Strive Executive Says US Tax Rules Are Blocking Bitcoin Daily Payments

Highlights:

• Pierre Rochard emphasizes U.S. tax rules remain the main barrier to daily Bitcoin payments.
• He argues that low‑tax regions show faster Bitcoin growth compared to high‑tax markets.
• Lawmakers continue debating crypto tax relief, shaping future rules for digital asset use.

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to grow as a store of value, but it remains rare in everyday transactions. During a public discussion, Pierre Rochard, a Strive board member with extensive experience in Bitcoin treasury, said the main hurdle is U.S. tax rules, not transaction speed or fees.

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Rochard Highlights Tax Barriers Despite Scaling Progress

Rochard explained that scaling tools keep improving, helping with faster transfers and lower fees. Even with progress, tax treatment keeps blocking wider use in normal purchases. An athletic example helped explain the position. Rochard remarked, “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’t play and lets the weak athlete win. You have to play to win. Get in the arena.”

The #1 impediment to Bitcoin payments adoption is tax policy, not scaling technology.

— Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) January 24, 2026

Under United States rules, Bitcoin counts as property, not money. Every payment triggers a reporting duty and possible capital gains tax when the price rises after purchase. Buying coffee, services, or goods becomes a paperwork task, slowing daily use.

Industry organizations have complained about the absence of a de minimis rule. A de minimis rule would permit small transactions to remain tax-free. Otherwise, basic spending seems complicated for common users and small businesses. A user on X claimed that even tax-free nations see little growth in Bitcoin payments. Rochard responded that evidence shows faster growth in low-tax areas than in high-tax areas. He also warned users to be afraid of tax authorities.

Several users supported Rochard’s stance. Some claimed regular spending would increase without tax pressure. Mohammed Walid Gagi added that tax-free nations show less fear around Bitcoin use. Other readers thanked Rochard for shifting the focus away from scaling debates.

Bitcoin Daily Payments Face Tax Pressure as Lawmakers Push Stablecoin Tax Relief

In December, the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a non-profit policy group, raised concerns about the absence of a de minimis tax exemption for small Bitcoin transactions. Due to this gap, every Bitcoin payment is treated as a taxable event. Even small BTC transfers face taxes, which makes using Bitcoin as a regular payment method more difficult.

I’m hearing very concerning news out of Capitol Hill today.

De Minimis tax legislation may be limited to only stablecoins, leaving everyday Bitcoin transactions without an exemption.

This would be a severe mistake. BPI will be publishing a response. Stay tuned.

— Conner Brown (@BitcoinConner) December 17, 2025

At the same time, US lawmakers are discussing a proposal that would limit the de minimis tax exemption to dollar-pegged stablecoins only. This proposal has sparked strong backlash from the Bitcoin community.

In July last year, a new bill on crypto taxes was introduced by Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis. The proposed bill exempted digital assets from taxes if the transaction value is $300 or less. The bill also exempted an annual cap of $5,000. The bill also exempted taxes on cryptocurrencies donated to charities.

The proposal also covered crypto mining and staking revenue. The proposal recommended that taxes on staking rewards and mining revenue be deferred until the underlying assets are sold. This means that taxes will be paid when the assets are sold, rather than when they are received. However, the bill has not been progressed yet. The bill was referred to a Senate committee for consideration.

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