Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of the eighth iteration of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC8), a cryptocurrency tax reporting rule, in a plenary session on Sept. 13.
Held in Strasbourg, France, the session reportedly saw DAC8 receive overwhelming support in the form of 535 member votes for and just 57 against. The measure received 60 abstentions as well.
Heads up: The European Parliament plenary adoption of the #DAC8 is happening today
As a reminder: DAC8 is an instrumental legislation designed to further harmonise the crypto-assets market, complementing #MiCA and #AML regulations.
According to European Union documents, DAC8 is meant to empower tax collectors with the authority to track and assess all cryptocurrency transactions conducted by organizations or individuals within the member states:
“On 8 December 2022, the European Commission proposed to set up a reporting framework which would require crypto-asset service providers to report transactions made by EU clients. This would help tax authorities to track the trade of crypto-assets and the proceeds gained, thereby reducing the risk of tax fraud and evasion.”
The Sept. 13 plenary session vote was the final hurdle ahead of DAC8’s passage. Going forward, EU member states will have until Dec. 31, 2025 to implement the rules ahead of it officially going into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
As Cointelegraph previously reported, DAC was approved in May 2023 after the passage of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) legislation. The “8” in the updated program’s title refers to its eighth iteration, with each prior standing directive addressing a different facet of financial oversight.
In its current form, DAC8 adheres to the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and the legislation outlined in MiCA and, ostensibly, covers all EU-based cryptocurrency asset transactions.
Some DAC8 critics have opined that it contains little to differentiate itself from CARF and takes oversight ability away from individual member states.
Max Bernt, chief legal officer at Blockpit, wrote in an analysis earlier this year that such sweeping change “concerns in particular the obligation of RCASPs [reporting crypto asset service providers] to determine on a case-by-case basis whether a transferred crypto-asset is reportable or not.” He also expressed concern over possible “duplicate reporting” as lawmakers attempt to disentangle existing regulations with those planned for implementation.
US banking groups have urged Congress to close a so-called loophole letting stablecoin issuers offer yields through affiliate firms, fearing it undermines the banking system.
US and international law enforcement agencies have taken down servers and websites linked to the BlackSuit ransomware group and seized $1 million in crypto.
It says human rights in the UK “worsened” in 2024, with “credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression”, as well as “crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism” since the 7 October Hamas attack against Israel.
On free speech, while “generally provided” for, the report cites “specific areas of concern” around limits on “political speech deemed ‘hateful’ or ‘offensive'”.
Sir Keir Starmer has previously defended the UK’s record on free speech after concerns were raised by Mr Vance.
In response to the report, a UK government spokesperson said: “Free speech is vital for democracy around the world including here in the UK, and we are proud to uphold freedoms whilst keeping our citizens safe.”
Image: Keir Starmer and JD Vance have clashed in the past over free speech in the UK. Pics: PA
The US report highlights Britain’s public space protection orders, which allow councils to restrict certain activities in some public places to prevent antisocial behaviour.
It also references “safe access zones” around abortion clinics, which the Home Office says are designed to protect women from harassment or distress.
They have been criticised by Mr Vance before, notably back in February during a headline-grabbing speech at the Munich Security Conference.
Ministers have said the Online Safety Act is about protecting children, and repeatedly gone so far as to suggest people who are opposed to it are on the side of predators.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
5:23
Why do people want to repeal the Online Safety Act?
The report comes months after Sir Keir bit back at Mr Vance during a summit at the White House, cutting in when Donald Trump’s VP claimed there are “infringements on free speech” in the UK.
“We’ve had free speech for a very long time, it will last a long time, and we are very proud of that,” the PM said.
But Mr Vance again raised concerns during a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at his country estate in Kent last week, saying he didn’t want the UK to go down a “very dark path” of losing free speech.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The Trump administration itself has been accused of trying to curtail free speech and stifle criticism, most notably by targeting universities – Harvard chief among them.