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2023-03-31

How Investing vs Trading impacts tax

In most cases of buying and selling cryptocurrency as a retail investor, you are participating in investing rather than trading. The two are treated differently for tax purposes.

  • Investing is subject to capital gains tax or income tax, depending on the nature of the transaction.
  • Trading in this case refers to self-employment which is subject to income tax and National Insurance Contributions.

The key difference between investing and trading – along with the different tax treatments, is how losses generated in the crypto-activity can be used.

In their guidance, HMRC have explicitly stated that they would expect it to be exceedingly rare that any crypto-activity constituting buying & selling crypto would be classified as “trading”.

If you are uncertain, speak to a tax advisor as there are always exceptions, including but not limited to, developing tokens and large scale mining.

How is crypto tax calculated in the United States?

You can be liable for both capital gains and income tax depending on the type of cryptocurrency transaction, and your individual circumstances. For example, you might need to pay capital gains on profits from buying and selling cryptocurrency, or pay income tax on interest earned when holding crypto.

CoinLedger

CoinLedger is an accessible crypto tax platform with over 1,000 exchange and wallet integrations.

Best for: Users who want a simple, straightforward experience without complex DeFi needs.

Key differentiator: Offers an unlimited transaction plan for high-volume traders at a fixed price.

Pricing: $49 (100 transactions) to $499+ (10,000+ transactions).

Limitation: Does not generate Schedule D forms - you will need to complete this manually or with other software.

Notable: Strong NFT support with OpenSea integration.

CoinTracker

CoinTracker is a portfolio tracker and tax calculator supporting over 30,000 cryptocurrencies.

Best for: Users who prioritize portfolio tracking alongside tax reporting.

Key differentiator: Direct integrations with TurboTax and H&R Block Desktop.

Pricing: $59 (100 transactions) to $599 (10,000 transactions), with full-service options up to $3,499.

Limitation: Customer support is limited on lower-tier plans - priority support requires the $599 Ultra plan.

Notable: Good security with end-to-end encryption and SOC 2 compliance.

ZenLedger

ZenLedger offers both DIY crypto tax reports and professional full-service accounting.

Best for: Users who want tax loss harvesting included at every pricing tier.

Key differentiator: Tax loss harvesting is available on all plans, not just premium tiers.

Pricing: $49 (100 transactions) to $399 (15,000 transactions).

Limitation: Only offers 400+ exchange integrations - significantly fewer than competitors. Some users report customer support issues with long wait times.

Notable: TurboTax integration and 14-day refund policy.

blog
Mar 31
,
 
2023
 - 
10
min read

A Guide To Furucombo

Furucombo helps traders new to the DeFi space get the opportunities available without having to understand the complex protocols. This guide to Furucombo helps beginners through the process and provides details as to what you can do with the platform. It also covers the little understood tax implications of using Furucombo.

Key takeaways
This tax guide is regularly updated: Last Update  

Introduction

Furucombo is one of the more unique projects in the DeFi space and much needed for anyone looking to take advantage of the space without the complex technical knowledge often required to use more than one protocol at a time.

Created in 2020, the premise was a simple one. With all the new DeFi protocols popping up it was impossible to keep up, Furucombo helps users integrate multiple DeFi apps into one transaction without having any coding knowledge.

The simple drag and drop app lets you transfer your funds in multi-step transactions automatically and easily.

Why is it such a good idea?

Each protocol in the DeFi space is solving a unique problem, the problem for users is that the platforms don’t integrate well. Transferring funds between a lending platform and an exchange can take multiple steps, if you want to buy various tokens you have to do so individually. The beauty of Furucombo is that it opens up endless possibilities of transaction combinations between protocols.

While DeFi is busy solving problems in the financial industry Furucombo is thinking about how to make the process easier for non-crypto experts. Reading whitepapers, understanding smart contracts and writing code to execute automated transactions is really hard for someone new to the space or someone who doesn’t have a professional background in software development.

