How crypto capital gains are calculated
In most countries, selling, swapping or spending cryptocurrency is a taxable event, and the gain equals your proceeds minus your cost basis. This calculator uses FIFO (first-in, first-out) — the most common default method — to decide which coins you sold: it matches each sale against your oldest purchases first. Trading fees are folded in automatically, raising your cost basis on buys and lowering your proceeds on sells, so the gain reflects what you actually netted.
Short-term vs long-term matters
Many tax systems tax assets held for less than a year (short-term) at a higher rate than those held longer (long-term). This tool checks the holding period of every matched lot and sorts each disposal into the right bucket, then applies the short-term and long-term rates you enter. Seeing the split makes it obvious when waiting a little longer to sell could move a gain into the lower-taxed long-term category.
Why cost basis and fees trip people up
The biggest source of crypto-tax errors is cost basis — especially when you've bought the same coin many times at different prices. FIFO removes the guesswork by always consuming your earliest lots first, and this calculator shows exactly which purchases were matched to each sale. Fees are included on both sides, because ignoring them overstates your gain and your tax. Your remaining unsold holdings are listed with their carried basis so you know where you stand for next year.
An estimate, not tax advice
This tool gives a fast, transparent capital-gains estimate for planning — but tax rules differ by country and change over time, some jurisdictions allow other methods (LIFO, HIFO, average cost) or tax crypto differently, and events like staking rewards, airdrops and gifts have their own treatment. Use the figures here to understand your position, then confirm with a qualified tax professional before filing.
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- FIFO cost-basis matching per coin
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- Short-term vs long-term gain split
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- Fees folded into basis and proceeds
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- Per-disposal breakdown and remaining holdings
