Crypto Tax Framework CARF Misses 86% of Onchain Activity

The Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), a new international tax reporting standard, is estimated to miss 86% of potentially taxable onchain crypto activity, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis [2, 3]. This gap means that out of an estimated $457 billion in global onchain crypto activity in 2025 that could be subject to tax, CARF is expected to capture only about 14% [1, 3].

CARF's Limited Scope

The $457 billion figure represents a lower boundary for potentially taxable activity, as Chainalysis' methodology does not cover all blockchains, transaction venues, or types, and excludes economic activity entirely within centralized exchanges [3]. North America accounted for approximately $134.6 billion of this activity, with the European Union following at $125.1 billion [2].

CARF, developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), began data collection on January 1, 2026, across 48 jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union [1]. The framework requires in-scope crypto providers, primarily centralized exchanges and certain brokers and wallet providers, to collect customer and tax residency information and report transaction data to domestic tax authorities, which can then share this information internationally [1, 3].

The framework's design, which focuses on intermediaries that facilitate crypto transactions as a business, explains its limited coverage [1]. Colby Mangels, a former OECD adviser involved in CARF's development, noted that the framework was built around these centralized entities [1].

The Decentralized Gap

A significant portion of decentralized finance (DeFi) activity falls outside CARF's reporting perimeter because many DeFi platforms lack a centralized operator or custodial relationship to impose reporting requirements on [1, 3]. This includes decentralized exchange (DEX) activity, peer-to-peer transfers, onchain income streams, and crypto payments [3].

Regulators are reportedly monitoring developments in anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, including efforts to determine when DeFi platforms or their operators should be treated as regulated crypto service providers [1]. Such developments could potentially expand the scope of tax reporting in the future [1].

What to watch

• Regulatory developments for DeFi: Monitor ongoing discussions and potential new regulations aimed at decentralized platforms, which could bring more onchain activity into tax reporting frameworks.
• Expansion of CARF jurisdictions: Observe if additional countries or regions adopt CARF or similar reporting standards, potentially increasing the overall coverage of taxable crypto activity.
• Evolution of reporting methodologies: Watch for updates from analytics firms like Chainalysis on their methodologies for estimating taxable onchain activity, which could refine the understanding of the reporting gap.

The substantial gap in CARF's coverage highlights the ongoing challenge for tax authorities in tracking and taxing the rapidly evolving and often decentralized landscape of crypto assets.