CLASSIFICATION OF CRYPTO-ASSETS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS: BUILDING A COMPLIANCE MATRIX AS A TAX ANALYSIS TOOL

Abstract

Introduction. The rapid proliferation of blockchain-based financial instruments has outpaced the capacity of existing tax frameworks to classify and assess the diverse universe of crypto-assets and associated transactions. While international bodies such as the OECD, FATF, and the European Union have each proposed regulatory taxonomies, no unified analytical structure exists that systematically maps asset types to transaction types for tax purposes. This gap hinders consistent policy design and creates opportunities for regulatory arbitrage across jurisdictions. Purpose. This paper aims to develop a multi-level classification of crypto-assets and a comprehensive taxonomy of crypto-asset transactions grounded in international regulatory standards, and to introduce the concept of a compliance matrix that cross-references these two dimensions as a structured tool for tax analysis. Methods. The study employs comparative regulatory analysis across six major international frameworks (MiCA, FATF, CARF, IMF, IFRS, UN Toolkit), structural systematization based on economic function, ownership rights, value derivation, and regulatory status, and matrix modelling to produce the asset–transaction intersection. Results. The research yields a seven-category asset taxonomy encompassing over thirty subcategories and an eleven-group transaction classification covering more than fifty distinct operation types. Their intersection generates over 1 500 asset–transaction cells, each assigned a ternary applicability value. Analysis of the matrix reveals that native cryptocurrencies exhibit the broadest operational profile, whereas CBDCs and Soulbound Tokens occupy narrow functional niches. A substantial proportion of conditionally applicable cells highlights persistent regulatory uncertainty, particularly in DeFi lending, yield farming, and NFT royalties. Conclusion. The compliance matrix constitutes the minimum viable structure required for systematic tax assessment of digital assets. It shifts the analytical paradigm from ad hoc evaluation of individual transactions toward a comprehensive tax map of the crypto-asset market. The matrix is designed as a stepping stone toward a full tax matrix in which each cell receives a jurisdiction-specific tax treatment across VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax, and CARF reporting obligations. The author proposes that a staged approach – from classification to compliance matrix to tax matrix – offers the most methodologically sound path toward a coherent international tax policy for digital assets.