When you trade, stake, or earn crypto in the U.S., you're not just participating in a new financial system—you're entering a web of U.S. crypto compliance, the set of legal and reporting rules enforced by the IRS, FinCEN, and other federal agencies to track digital asset activity. Also known as crypto regulatory adherence, it affects everyone from casual traders to DeFi developers and tax professionals. This isn't optional. The IRS treats crypto like property, and failing to report trades, staking rewards, or airdrops can trigger audits, penalties, or even criminal charges.
Crypto tax reporting, the process of documenting every crypto transaction for IRS Form 8949 and Schedule D. Also known as crypto income disclosure, it's the foundation of compliance. But compliance goes beyond taxes. DeFi compliance, how decentralized protocols navigate U.S. regulations without centralized control. Also known as blockchain regulatory alignment, it's where smart contracts meet legal requirements—like using zero-knowledge proofs to verify identity without exposing personal data. Meanwhile, CPA crypto documentation, the checklist of records accountants need to accurately file crypto taxes. Also known as crypto asset records, it includes wallet addresses, transaction timestamps, fair market values, and proof of acquisition cost. These aren't abstract ideas—they're daily tools used by CPAs, crypto platforms, and traders to avoid trouble.
Blockchain security ties in, too. Without blockchain security, the systems that prevent fraud, double-spending, and data manipulation on public ledgers. Also known as distributed ledger integrity, it's what makes compliance possible in the first place. If data isn't available and verifiable, regulators can't audit, and users can't prove their transactions. That’s why tools like data availability sampling and Ethereum rollups matter—they keep the system transparent without sacrificing decentralization.
What you’ll find here isn’t theory. These posts are built by people who’ve filed crypto taxes, advised DeFi projects, and helped CPAs handle messy crypto portfolios. You’ll see real checklists, actual platform comparisons, and clear breakdowns of what the government expects—and what you can do to stay protected without overcomplicating your life.
Licensing a crypto exchange in the U.S. requires navigating 46 state rules, federal MSB registration, and costly compliance. New York’s BitLicense is the toughest, Wyoming the easiest. California’s 2026 deadline is a major turning point.