The US government’s efforts to stave off a national default could have inadvertently saved the crypto sector from a proposed hike in crypto mining tax. The Republican congressman, Warren Davidson, recently shed light on this potential development, suggesting that the negotiated deal to raise the debt ceiling could disrupt the planned 30% tax on crypto mining.
A Move to Avert National Default
On May 28, 2023, lawmakers in the United States presented a draft bill known as the “Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023”. The bill, aimed at raising the debt ceiling, emerged from extensive negotiations between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The debt ceiling sets the limit for the Treasury Department’s allowable debt.
This proposed legislation, which is still pending Congressional approval, is seen as a vital measure to prevent a national default—an event that could spell economic disaster for the US. The bill proposes to suspend the debt ceiling for two years, enabling the government to continue borrowing to settle its existing debts.
Despite President Biden’s insistence, the draft suggests that proposed tax increases for corporations and high-income individuals were unlikely to be enforced.
Proposal for 30% Crypto Tax Potentially Derailed
In a Twitter discussion about the draft bill, Congressman Davidson expressed his belief that the agreement could obstruct several proposed tax increments, including the proposed 30% tax on electricity used by crypto miners. This tax proposal, feared to be part of President Biden’s FY2024 budget, could have led to an annual 10% tax increase for crypto miners over the next three years.
Davidson’s comment about blocking the proposed taxes was met with relief from the US crypto ecosystem, as it signaled a small victory for the industry. Following the negotiations, President Biden acknowledged the compromise inherent in the agreement, stressing that it was an essential step forward to prevent a historical national default.
The Crypto Community’s Reception and Future Expectations
The proposal for a 30% crypto tax had been a source of widespread criticism among stakeholders in the crypto space, even before the debt default became an issue. Despite some lauding the bill to raise the debt ceiling, the looming debt default deadline in June and a divided House of Representatives mean that there’s still significant work ahead for the US government.
In the meantime, many US states continue to welcome crypto miners to their jurisdiction, reinforcing the crypto industry’s growing appeal. The proposed Digital Asset Mining Energy Excise Tax (DAME), which aimed to tax 30% of the electricity cost consumed by crypto mining operations, faced substantial backlash from the crypto community, with opposition cutting across party lines.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
