Pierre Rochard, a board member at Strive, said U.S. tax rules — not scaling technology — are the main barrier to Bitcoin being used for everyday payments. In December 2025 the Bitcoin Policy Institute warned there is no de minimis tax exemption for small Bitcoin transactions, which leaves each transfer potentially taxable (Ed. note: this discourages routine use).
Pierre Rochard compared the situation to a top athlete sitting out and letting a weaker opponent win. He tweeted. “Here’s a metaphor: the best athlete can win against the worst athlete 100% of the time, if the best athlete plays. It drops to 0% if he doesn’t play and lets the weak athlete win,”
The absence of a de minimis exemption means every BTC payment can trigger capital gains reporting and taxes. Some U.S. lawmakers are considering limiting any de minimis exemption to overcollateralized, dollar-pegged stablecoins, which drew backlash.
Cynthia Lummis introduced a July 2025 bill that would exempt digital asset transactions of $300 or less, with a $5,000 annual cap. She introduced the bill, which would also defer income from staking and mining until assets are sold.
Industry figures reacted on social media. Jack Dorsey tweeted, “We want BTC to be everyday money ASAP.” Marty Bent said the proposed stablecoin-only exemption is “nonsensical.” Rochard posted a related message.
