Paying with Bitcoin is Simple, but the Tax Implications are Not
In the US, buying a cup of coffee with bitcoin is relatively straightforward, but it comes with a complicated tax burden. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, argues that the tax code's treatment of bitcoin as a capital asset, rather than a currency, creates a significant obstacle for users who want to use it for everyday transactions. According to Nicholas Anthony, a research fellow at …
April 16, 2026, 8:48 a.m.