2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for digital-asset regulation. For the first time, global standards seem to be finally aligning. We have the MiCA in the EU, updated IRS rules in the US, the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), and a wave of new APAC rules.
For CFOs, treasurers, and controllers, this convergence will deliver greater clarity than the crypto industry has seen in a decade. However, regulators, auditors, and tax authorities will expect consistent reporting, full transparency, and documented controls.
With this guide, you will find out what to expect in 2026 across MiCA, the IRS, CARF, and emerging APAC standards, along with how to prepare your team.
How MiCA Classifies Digital Assets and What It Means
MiCA breaks digital assets into three core categories: asset-referenced tokens (ARTs), e-money tokens (EMTs), and other crypto assets. Asset-referenced tokens are backed by a basket of assets, while e-money tokens function as fiat-redeemable stablecoins. The other crypto-asset category includes utility tokens and major assets such as BTC.
Each category, however, triggers different expectations around valuation, redemption, counterparty exposure, and disclosure obligations. It also affects which service providers you’re even allowed to work with. An EMT such as USDC is subject to very different regulatory expectations than an algorithmic token, and those differences must now be clearly reflected in treasury policy, valuation rules, and accounting treatment.
Custody, Liquidity, and Exchange Rules Under MiCA
MiCA also changes the way Crypto-Asset Service Providers must operate. They must keep customer assets fully segregated, maintain strong operational controls, and follow strict complaint-handling procedures. Stablecoin issuers face liquidity and reserve requirements that didn’t exist before.
For corporate treasuries, this means counterparty risk assessments need an upgrade. You now have to consider whether a service provider is MiCA-licensed, how it segregates assets, and whether its liquidity processes meet the new thresholds. These elements become part of your internal control environment and must be monitored continuously.
To stay compliant, several internal processes must be revisited and modernized:
- Wallet-management policies need clearer rules for ownership and access.
- Valuation methodologies must reflect MiCA’s treatment of each token type.
- Cut-off rules for on-chain activities need to be formalized to ensure consistent financial reporting.
- Counterparty risk scoring frameworks should incorporate MiCA licensing, custodial practices, and the resilience of stablecoin issuers.
What’s Changing with the IRS in 2026?
While MiCA provides a framework for Europe, IRS rules define how and when US companies must report taxable crypto activity. And 2026 is the first year when the new reporting regime becomes mandatory.
The IRS now treats many digital-asset service providers as “brokers,” including centralized exchanges, trading platforms, certain wallet providers, and even some DeFi front-ends, depending on their role. These entities must issue Form 1099-DA, a tax form that tracks crypto swaps, sales, redemptions, liquidations, and even some cross-chain bridge exits.
This means you can no longer rely solely on internal tracking. For the 2025 tax year (reported in 2026), brokers only report gross proceeds. The burden of proving cost basis still falls entirely on the company. Mandatory cost-basis reporting by brokers begins only for assets acquired starting January 1, 2026. This implies that you must maintain rigorous internal records to avoid being taxed on the full sale price as profit.
The core principles of IRS income recognition are unchanged; income is taxable the moment you gain control. This includes staking rewards, mining income, DeFi yields, and liquidity pool income, such as lending interest and liquidity pool fees. If tokens are credited and accessible, tax is due immediately.
Additional rules also tighten treasury workflows. Gas fees may be expensed or capitalized depending on purpose. Moreover, crypto payments to vendors or employees must be measured at fair value upon transfer. Likewise, intercompany token flows require proper transfer-pricing documentation. This year, you must treat crypto income with the same rigor, timing, and valuation discipline as fiat activity.
CARF, IFRS Updates & What’s Happening in APAC
The OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) will change how companies handle cross-border crypto activity. Starting January 1, 2026, jurisdictions such as the UK and the EU will begin collecting data under CARF. While the first global exchange of this data won’t occur until 2027, the data ‘lookback’ starts now. So, ensure your 2026 cross-border flows are fully documented today to avoid reconciliation headaches when tax authorities begin exchanging data next year.
On the accounting front, US GAAP, with ASU 2023-08, has moved to mandatory fair value reporting, and IFRS continues to rely primarily on the cost-less-impairment model under IAS 38. IFRS is expected to broaden fair value recognition for a wider range of crypto assets, clarify how wrapped tokens should be treated on the balance sheet, and refine the recognition model for staking rewards. We’re also likely to see more structured disclosures around custody risks, validator concentration, and chain-level dependencies.
