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> This gets extremely ugly if you are trading one cryptocurrency for another, as these trades are unclear as to whether they are an entry or an exit.

Trading one crytocurrency for another is a taxable event. Just like how trading one real currency for another is a taxable event. It's not unclear and trading platforms provide tax tools that solves this problem

I traded crypto and paid my taxes

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I believe prior to 2018 this was not the case with crypto.

Weren't they treated more like property then?

I think Like-Kind is the term. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but IIRC any crypto-for-crypto was a Like-Kind exchange prior to Jan 1, 2018.

There is no evidence this is the case except wishful thinking.

It was possible to do so before that date, but you could also not treat it that way, as well.

The IRS then released guidance that after Jan 1st 2018, it was not acceptable to do so.

> prior to 2018 this was not the case with crypto

This is "far from certain" [1]. After 31 December 2017, like-kind exchanges are limited to real estate transactions. Before that date, it's ambiguous.

[1] https://www.coindesk.com/owe-irs-crypto-crypto-trades

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