CRA asks crypto users to keep, for every transaction, the date, the type and number of units, the CAD value at the time, what the transaction was and who the other party was, plus wallet addresses and yearly opening and closing balances. Keep them for at least six years after the last tax year they relate to.
Figures as of October 31, 2026.
CRA’s page on books and records for crypto-assets (modified November 10, 2025) lists what to keep. Here is that list, translated into what a crypto card actually produces.
| CRA asks for | On a crypto card that means |
|---|---|
| Date and time of each transaction | Every reward credit, every conversion at the till, every top-up and withdrawal |
| Type and number of units | For example 0.00004120 BTC reward; 0.0015 BTC sold for a purchase |
| CAD value at the time | The CAD value of each reward on the day credited; the CAD amount of each purchase |
| Nature of the transaction and the other party | Reward, purchase (merchant name), stake, unstake, transfer |
| Addresses of each wallet you use | Deposit and withdrawal addresses for on-chain transfers to or from the platform |
| Opening and closing balance of each asset each year, with cost | A year-end snapshot of each coin held on the card platform and elsewhere |
| Platform trade and transfer ledgers | The CSV exports from the card app |
How long to keep it
At least six years from the end of the last tax year the records relate to (CRA). Staked tokens and rewards you keep for years extend that window, because the record matters when you finally sell.
Turning records into ACB
Your adjusted cost base per unit is an average across identical units you hold. Use our reward records tool to see how monthly credits change your average and what a later sale would report under two common treatments.
| Reward credits | 0.00025, 0.00026 and 0.00031 BTCcredited at $82,000, $79,000 and $66,000 per BTC |
|---|---|
| Later sale | 0.0006 BTC at $90,000 per BTC |
| CAD value when credited (all three) | $61.50 |
| Proceeds of the sale | $54.00 |
| A: gain if rewards were income when credited | $9.00average cost $75,000.00 per BTC; taxable half $4.50 |
| B: gain if rewards had nil cost | $54.00taxable half $27.00 |
Try your own credits in the reward records tool →Computed 2026-11-03.
What this means for you
Download the card app’s CSV on the first of each month and keep it for at least six years after the last tax year it covers.
Write down wallet addresses for any transfers to or from the platform; CRA lists them as records to keep.
Sources
- CRA — Keeping books and records of crypto-assets for tax filing — page dated November 10, 2025
- CRA — Special rules and other transactions (identical properties, average cost) — page dated February 5, 2026
- CRA tax tip — Reporting your capital gains as a crypto-asset user — page dated October 22, 2024
Educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice. 5 min read. Reviewed October 31, 2026.