Switzerland Just Gave Crypto a 2-Year Tax Reprieve – CARF Delayed to 2027

Though the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) becomes Swiss law on January 1, 2026, Switzerland officially delayed automated cross-border crypto tax data-sharing until at least 2027, a surprising turn that gave the crypto sector more breathing space. Domestic exchanges and suppliers must register, undertake full KYC due diligence, and collect all client information starting next year; however, real transmission of that data to foreign tax authorities is on pause till bilateral agreements are completed. Citing stagnant negotiations and the requirement to rethink partner countries as worldwide alignment encounters unforeseen obstacles, the Swiss Federal Council.

Originally scheduled to turn the switch in 2026 with 74 countries including the entire EU, UK, Japan, Canada, and most G20 countries, Switzerland remained conspicuously absent from the first-wave group alongside the US, China, and Saudi Arabia. Designed to eradicate crypto tax evasion by mandating standardized reporting similar to conventional bank accounts, the OECD's CARF was completed in 2022. But last-minute reinterpretations by the OECD and delays from other powerful actors caused the tax committee of Switzerland to stop discussions and pump the brakes.

The move is being praised as a masterstroke: Switzerland buys another 12 to 24 months of relative anonymity, keeps its title as the top crypto valley in the world, and yet remains on the side of worldwide openness obligations. Given that the US is still far from CARF adoption, the delay might have worldwide repercussions and alter the whole 2026–2027 launch timetable.