The drag and drop aspect of the app lets you build transactions like you would lego, stacking one on top of the other until you end up with your money where you want it to be or the profit you wanted.

As with most things in the crypto world, there is a risk to using Furucombo, the app was developed less than 6 months ago and they make it very clear that the app is in beta. So far there have been no reported cases of transactions not behaving like they should but use at your own risk.

What can I do with Furucombo?

At the moment there are 11 protocols supported with at least one being added every fortnight. Currently, the app supports:

  • Yearn

  • Mooniswap

  • Uniswap V2 and V1

  • Aave

  • Maker

  • Curve

  • 1inch

  • Compound

  • Kyberswap

  • Oasis

  • Balancer

The options for interactions between protocols are too many to list but there are 4 essential actions you can take across apps:

  • deposit/ withdraw funds

  • add/ remove liquidity

  • borrow/ repay funds

  • trade/ swap

Furucombo has a few of the top transactions listed on their homepage that you can try for yourself. For example, you can transfer your debt between protocols to get a lower interest rate by using a flash loan, swap ETH for a basket of tokens in the one transaction using Uniswap and Kyber, swap holdings between vaults to get the higher APY.

The main advantage of transactions like this is that all the steps are rolled up into one with only one action on your part, you don’t have to withdraw aTokens, exchange them for ETH on Uniswap, change the ETH for cTokens and then loan them out. This would take some time and mental effort to calculate each step.

The most interesting and most profitable transactions are those involving borrowing protocols to increase your leverage and trading apps to make a profit.

There are two types here, the first is increasing your long or short exposure in a specific currency such as ETH. This would work by getting an ETH flash loan from Aave, depositing it to Maker to get DAI in return, and then swapping it on Uniswap back to ETH.

However by far the most talked-about transaction has been the arbitrage trade automated my Furucombo, at this stage you still have to figure out when the trade will be profitable but the execution can be automated. The great thing is that you don’t need to understand how the individual transactions work just if your balance will increase after the whole transaction flow after you account for fees. You can take advantage of cross-exchange/ platform arbitrage and cross-currency arbitrage opportunities.

Tax Implications

This is definitely one of the trickier aspects of not just Furucombo but the DeFi space as a whole. Only a few governments have posted crypto specific tax information and with DeFi being so new the best we can do is offer general interpretations as to how the laws could be perceived based on crypto rules and general tax guidelines. The good news is that using Furucombo specifically doesn’t have any extra tax rules, as the app connects directly to your wallet but the transactions themselves have tax implications.

Here are some general tax rules to keep in mind that can be applied to Furucombo combinations:

  • Any crypto to crypto trade triggers a tax event, the sale of one crypto triggers a tax event for that coin while the purchase of a new coin forms the cost basis for future trades in that coin

  • Transferring the same coin between platforms shouldn’t trigger a tax event as you are in control of the funds the whole time

  • Coins that are airdropped to you or earned from staking is generally considered income and not capital gains

  • Borrowing crypto is not a tax event as it isn’t income or capital gains

  • Borrowing funds to make a trade could be considered income and not capital gains as you are technically making a margin trade. This includes transactions involving flash loans.

News

Furucombo is moving at a rapid pace and is posting news at least once a fortnight. They have been integrating new DeFi protocols weekly but the main news comes from an update posted on September 22nd. With the main goal to demystify the DeFi world for beginners they have launched an explore page where users can explore individual combos used in the past, they can see the APY generated and easily load the transactions so you can do it yourself.

Resources

https://furucombo.app/ https://twitter.com/furucombo https://t.me/furucombo https://medium.com/furucombo https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1kGD4lvTSrmfKbDjQNOxQ

The information provided on this website is general in nature and is not tax, accounting or legal advice. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs and seek professional advice. Summ (formerly Crypto Tax Calculator) disclaims all and any guarantees, undertakings and warranties, expressed or implied, and is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including human or computer error, negligent or otherwise, or incidental or Consequential Loss or damage) arising out of, or in connection with, any use or reliance on the information or advice in this website. The user must accept sole responsibility associated with the use of the material on this site, irrespective of the purpose for which such use or results are applied. The information in this website is no substitute for specialist advice.

