Overview
- Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and policy chief Faryar Shirzad publicly rejected claims the exchange lobbied against a Bitcoin de minimis exemption, calling the allegations "totally false" and "a total lie."
- Podcaster Marty Bent alleged Coinbase told lawmakers that "no one is using bitcoin as money" and pushed for a stablecoin-only approach to tax relief.
- The Bitcoin Policy Institute reported a recent shift on Capitol Hill toward limiting the exemption to payment stablecoins and is pressing for Bitcoin’s inclusion through briefings and coalition outreach.
- Lawmakers are weighing competing drafts, including Sen. Cynthia Lummis’s proposal for a $300 per-transaction threshold with a $5,000 annual cap versus House discussion language favoring a roughly $200 stablecoin-focused exemption.
- Proponents cite Lightning Network data showing significant payment activity and highlight Block’s Bitcoin payments campaign to argue that tax relief is essential for routine transactions.