I onboard, purchase and dispose of crypto on my account - which sometimes constitutes many transactions - and transfer (CGT event) it to my spouse's cold storage which he keeps as long-term investment holding. So long as we keep two records of transaction history, is this a legitimate means of segregating activity and tax liability?
Hi @KeithT,
From an ATO perspective, keeping separate records is important. But records alone don’t determine tax outcomes.
Transferring crypto to your spouse (including to their cold storage) is a CGT event for you. It’s treated as a disposal at market value, even though it’s between spouses. Any capital gain or loss up to the time of transfer is yours, not your spouse’s. After the transfer, your spouse is taken to acquire the crypto at market value, and they are responsible for CGT on any future disposal.
There are no special tax rules for crypto assets (even for transfers between spouses for crypto), so each transfer needs to be accounted for correctly.
Because frequent transactions and inter‑spouse transfers can make CGT tracking complex, if you’re ever unsure how the rules apply to your circumstances, you may want to speak with a registered tax agent certainty.
15 Apr 2026 · 8 min read time
4 Dec 2023 · 9 min read time
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