Crypto gaming can be a fun and exciting way to earn cryptocurrency, but unfortunately many users are still unclear about its tax implications and risks involved.  

To get the most out of your crypto gaming experience, it’s essential to understand the opportunities, risks and tax liabilities that come with crypto games. In this guide, we have put forward all the details about this new, exciting world and shared how it is taxed. 

What Is Crypto Gaming?

Crypto Games, also popularly known as P2E games, allow players to earn crypto (e.g. tokens or NFTs) while playing. You can use these cryptocurrencies to purchase in-game items or even trade them on crypto exchanges. 

Unlike traditional online games, crypto games use blockchain technology to provide the payers with an immersive experience and the opportunity to earn crypto rewards. 

Opportunity Of Cryptocurrency Games

Crypto gaming offers exciting opportunities for gamers and investors alike. Let’s look at some of them.

1. Earn Cryptocurrency: Crypto gaming provides a unique opportunity to earn cryptocurrency while enjoying your favourite games. You can use these cryptos to purchase in-game assets or may even trade them for other crypto assets.
2. Investment Potential: Cryptocurrencies are a new and rapidly growing asset class that could provide significant returns on wise investment. Many crypto games also offer in-game NFTs that could increase in value over time.
3. New Gaming Experiences: Crypto games use multiple technologies such as AR/VR and blockchain to offer a more immersive experience with a focus on peer-to-peer gaming.

How Are Crypto Games Taxed?

As per IRS, any crypto that you earn through gaming is subject to income tax and must be reported on your tax return.

The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, which means that any gains or losses from selling, trading, or using these earned cryptocurrencies are subject to capital gains tax. The difference between its fair market value at the time of acquisition and the selling price is your capital gain or capital loss, and is considered taxable.

For more details, check out the USA cryptocurrency tax guide.

Taxable Events On Crypto Gaming Rewards

To better understand how cryptocurrency rewards from gaming are taxed, it's important to be aware of the different taxable events that could occur. 

Here are some crypto gaming taxable events:

Income Tax

The IRS considers cryptocurrency earned through gaming as income which may be subject to income tax. This is based on the fair market value of the crypto at the time you receive it. 

Capital Gains Tax

If you purchase or earn crypto in-game and then sell it for a profit, you may be subject to capital gains tax. 

To calculate your taxable income, you have to first determine whether you have realized a capital gain or a capital loss. Consider how the crypto price has changed since the time you received it.

If the selling price is more, you have incurred a capital gain and if it’s less, you realize a capital loss. This is considered taxable and needs to be reported in your tax file.

In-game NFT Tax

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique digital assets that can be purchased or earned in crypto games. If you purchase an NFT using cryptocurrency, IRS considers it as trading which is subject to capital gains tax.

If you sell your in-game NFT for any other crypto, you are subject to capital gains taxes. You may incur a capital gain or capital loss depending on how the NFT’s price has changed from the time you received it. 

For more details, refer to our NFT tax guide.

It's essential to keep accurate records of all NFT transactions to avoid any potential tax issues. This may get complex as you have to track your NFT’s fair market value at different points in time and also consider multiple fees. Use a crypto tax software like Kryptos to automatically track all your NFT transactions and calculate taxes without any potential errors. 

Risks Associated With Crypto Gaming

As with all crypto assets, cryptocurrency games come with their own share of risks including:

• Volatile cryptocurrency prices which mean that your earnings from crypto games could fluctuate significantly.
• If you're not careful with your cryptocurrency holdings, you could lose them forever.
• Technical issues, such as bugs or security vulnerabilities can impact the value of in-game assets and cause players to lose money.

The Tax Problem Of Cryptocurrency Games

The regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency is constantly evolving with no clear tax guidelines at the moment. Any new regulations can have a significant impact on the crypto gaming industry. 

There are many grey areas around how these games are taxed. For instance, receiving airdrops or earning crypto for service is considered an income by the IRS. However, the IRS also states that earning certain crypto assets in-game may not be considered taxable if it doesn’t leave the game. 

Some games may not provide transaction records to their players. This complicates tax calculations as users need to track all assets' fair market values during different transactions.

Report Your Cryptocurrency Games Tax With Kryptos

It’s a good idea to track and plan your taxes before the deadlines. This helps you realize your tax liability in advance and ensures you don’t overpay them. 

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Kryptos lets you automatically track all your crypto transactions, including the ones in the cryptocurrency games. It manages all the fair market values of your assets to effectively calculate your taxes and figure out potential tax savings.

You can also generate IRS-defined tax reports to ensure you comply with all tax regulations. To get started with your free tax report, sign up now.

FAQs

1. How are crypto games taxed?

Any cryptocurrency earned through gaming is considered taxable income and must be reported on your tax return. Cryptocurrency is treated as property, which means that any gains or losses from selling, trading, or using cryptocurrencies are subject to capital gains tax.

2. How crypto Taxes will be deducted?

Crypto taxes are typically deducted from your cryptocurrency earnings or gains. You will need to report your cryptocurrency earnings on your tax return, and the tax owed will be calculated based on your tax bracket and the length of time you held the cryptocurrency.

3. How does crypto gaming work?

Crypto gaming uses blockchain technology to provide a unique play-to-earn gaming experience. Players can earn crypto tokens and NFTs by playing these online games. These cryptocurrencies can then be used to buy in-game items or sold for other crypto assets on exchanges.

4. Do you pay taxes on crypto gaming?

Yes, any cryptocurrency earned through gaming is considered taxable income and must be reported on your tax return.

5. How much tax do I pay on crypto gaming?

The amount of tax you pay on crypto gaming will depend on your tax bracket and the length of time you held the cryptocurrency.

6. How do I avoid the crypto gaming tax?

There are no legal ways to avoid paying crypto gaming taxes. Keep accurate records of all cryptocurrency transactions and consult a tax professional to maximize your tax savings. 

7. What will happen if I don’t pay crypto gaming tax?

Failure to pay crypto gaming taxes could result in penalties and legal problems. It's important to file your taxes accurately and on time to avoid any potential issues.

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All content on Kryptos serves general informational purposes only. It's not intended to replace any professional advice from licensed accountants, attorneys, or certified financial and tax professionals. The information is completed to the best of our knowledge and we at Kryptos do not claim either correctness or accuracy of the same. Before taking any tax position / stance, you should always consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice from the professionals. Kryptos is not liable for any loss caused from the use of, or by placing reliance on, the information on this website. Kryptos disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of any positions taken by you in your tax returns. Thank you for being part of our community, and we're excited to continue guiding you on your crypto journey!