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23 September 2020

X

 Min read

A Guide To Furucombo

Furucombo helps traders new to the DeFi space get the opportunities available without having to understand the complex protocols. This guide to Furucombo helps beginners through the process and provides details as to what you can do with the platform. It also covers the little understood tax implications of using Furucombo.

Shane Brunette

This tax guide is regularly updated: Last Update 

....

March

31

2023

Introduction

Furucombo is one of the more unique projects in the DeFi space and much needed for anyone looking to take advantage of the space without the complex technical knowledge often required to use more than one protocol at a time.

Created in 2020, the premise was a simple one. With all the new DeFi protocols popping up it was impossible to keep up, Furucombo helps users integrate multiple DeFi apps into one transaction without having any coding knowledge.

The simple drag and drop app lets you transfer your funds in multi-step transactions automatically and easily.

Why is it such a good idea?

Each protocol in the DeFi space is solving a unique problem, the problem for users is that the platforms don’t integrate well. Transferring funds between a lending platform and an exchange can take multiple steps, if you want to buy various tokens you have to do so individually. The beauty of Furucombo is that it opens up endless possibilities of transaction combinations between protocols.

While DeFi is busy solving problems in the financial industry Furucombo is thinking about how to make the process easier for non-crypto experts. Reading whitepapers, understanding smart contracts and writing code to execute automated transactions is really hard for someone new to the space or someone who doesn’t have a professional background in software development.

The drag and drop aspect of the app lets you build transactions like you would lego, stacking one on top of the other until you end up with your money where you want it to be or the profit you wanted.

As with most things in the crypto world, there is a risk to using Furucombo, the app was developed less than 6 months ago and they make it very clear that the app is in beta. So far there have been no reported cases of transactions not behaving like they should but use at your own risk.

What can I do with Furucombo?

At the moment there are 11 protocols supported with at least one being added every fortnight. Currently, the app supports:

  • Yearn

  • Mooniswap

  • Uniswap V2 and V1

  • Aave

  • Maker

  • Curve

  • 1inch

  • Compound

  • Kyberswap

  • Oasis

  • Balancer

The options for interactions between protocols are too many to list but there are 4 essential actions you can take across apps:

  • deposit/ withdraw funds

  • add/ remove liquidity

  • borrow/ repay funds

  • trade/ swap

Furucombo has a few of the top transactions listed on their homepage that you can try for yourself. For example, you can transfer your debt between protocols to get a lower interest rate by using a flash loan, swap ETH for a basket of tokens in the one transaction using Uniswap and Kyber, swap holdings between vaults to get the higher APY.

The main advantage of transactions like this is that all the steps are rolled up into one with only one action on your part, you don’t have to withdraw aTokens, exchange them for ETH on Uniswap, change the ETH for cTokens and then loan them out. This would take some time and mental effort to calculate each step.

The most interesting and most profitable transactions are those involving borrowing protocols to increase your leverage and trading apps to make a profit.

There are two types here, the first is increasing your long or short exposure in a specific currency such as ETH. This would work by getting an ETH flash loan from Aave, depositing it to Maker to get DAI in return, and then swapping it on Uniswap back to ETH.

However by far the most talked-about transaction has been the arbitrage trade automated my Furucombo, at this stage you still have to figure out when the trade will be profitable but the execution can be automated. The great thing is that you don’t need to understand how the individual transactions work just if your balance will increase after the whole transaction flow after you account for fees. You can take advantage of cross-exchange/ platform arbitrage and cross-currency arbitrage opportunities.

