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Three prominent pro-crypto groups — the Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund, and the Texas Blockchain Council — have initiated legal action against the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The lawsuit challenges the IRS and Treasury Department’s recent decision to categorize decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms as brokers, a ruling that has sparked significant controversy within the crypto sector.
IRS Broker Redefinition Triggers Legal and Legislative Issues
On December 27, the IRS finalized new regulations targeting the DeFi industry by expanding the definition of a broker to include decentralized exchanges and other front-end platforms.
This adjustment mandates that these entities report all crypto and other digital asset transactions, including details about the taxpayers involved. Set to be enforced starting in 2027, these regulations aim to enhance transparency in digital asset transactions.
However, the crypto advocacy groups contest that the IRS’s extension of broker status to DeFi platforms overreaches the statutory authority granted to the agency. They also argued that the move infringes upon the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) while deeming the action unconstitutional.
Further, they argue that the rule imposes undue compliance burdens on software developers, particularly those creating trading interfaces. According to them, this could severely inhibit innovation and significantly strain American entrepreneurs.