Gift tax rules treat a transfer of cryptocurrency to a family member as a gift of property at its fair market value on the date of the gift. Because the IRS generally treats digital assets as property, the same federal gift tax framework applies: an annual exclusion per recipient, a much larger lifetime exemption, gift-tax reporting on Form 709 above the exclusion, and carryover basis to the recipient. The recipient generally owes no income tax on receiving the gift itself.
What Counts as a Crypto Gift
Transferring crypto to a family member without receiving full value in return is generally a gift of property. The amount of the gift is the fair market value of the crypto at the time of the transfer, not what you originally paid. Moving coins to a wallet you still control is not a gift; giving them to another person who controls them is. Distinguishing a genuine transfer of ownership from a move between your own wallets is the same issue addressed in are crypto wallet transfers taxable.
This page is about gifts to individuals such as children or a spouse. Donating crypto to charity is a different regime with different rules and deductions; see crypto charitable giving for high-net-worth investors.
The Annual Exclusion
You can generally give each recipient up to the annual gift tax exclusion amount per year without using any lifetime exemption and, in most cases, without filing a gift tax return for that gift. The exclusion is per recipient, so gifts to several family members each get their own exclusion, and a married couple can elect to "split" gifts to roughly double the amount per recipient.
The annual exclusion amount is set by the IRS and adjusts over time. As an illustrative figure dated 2026-06-02, the annual exclusion has recently been in the high-$10,000s per recipient (for example, on the order of $18,000–$19,000 in recent years). Treat that as illustrative only and verify the current-year figure with the IRS or a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
The Lifetime Exemption and Form 709
Gifts above the annual exclusion to a given recipient generally do not trigger tax immediately. Instead, the excess reduces your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption, and you generally report the gift on IRS Form 709. Gift tax is typically only due once you exhaust the lifetime exemption.
The lifetime exemption is large and is scheduled to change. As an illustrative point dated 2026-06-02, the unified gift and estate tax exemption has been in the multi-million-dollars-per-person range, and the amount is subject to inflation adjustment and to scheduled statutory changes that can raise or lower it. Because this figure is both large and a moving target, confirm the current exemption and any sunset or change with a qualified estate-tax professional. For larger transfers as part of a plan, this connects to crypto tax planning for HNW investors.
Basis Carryover: The Key Difference From Inheritance
This is where gifting crypto differs sharply from leaving it at death. When you gift crypto, the recipient generally takes your cost basis (a "carryover" basis) and your holding period. They do not get a step-up to fair market value. So if you gift a coin you bought for $5,000 that is now worth $30,000, the recipient's basis is generally $5,000, and they will recognize the built-in gain when they sell.
By contrast, crypto inherited at death generally receives a basis adjustment to date-of-death value. The illustrative comparison below is dated 2026-06-02; verify current rules.
| Transfer method | Recipient's basis | Built-in gain on later sale |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime gift | Generally carryover (your original basis) | Recipient inherits the unrealized gain |
| Inheritance at death | Generally adjusted to date-of-death fair market value | Pre-death appreciation generally not taxed to heir |
A special loss rule can apply: if the crypto is worth less than your basis at the time of the gift, a different basis may apply for computing a loss. This is fact-specific; confirm with a tax professional. The carryover-basis result is one reason gifting highly appreciated crypto is not always the most tax-efficient transfer, and why the choice belongs in a coordinated plan covered across the crypto tax records cluster.
Records to Keep for a Crypto Gift
Document the date of the gift, the fair market value at that date, your original cost basis and acquisition date (which carries to the recipient), the recipient, and any Form 709 filed. The recipient needs your basis records to report a future sale correctly. This recordkeeping is the same discipline described in what is Specific Identification for crypto and the crypto tax records checklist.
Related Questions
Does my child owe tax when I gift them crypto?
Generally no. The recipient of a gift does not owe income tax simply for receiving it. The donor handles any gift tax reporting. The recipient will, however, generally take your carryover basis and owe tax on the gain when they eventually sell. Confirm with a tax professional.
How much crypto can I gift tax-free each year?
You can generally give each recipient up to the annual gift tax exclusion per year without using lifetime exemption, and often without filing a return for that gift. The exclusion amount changes; the figures in this article are illustrative and dated, so verify the current-year amount before relying on it.
Do I get a step-up in basis when I gift crypto?
No. Gifts generally carry over your cost basis to the recipient, not a step-up. A step-up to fair market value generally applies to assets transferred at death, not to lifetime gifts. This distinction is fact-specific and the rules can change; confirm with an estate-tax professional.
Do I have to file Form 709 for a crypto gift?
Generally, you file Form 709 when a gift to a recipient exceeds the annual exclusion, or when spouses elect to split gifts. Filing reports use of the lifetime exemption; tax is usually only due once the exemption is exhausted. Verify the current filing thresholds with a tax professional.
Sources
- IRS, "Frequently Asked Questions on Gift Taxes." https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes
- IRS, "About Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return." https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-709
- IRS, "Digital Assets" (treated as property). https://www.irs.gov/filing/digital-assets
- 26 U.S.C. Section 1015 (basis of property acquired by gift).
- IRS Publication 551, Basis of Assets.
Compliance Note
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, investment, fiduciary, or accounting advice. Gift and estate tax rules, exclusion and exemption amounts, and basis rules are fact-specific and a moving target subject to inflation adjustment and scheduled statutory change; the figures shown are illustrative and dated 2026-06-02, and you should verify current law. The firm coordinates with qualified tax and estate professionals and does not itself provide tax or legal advice. Digital assets carry risk, including the potential loss of principal; nothing here implies guaranteed tax savings. Advisory services are provided by DAG Wealth, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser; DAG Wealth is a brand pending a Form ADV update. Consult a qualified CPA or tax attorney about your specific facts before making gifts. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.