As the world of digital currencies evolves, legislative bodies are increasingly scrutinizing the impact of cryptocurrencies on both economies and taxation policies. Recently, the Swiss government has decided to postpone the rollout of a significant crypto regulatory framework, reflecting broader global challenges in harmonizing tax regulations in the crypto space.

Swiss Government Postpones Key Crypto Regulations

In a recent official announcement, Swiss authorities disclosed a revised timeline for the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). Originally planned to go into effect in January 2026, the implementation has been delayed to at least 2027. This postponement was influenced by the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee’s (ETAC) decision to halt discussions on data-sharing agreements with partner countries.

Additionally, the Federal Council clarified that provisions regarding crypto assets outlined in the Federal Act on Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (AEOIA) will not be enforced next year. Meanwhile, amendments to the AEOI Ordinance have been approved to better align with the evolving digital landscape.

These amendments will require crypto service providers to uphold specific obligations such as reporting, due diligence, and registration within Swiss jurisdiction. Moreover, exchanges will now liaise directly with regulatory associations and have their accounts categorized under the new laws, although they may be exempt from certain AEOI stipulations if specific criteria are met.

The CARF is expected to facilitate the automatic transmission of tax information related to crypto activities between participating nations, a move that aligns with efforts by the U.S. and the U.K. to establish similar frameworks for crypto tax reporting.

U.K. Takes Steps Toward CARF Implementation

In a parallel development, the U.K. government has revealed plans to adopt the CARF in its tax reporting framework by 2027. According to a government release, U.K. reporting crypto asset service providers (RCASPs) will be required to gather pertinent tax information and perform due diligence on their clients annually.

This includes collecting data on customers residing in the U.K., allowing the country’s tax authority, HMRC, access to comprehensive CARF data concerning taxpayers involved with U.K.-based RCASPs. Additionally, reports indicate that the U.S. is also in the process of considering the CARF, with recent actions taken by the Treasury Department to forward regulations to the White House for review.