The LIFO Method
Italy uses the LIFO (Last In, First Out) method to calculate capital gains and losses on cryptocurrencies. This system determines which cryptocurrencies are sold when multiple assets with the same ticker are owned but purchased at different prices.
With the LIFO method, if you bought the same cryptocurrency at different prices at different times, when you sell part of it, the calculation of gains or losses is based on the purchase price of the most recently acquired cryptocurrencies.
This method is important because it affects the calculation of capital gains or losses, determining the amount of taxes you will need to pay on the sale.
An Example
• May: User A buys 0.5 BTC at €20,000 (cost basis: €10,000)
• June: User A buys 0.5 BTC at €15,000 (cost basis: €7,500)
• July: User A buys 0.5 BTC at €10,000 (cost basis: €5,000)
• September: User A sells 1 BTC for €15,000
According to the LIFO method, the cryptocurrencies sold are the most recently purchased ones, i.e., those from July and June.
The capital gain calculation is as follows:
Selling price - (Cost basis of July + Cost basis of June)
€15,000 − (€5,000 + €7,500) = €2,500
In this case, the user has generated a capital gain of €2,500.
Taxation of Crypto-to-Crypto Exchanges
Crypto-to-crypto transactions (or swaps) are taxed and require the calculation of gains or losses only in certain cases.
Crypto-to-Crypto Transactions from 2023 Onward
Everything depends on the categories to which the exchanged cryptocurrencies belong. According to the October 2023 circular from the Italian Revenue Agency, each cryptocurrency must be categorized based on two criteria:
Economic Function
E-money tokens: Cryptocurrencies that maintain a stable value relative to a FIAT currency (e.g., Euro or USD).
Asset-referenced tokens (ART): Cryptocurrencies whose value is backed by a pool of assets such as other cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, stocks, or bonds.
Other crypto assets: All other cryptocurrencies.
Economic Purpose
Utility tokens: Tokens that grant access to a crypto project’s product or service.
Security tokens: Digital assets representing traditional investment instruments (stocks, bonds, etc.).
Payment tokens: Tokens used as a payment method for goods or services or as a means of value transfer.
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): Unique, non-interchangeable tokens often used in art or collectibles.
Example: BTC is classified as an “Other crypto asset” under Economic Function and a “Payment token” under Economic Purpose.
If the exchanged cryptocurrencies belong to different categories based on either Economic Function or Economic Purpose, the trade is taxable.
Economic Function - Taxable Category Changes
| Other Crypto Assets | ART | E-money |
Other Crypto Assets | Not taxed | Not taxed | Taxed |
ART | Not taxed | Not taxed | Taxed |
E-money | Taxed | Taxed | Not taxed |
According to the Economic Function, crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxed only when exchanging e-money tokens for Other Crypto Assets or ART (and vice versa).
Economic Purpose - Taxable Category Changes
| Utility | Security | Payment | NFT |
Utility | Not taxed | Taxed | Taxed | Taxed |
Security | Taxed | Not taxed | Taxed | Taxed |
Payment | Taxed | Taxed | Not taxed | Taxed |
NFT | Taxed | Taxed | Taxed | Not taxed |
According to Economic Purpose, crypto-to-crypto swaps are always taxed, except for transactions within the same category (e.g., payment token ↔ payment token).
A crypto-to-crypto trade is NOT taxed only if both criteria (Economic Function and Economic Purpose) indicate no taxation. You must check both tables to determine whether a swap is taxable. |
If even one criterion requires taxation, capital gains or losses must be calculated.
Some Examples
BTC ↔ ETH → Not Taxed
Token | Economic Function | Economic Purpose |
BTC | Other Crypto Assets | Payment |
ETH | Other Crypto Assets | Payment |
Reason: Same Economic Function and same Economic Purpose.
USDT ↔ SOL → Taxed
Token | Economic Function | Economic Purpose |
USDT | E-money | Payment |
SOL | Other Crypto Assets | Payment |
Reason: Different Economic Function.
LINK ↔ MATIC → Taxed
Token | Economic Function | Economic Purpose |
LINK | Other Crypto Assets | Utility |
MATIC | Other Crypto Assets | Payment |
Reason: Different Economic Purpose.
Crypto-to-Crypto Transactions Before 2023
Until 2023, crypto-to-crypto transactions were only taxed if, during the year, the taxpayer’s total average cryptocurrency holdings exceeded €51,645.69 for at least seven consecutive business days.
For tax years before 2023, it was necessary to check the total value of cryptocurrencies held across all wallets and exchanges:
• If the total exceeded the threshold, crypto-to-crypto transactions were taxable.
• If the total remained below the threshold, transactions were not taxed.