- 40% of Canadian taxpayers using cryptoasset platforms are evading taxes or risking non-compliance.
- The tax authority has 35 auditors checking over 230 crypto-related cases, recovering about $73 million in the past three years.
- Legal restrictions make it difficult to identify and enforce compliance among crypto users.
- The government plans to introduce new laws by spring 2026 to strengthen fraud and financial crime response.
- Canada‘s financial intelligence unit fined a major crypto exchange over $19 million for not registering properly.
The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that 40% of taxpayers who use cryptoasset platforms are either evading crypto taxes or face a high risk of non-compliance. This disclosure was made on December 7, highlighting ongoing challenges in tracking and enforcing tax duties related to cryptocurrency in Canada.
Currently, the CRA employs 35 auditors focused on crypto-related activities. These auditors are handling more than 230 cases, which have generated significant tax revenues through audits—approximately $73 million in total over the last three years. Despite these efforts, the CRA emphasized that legal limitations in Canada hinder the reliable identification of cryptocurrency users and accurate assessment of their tax obligations.
One notable instance involved the Vancouver-based firm Dapper Labs. The CRA aimed to obtain information on Dapper’s top 18,000 users to ensure compliance. However, negotiations with the company, including its officials and legal representatives, reduced the data disclosure to only 2,500 users. Dapper Labs neither denied the investigation nor fully complied with the information requests. Attempts to obtain comments from both Dapper Labs and the CRA yielded no immediate response.
In response to these challenges, Canada’s Department of Finance announced plans to introduce new legislation by spring 2026. This legislation aims to modernize the government’s approach to fraud and financial crime. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, stated on October 20 that the government is committed to protecting Canadians’ financial security through a comprehensive anti-fraud strategy and a dedicated Financial Crimes Agency.
Additionally, Canada’s financial intelligence unit, FINTRAC, recently imposed a fine exceeding $14.7 million on Seychelles-based crypto exchange Peken Global Ltd., known as KuCoin, for operating without proper registration as a foreign money services business in Canada. This action is part of broader enforcement efforts addressing anti-money laundering laws within the crypto industry.
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