How to sell Ethereum in United States
Verified 2026-06-02 · 6 primary regulators · 5 venues compared
Short answer
Selling ETH in the US in 2026 follows the same tax framework as selling BTC — every sale is a TAXABLE DISPOSAL at fair-market value, with short-term (≤365d) vs long-term (>365d) holding-period rules applying to the rate. The cleanest off-ramps are Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, Crypto.com, and Robinhood (Cash App + Strike are Bitcoin-only). ETH-specific consideration: if your ETH includes staking rewards, those have a SEPARATE cost basis (FMV at receipt) that must be tracked independently. 1099-DA mandatory from 2025+.
Fee comparison
All-in cost per venue across the most-common payment + settlement paths. Verified 2026-06-02.
| Venue | Sell Fee | ACH Withdrawal Fee | Wire Fee | Max Withdrawal Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | Spread (~0.5-1.5%) + per-trade (Advanced ~0.4-0.6%; Simple ~1.49%) | Free; 1-3 bus days | $25 outgoing | $25K standard; tier-up to $100K+ |
| Kraken | Maker 0.16% / Taker 0.26%; Instant Sell ~1.5% | Free; 1-3 bus days | $4-$30 depending on currency | $100K+ tier-based |
| Gemini | ActiveTrader 0.0-0.4%; Mobile ~1.49% + spread | Free (10/month then $0.50) | Free | $100K+ verified |
| Crypto.com | Exchange tier maker/taker fees; Simple spread ~1% | Free; 1-3 bus days | Variable | Tier-based |
| Robinhood Crypto | Spread-only (~0.5-1%) | Free; 1-5 bus days | $0 | $50K daily typical |
Regulatory framing — United States
Same FinCEN + state-MTL framework as BTC sales. 1099-DA from venue is mandatory for 2025+ ETH sales under IRC §6045 amended by the 2026 IRS final regs. For ETH that came from STAKING REWARDS specifically, the cost basis is the ETH's FMV on receipt date (NOT the original purchase basis) — the venue's 1099-DA may not reflect this correctly if you staked off-venue. Manual reconciliation on Form 8949 may be required for staking-derived ETH. The SEC has not pursued enforcement against retail spot-ETH sales but reserves jurisdiction on staked-ETH derivatives. CFTC asserts spot ETH is a commodity.
Primary regulators: FinCEN · SEC · CFTC · IRS · OCC · State MTL
Common gotchas
- Wash-sale rule (IRC §1091) currently does NOT apply to crypto. You CAN sell ETH at a loss and rebuy immediately for tax-loss harvesting without losing the loss. BUT: pending legislation has periodically threatened to extend the rule to crypto. Verify current law before year-end harvesting.
- Staked-ETH rewards have a separate cost basis from your originally-purchased ETH. When selling, specific-identification can material-affect the tax outcome. The venue's default FIFO may not pick the optimal lot. Crypto-tax software can model the difference.
- If you're selling Liquid-Staked-ETH derivatives (stETH, rETH, etc.), the tax treatment depends on whether you're holding the LST or unstaking back to ETH first. Different venues handle the disposal-event timing differently. Document carefully.
- Selling > $10K in one transaction triggers FinCEN reporting on the venue side. Structuring multiple sub-$10K sales to avoid this is itself a separate federal offense.
- Capital-gains rates depend on your TOTAL taxable income, not just the gain. A large ETH sale in a high-income year can push you into the 20% federal long-term rate bracket (vs 15% if you sold the same ETH in a lower-income year). Year-end timing matters for high-net-worth sellers.
Step-by-step
- Identify the lot you're disposing. FIFO is the default; specific-identification is permitted with documentation. If your ETH came from multiple acquisition events (staking rewards, multiple buys), choose the lot that minimizes your tax. Crypto-tax software can model alternatives.
- Execute the sell on the venue holding that lot. Cross-venue sells require manual cost-basis reconciliation. If possible, sell from the venue where the target lot lives.
- Wait for internal settlement (typically instant). ETH→USD on most venues is instant. Some venues hold sells for 24-48 hours during unusual activity.
- Initiate the fiat withdrawal. ACH: 1-3 bus days, free. Wire: same-day, $15-$30. Instant card: 1.5% fee, sub-$1K typical limit.
- Reconcile the 1099-DA when received. Venues issue late January. Cross-check against your crypto-tax software output. Document any cross-venue or staking-derived basis discrepancies.
- Report the disposal. Form 8949 + Schedule D. Long-term gains qualify for preferential rates. Net losses > $3K carry forward to future years.
Tax summary
Selling ETH in the US is a taxable disposal. Short-term (≤365d) = ordinary rates (10-37%); long-term (>365d) = preferential capital-gains (0/15/20% + 3.8% NIIT for high earners). 1099-DA from 2025+; cost basis from 2026+. Staking-derived ETH has separate cost basis from purchased ETH — track independently. See /crypto-taxes-us/.
Where to read further
- United States crypto tax primer
- Best crypto banks in United States
- Best crypto tax software for United States filers
- /how-to/buy-ethereum-us/
- /how-to/send-ethereum-us/
- /how-to/sell-bitcoin-us/
- /crypto-taxes-us/
- /best-crypto-tax-software/us/
Methodology
Fee data verified directly against each venue's public fee schedule on 2026-06-02. Regulatory framing cross-referenced against the Stage 1d info-layer + primary government sources (bsa-fincen, us-cftc-cea, us-fdic-12cfr330, us-state-mtl, ny-bitlicense, irs-1099-da-broker). Gotchas reflect operating experience + community-reported failure modes during the verification window. This page is editorial reference content — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify the current state of each venue and the current law in United States before transacting.
Disclaimer
This page is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency regulation in United States evolves; verify the current rules with a qualified professional in your jurisdiction before relying on any specific approach. See terms.