Although Switzerland will adopt the global standard for sharing tax information on crypto accounts on January 1, 2026, its practical rollout will not happen before 2027. The delay was approved by the Swiss government, which has yet to determine the list of partner countries for CARF data exchange.

CARF rules adopted but timeline unclear

The Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), an international standard created under the OECD to curb tax evasion in digital assets, was originally set to launch in Switzerland in early 2026. The government now confirms that actual data exchange will be postponed.

The Federal Council and the State Secretariat for International Finance said that the legal adoption will proceed as planned, but implementation cannot begin before 2027. The postponement follows stalled talks within a government tax committee tasked with deciding which partner states Switzerland will share data with.

Efforts to ease transition for domestic crypto businesses

Alongside the announcement, the government proposed several adjustments to local tax rules related to crypto assets. The aim is to ease the transition toward future CARF obligations and give businesses more preparation time. Transitional measures should reduce the administrative burden for exchanges, custody providers, and fintech startups operating in Switzerland.

The Federal Council previously indicated that the first data exchange would take place in 2027. After the new delay, even this timeline is uncertain.

75 countries join CARF, but major economies still missing

According to OECD documents, 75 countries plan to adopt CARF within the next two to four years. Notable absentees include Argentina, El Salvador, Vietnam, and India.

Interest in standardized reporting continues to grow. Brazil recently signaled that it may introduce a tax on international crypto transfers to align local rules with CARF. And the White House reviewed an IRS proposal that could pave the way for the United States to join CARF, especially to tighten reporting rules on crypto gains made on foreign exchanges.

What does the delay mean for users?

For everyday investors, nothing changes yet. Switzerland will pass CARF into law, but data exchange will be postponed. This creates a longer period of uncertainty for foreign tax authorities and crypto companies preparing for the new framework.

At the same time, the delay underscores mounting international pressure for more transparent crypto reporting. Once Switzerland begins sharing data, stricter oversight of cross-border transactions and tax compliance is likely.

Sources:

https://www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/oAaJyRFS1lqJ7PN3sLJTP

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/networks/global-forum-tax-transparency/commitments-carf.pdf