At the same time, APAC countries are developing some of the most robust and globally consistent regulatory regimes. Singapore is enhancing licensing standards, enforcing stricter custodian segregation, and developing much tougher technology-risk rules. Hong Kong is also enhancing its SFC regime, making it easier for institutions to use crypto assets by providing clearer paths for their adoption. And in the UAE, especially under VARA, we’re seeing the emergence of a comprehensive reporting structure for corporate token flows, custody relationships, and service-provider oversight.
Therefore, if you operate internationally, these hubs will increasingly define compliance.
What Corporate Treasury Teams Must Do in 2026
With all these regulatory changes, the operational impact for treasury teams is too big to ignore. Stablecoins now require the same discipline as cash and cash equivalents. Under MiCA, issuers of E-Money Tokens must maintain liquidity and redemption rights, and auditors will ask tough questions: Are the stablecoins held redeemable or speculative? Are reserves independently verified? Is the issuer fully MiCA-compliant? Corporate treasuries must segment stablecoins in the same way they handle cash, restricted cash, and other short-term assets.
For companies engaging with DeFi protocols, the stakes are even higher. You now need to demonstrate robust due diligence, protocol risk assessments, volume limits, and whitelisting or blacklisting controls. DeFi activity can no longer be treated as off-books experimentation; it must be managed as an auditable financial process with clear accountability. Tools like KoinX Books automatically capture protocol-level activity and translate it into auditable ledger entries, rather than relying on manual tracking.
Finally, wallet-to-ledger traceability is now essential. Auditors now expect chain-level transaction logs, valuations tied to timestamped oracle feeds, and full lifecycle tracking from deposit to trade, reward, and eventual disposal. The level of detail required far exceeds what manual spreadsheets can handle. Automated reconciliation and reporting systems enable treasury operations to meet these expectations without slowing down.
Before deploying new workflows, ensure that the entire range of crypto risks has been considered. The collapse of smart contracts or protocols can drain the entire treasury in a single event, and stablecoin issuers’ credit risks add another layer of risk. Price oracles must be accurate and reliable, because even small deviations can materially affect valuations and reporting.
Tax exposure under CARF is another major concern. Unreported cross-border transactions, inconsistent cost-basis records, or gaps between wallets and accounting systems increase the likelihood of audits and penalties. Private wallets that sit outside formal tracking processes further compound operational risk. Regulators now treat crypto risk in the same category as market, credit, operational, and liquidity risks. Using systems to enforce wallet coverage, valuation consistency, and audit trails is increasingly becoming paramount.
Conclusion
In 2026, crypto accounting and reporting will be more regulated and structured than ever. Many guidelines are constantly shifting, and relying on spreadsheets will not be sufficient. Finance leaders who adopt automation early with tools like KoinX Books will benefit from stronger controls, more accurate reporting, and significantly fewer compliance issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does MiCA Require From Corporate Treasury Teams?
MiCA imposes stricter operational and compliance standards, including segregated custody of client assets, the use of regulated and compliant counterparties, standardized valuation policies, and enhanced reporting obligations for all digital-asset activities.
How Does The IRS Treat Staking And DeFi Income?
The IRS treats staking rewards, yield, and most DeFi income as taxable at fair market value when the company gains control of the tokens. Control is typically defined by the moment tokens become accessible in the company’s wallet.
Will IFRS Adopt Mandatory Fair Value Like US GAAP?
While US GAAP (ASU 2023-08) now mandates fair value, IFRS still defaults to the cost model under IAS 38 for most holders. Only broker-traders have a clear path to fair value under IAS 2.
What Is CARF And Why Does It Matter?
The Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework creates a unified global standard for wallet-level tax reporting. It requires exchanges, custodians, and intermediaries to share transaction data across jurisdictions, significantly increasing compliance expectations for multinational Web3 companies.
How Should Companies Audit Stablecoin Balances?
Companies should confirm issuer compliance and regulatory status, reserve attestations and redemption rights, and on-chain wallet balances and reconciliation with internal ledgers. A combined approach of issuer verification and blockchain validation provides the strongest audit trail.