The Wash Sale Illusion: Why Crypto Investors Are Gambling With a Tax Rule That May Not Protect Them
Thousands of American cryptocurrency investors are structuring trades around wash sale exemptions that may not hold up under IRS scrutiny. As the agency sharpens its enforcement posture toward digital assets, the assumption that crypto sits outside traditional securities law is becoming an increasingly costly bet. This article examines what current guidance actually says, where the gray areas lie, and what the financial consequences of getting it wrong could mean for your portfolio.