5 Sep 2026 · 12:00 UTC

How the “buy, borrow, die” tax trade is quietly loading DeFi pools with hidden credit risk

Imagine someone who bought ETH for $1,000, watched it climb to $4,000, and now wants to cash out $1,000. Selling one-quarter of the ETH would provide the cash, but it would also realize a $750 gain under US tax treatment of digital assets held for investment. However, DeFi offers another way. The owner can deposit …