Tax Implications

This is definitely one of the trickier aspects of not just Furucombo but the DeFi space as a whole. Only a few governments have posted crypto specific tax information and with DeFi being so new the best we can do is offer general interpretations as to how the laws could be perceived based on crypto rules and general tax guidelines. The good news is that using Furucombo specifically doesn’t have any extra tax rules, as the app connects directly to your wallet but the transactions themselves have tax implications.

Here are some general tax rules to keep in mind that can be applied to Furucombo combinations:

  • Any crypto to crypto trade triggers a tax event, the sale of one crypto triggers a tax event for that coin while the purchase of a new coin forms the cost basis for future trades in that coin

  • Transferring the same coin between platforms shouldn’t trigger a tax event as you are in control of the funds the whole time

  • Coins that are airdropped to you or earned from staking is generally considered income and not capital gains

  • Borrowing crypto is not a tax event as it isn’t income or capital gains

  • Borrowing funds to make a trade could be considered income and not capital gains as you are technically making a margin trade. This includes transactions involving flash loans.

News

Furucombo is moving at a rapid pace and is posting news at least once a fortnight. They have been integrating new DeFi protocols weekly but the main news comes from an update posted on September 22nd. With the main goal to demystify the DeFi world for beginners they have launched an explore page where users can explore individual combos used in the past, they can see the APY generated and easily load the transactions so you can do it yourself.

Resources

https://furucombo.app/ https://twitter.com/furucombo https://t.me/furucombo https://medium.com/furucombo https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1kGD4lvTSrmfKbDjQNOxQ

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Frequently asked questions

How does the CRA treat cryptocurrency for tax purposes?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) views cryptocurrency as a commodity, similar to a precious metal like gold. This means it's not considered legal tender like the Canadian dollar. How your cryptocurrency transactions are taxed depends on why you're using it. If you occasionally buy and sell cryptocurrency for investment purposes, any profits or losses are generally considered capital gains or losses. On the other hand, if your activities are more frequent, involve mining or staking, or are done with a profit motive, your cryptocurrency transactions may be considered business income or losses. The CRA requires you to report all taxable cryptocurrency transactions. This includes selling cryptocurrency for Canadian dollars or another cryptocurrency, using cryptocurrency to buy goods or services, receiving cryptocurrency as payment, and earning cryptocurrency from mining or staking. Failing to report these transactions can result in penalties or audits.

What are the tax implications for crypto-to-crypto trades in Canada?

The CRA considers crypto-to-crypto trades as dispositions. This means each trade triggers a capital gain or loss, even though you haven't received any Canadian dollars. To calculate the gain or loss, determine the adjusted cost base of the cryptocurrency you're disposing of and calculate the proceeds of disposition using the fair market value (in Canadian dollars) of the cryptocurrency you're acquiring.

Do I need to pay GST/HST on cryptocurrency transactions?

GST/HST may apply to cryptocurrency transactions in certain situations. If your business accepts cryptocurrency as payment for goods or services, you need to charge GST/HST. The tax is calculated on the fair market value of the cryptocurrency at the time of the transaction. Since the CRA treats crypto as a commodity, accepting it as payment is considered a barter transaction. Both parties involved in the barter may need to account for GST/HST. GST/HST generally doesn't apply to personal cryptocurrency transactions unless your activities are considered a business.

What happens if I fail to report cryptocurrency on my taxes in Canada?

Failing to report your cryptocurrency transactions can have serious consequences. The CRA can impose penalties and charge daily compound interest on any unpaid taxes. You may be subject to a tax audit, and in severe cases, you could face criminal charges. If you realize you made a mistake or omission on your tax return, you can correct it through the CRA's Voluntary Disclosures Program. This allows you to come forward and disclose the information before the CRA starts an audit. It's always best to be proactive and report all your cryptocurrency activity accurately and on time.

How does the free trial work?

The platform is free to use immediately upon signup, allowing you to import your transactions and take advantage of our smart suggestion and auto-categorization engine, portfolio tracking, DeFi and NFT support. For access to reports, the tax loss harvest tool or chat and priority support, you will need to upgrade to the appropriate paid plan.

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