We have been studying crypto sector for the past five years: JB Mohapatra

We now have sufficient working knowledge as to how the sector works, and in what manner surplus is being generated, says Mohapatra

A day after the presentation of the Budget, JB Mohapatra, chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), said the department had been closely studying the cryptocurrency sector, and expressed confidence that the taxman will be able to track and tax income from digital assets. He also made it clear that the department does not concern itself with legality. In conversation with Arup Roychoudhury and Asit Ranjan Mishra, Mohapatra said there has been demand from the industry to streamline capital gains taxes and that could happen, going ahead. Edited excerpts:

The major announcement was tax on income from crypto and