S. to qualify for the tax exemption. This could make the U.S. a major hub for blockchain innovation.
When would this tax policy take effect?
As of now, this is only a proposed idea, and no official legislation has been passed. If the Trump administration enacts such a policy, it would likely require approval from Congress and could take months to implement.
How can investors prepare for potential tax changes?
You should stay informed about legislative developments and consult tax professionals to understand how any changes could impact your portfolio. Diversifying assets and keeping records of transactions can also help with tax planning.
What are the potential risks of this proposal?
While eliminating capital gains taxes could boost crypto adoption, it might also lead to regulatory challenges, potential loopholes, and market distortions favoring U.S.-based projects over global competitors.