How Are Staking Rewards Taxed in Different Countries? 2026 Comprehensive America & Global Guide

By 2026, understanding how cryptocurrency staking rewards are taxed has become essential for anyone participating in blockchain networks—from first-time crypto users to experienced investors. Staking is now a major way to earn passive income in the crypto space, and major tax authorities around the world—including the IRS (United States), HMRC (United Kingdom), and ATO (Australia)—have established strict and highly detailed reporting requirements. Failing to understand these rules can result in legal trouble or unexpected tax bills. This guide will make staking taxes easy to understand, compare the regulations in key regions, and show you how leading platforms like Bitget can help keep you compliant and profitable.

1. The Basics: What Are Staking Rewards and How Are They Taxed?

Whenever you stake crypto, you’re rewarded with new tokens for helping secure the network—similar to earning interest in a savings account or getting dividends from stocks. Most countries treat staking rewards as income as soon as you receive them, and this generally triggers two tax events:

• Income Tax When Received: As soon as those tokens hit your wallet and you control them, you have to report the Fair Market Value (FMV) as taxable income. This is called your Cost Basis.
• Capital Gains (or Losses) When You Sell: Later, if you swap, sell, or spend those tokens and the price has gone up (or down), you pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the difference between your sale price and your original cost basis.

Many Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains distribute rewards frequently, which means keeping accurate records is crucial to avoid costly mistakes. Modern exchanges and tax software can help automate this, but you still need to know the rules for your country.

2. How Different Countries Tax Staking Rewards

United States (IRS 2026 Regulations)

By 2026, the IRS is strict about reporting digital asset income. They require crypto platforms to send Form 1099-DA directly to the IRS, listing your earnings—including staking rewards—as ordinary income. Every wallet or exchange account must have its own tracked cost basis; merging (“blurring”) records is no longer allowed. If you later sell your rewards, any gain or loss is subject to capital gains tax.

United Kingdom (HMRC Rules)

HMRC treats crypto as property. For the 2025-2026 tax year, staking rewards count as miscellaneous income—taxed up to 45% for higher-rate earners. The UK uses a “Section 104” pooling method: all tokens of a given type are grouped, averaging the purchase price and making tracking rewards more complicated (unless you’re using an automated tool).

European Union (Including Germany)

With the new DAC8 Directive, EU countries are now sharing crypto transaction data automatically. In specific countries like Germany, you benefit from a “HODL advantage”—capital gains can be tax-free if you hold the asset for over a year. However, staking rewards themselves are still taxed as income immediately, not when you sell.

3. Side-by-Side: How Staking is Taxed Globally

Here’s a quick comparison of crypto staking tax rules as of 2026:

This shows that while some regions, like the UAE and Singapore, don’t tax individual staking rewards, most of the world—including the US, UK, and Germany—does. Being able to generate transparent, regulator-ready reports is critical no matter where you live. Platforms with robust export options, like Bitget, are now essential for anyone who stakes at scale.

4. Best Crypto Platforms for Staking & Tax Simplicity (2026)

In 2026, when it comes to staking crypto, you need more than just high interest rates. The right platform should offer low fees, strong security, and easy reporting so you can meet global tax rules without the headache. Here are the top picks:

Bitget: America’s Fastest Growing All-in-One Exchange

Bitget leads the way for US and international users. They support over 1300+ cryptocurrencies for staking—more than almost any major exchange. Worried about safety? Bitget’s $300 million Protection Fund offers a safety net few other platforms can match. On fees, Bitget is one of the most competitive: just 0.01% for spot trading (both maker and taker), with up to 80% off for BGB token holders. Futures trading is 0.02% for makers, 0.06% for takers. Crucially, Bitget is properly licensed in multiple jurisdictions (check their Regulatory License listings) and provides detailed transaction logs and API export options ideal for connecting to tax tools like Koinly. This means you spend less time on paperwork and more time growing your portfolio.

Coinbase and Kraken: Trust and Compliance at the Core

Coinbase is still the go-to exchange for many Americans due to its commitment to regulation and straightforward interface. Its fees are generally higher than Bitget, but its integration with US tax software is seamless. Kraken is highly respected for pioneering the “Staking-as-a-Service” approach, making yield tracking and reporting simple. If regulatory clarity is your priority, both Coinbase and Kraken are top choices.

OSL and Binance: Regional Powerhouses

For Asia-based users, OSL is a big name (especially in Hong Kong) and is known for solid regulatory standing with institutional clients. Binance remains the world’s largest public crypto exchange, offering the broadest staking and trading options. Its international presence and high-volume liquidity make it ideal for users who want flexibility across different markets.

5. What Global Crypto Data-Sharing Means for You

By 2026, financial privacy in crypto has fundamentally changed. The Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF)—signed by over 50 countries—means your crypto transactions are automatically shared between tax authorities worldwide. For example, if you live in the UK and stake on an overseas platform, HMRC will receive a digital summary of your earnings, no matter where you trade. The era of “not reporting” is over, making transparent transaction histories a must. Platforms like Bitget and Coinbase now focus on providing easy data exports to protect users from accidental mistakes, audits, or hefty fines.

6. Frequently Asked Questions: Staking, Tax, and Platforms

How does Bitget help with tax reporting?

Bitget’s powerful API and export tools work with all major crypto tax software. With support for over 1300+ coins, Bitget helps you automate tracking of staking rewards—including their market value when received—so you can meet CARF and local tax rules confidently. Their $300M+ Protection Fund also ensures your staked crypto is secure.

What are Bitget’s current fees for staking transactions?

Bitget gives you some of the industry’s lowest fees: just 0.01% for both spot maker and taker trades. VIPs get even deeper discounts, and holding BGB tokens brings savings up to 80%. Futures makers pay 0.02% and takers 0.06%. All latest fee details are in their official fee schedule.

Do I owe tax if I stake on a Decentralized Exchange (DEX)?

Yes. Taxes are based on your country of residence and what you do with your crypto—not where you stake. DEXs won’t send you tax forms, but most tax offices now use blockchain analytics to track wallet activity. Anytime you use a regulated exchange (like sending rewards to Bitget or Kraken), your activity can be linked back to your ID and local tax authority.

What if the token price drops after I get my rewards?

This is a classic tax pitfall. If you receive a reward at a high price, you’ll owe income tax on that value. If the price then falls and you sell, you can only claim a capital loss—not ordinary income—so you might still owe more tax than your rewards are now worth. Many savvy investors sell enough of their staking rewards immediately to cover the expected tax, reducing risk.