Staking, Airdrops and DeFi in Ireland: What Revenue Says

Updated 17 October 2026 · Information only · Not tax or financial advice

Short answer: Revenue says there are no special tax rules for crypto-assets (its page on cryptocurrencies, published June 22, 2026; TDM 02-01-03, last reviewed January 2026). The manual covers income tax versus CGT (trading or not), VAT, payroll, valuation, the remittance basis for non-domiciled individuals, PAYE-only employees and CAT on gifts. It does not contain any section on staking rewards, airdrops, yield or DeFi, so we can't tell you how Revenue taxes them. We deliberately don't fill the gap with third-party guesses.

What the manual does say, and which could matter

• General principle: where a tax event arises on any transaction involving crypto-assets, normal rules apply and you must keep proper records.
• Disposals: selling, transferring or redeeming crypto-assets is "most likely" a CGT disposal unless a trade of dealing is being carried on (which transactions are disposals).
• Trade is a question of fact: calling something a "trade" isn't enough; Revenue points to its guidance on trading in shares and securities (badges of trade).
• Valuation: make a reasonable effort to use an appropriate value (which price to use).
• Employees: salary paid in crypto is taxed by reference to its euro value (employer pays in crypto).

What we can safely say about rewards

1. If you receive crypto in return for work or services, it may be income; Revenue's manual covers only the payroll case.
2. Whatever the nature of a reward, a later disposal of the tokens is likely a CGT disposal with a base cost that depends on how the receipt was treated; the manual doesn't set that out.
3. If the activity amounts to a trade, income tax rules apply instead (trade question above). The classification of a given reward is something to settle with a qualified adviser or Revenue before filing.

What to do now

• Record each reward: date, token, quantity, euro value you used and your source for the price.
• Keep protocol or exchange statements (record keeping).
• Don't assume a US or UK treatment applies in Ireland.

FAQ

Do third-party guides agree on a rule?

They differ and are not Revenue positions, so we don't rely on them.

Is a liquidity pool deposit a disposal?

Not covered by Revenue's manual; the disposal question depends on the facts.

Does the new 31% CGT rate apply?

Expected for disposals on or after October 7, 2026, per Revenue guidance (Budget 2027), still to be legislated (rate).

What we could not verify

Sources (official)

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