Coinbase Chief Coverage Officer Faryar Shirzad instantly denied allegations that the corporate is lobbying in opposition to a proposed de minimis tax exemption for Bitcoin.
Responding on X to a put up by Bitcoin podcaster Marty Bent, Shirzad wrote: “This can be a whole lie @MartyBent. We’ve got by no means and can by no means foyer in opposition to Bitcoin. Ever.” Although a number of individuals are asking for a public assertion from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on the matter. Jack Dorsey of Block particularly known as Armstrong out for clarification, saying “hope that is true for de minimis as effectively. @brian_armstrong?”.
UPDATE 2: Bent claims to have three completely different sources on the rumor.
UPDATE: Armstrong responded with a denial of the rumor as effectively. calling it “completely false”.
The denial comes after Bent reported on March 11 that Coinbase is allegedly telling lawmakers the exemption is pointless as a result of “Nobody is utilizing bitcoin as cash. A de-minimis exemption for bitcoin is a hand out that will probably be DOA.” Bent claimed the corporate is pushing for stablecoins-only remedy to advance its personal enterprise.
Bitcoin Coverage Institute Managing Director Conner Brown confirmed a associated growth the identical day. “I can affirm that over the previous three months there’s been a robust shift on the Hill to limiting the de minimis exemption to stablecoins solely,” Brown stated. “BPI continues to fulfill with lawmakers to clarify what a strategic blunder this may be for the U.S.”
The de minimis tax exemption would remove capital-gains taxes and IRS reporting necessities on small Bitcoin transactions, fixing a protracted standing friction for the adoption of bitcoin as foreign money. Beneath present legislation, Bitcoin is handled as property, so each spend — even shopping for espresso or paying a freelancer — creates a taxable occasion that requires monitoring price foundation and submitting paperwork. Laws backed by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) would set a $300-per-transaction threshold with a $5,000 annual cap, aligning routine Bitcoin funds extra intently with minor foreign-currency exchanges.
Supporters argue the change is important to take away tax friction that presently discourages on a regular basis use. With out it, compliance burdens make Bitcoin impractical for routine purchases and restrict its operate as a medium of trade.
Block Inc. has been probably the most vocal company supporter. In November 2025 the corporate behind Money App and Sq. launched its “Bitcoin is On a regular basis Cash” marketing campaign, explicitly calling for the exemption whereas rolling out Lightning Community instruments that permit Sq. retailers settle for Bitcoin funds with zero charges by 2027.
Lightning Community information revealed by Bitcoin Journal instantly undercuts claims that Bitcoin sees no use as cash. A February 19, 2026 article reported $1.17 billion in month-to-month quantity throughout 5.22 million transactions in November 2025, in response to aggregated figures from River Monetary overlaying greater than 50% of community capability. Common transaction dimension rose to $223.
A June 18, 2025 Bitcoin Journal report confirmed the community had reached roughly 1.5 million customers and $1.5 billion in buying and selling quantity. Block’s personal Lightning node produced a 9.7% yield routing precise funds, whereas Money App dealt with one in 4 outbound Lightning transactions after 7x utilization progress.
Block Bitcoin product lead Miles Suter summed up the corporate’s stance: “If Bitcoin simply turns into digital gold, we failed the mission. Bitcoin funds validate Bitcoin. They make it actual. Bitcoin is cash.”
The trade of claims highlights ongoing tensions between crypto centered platforms and firms constructing cost infrastructure for Bitcoin. With Lightning quantity persevering with to climb, advocates preserve the exemption would speed up business adoption reasonably than present unearned reduction. Congress remains to be weighing the proposal inside broader digital-asset tax reform discussions.