The second annual San José State University 2025 Blockchain Tax Conference, held on January 24, 2025 at the Delta Hotel in Santa Clara, proved to be an invaluable event for anyone interested in learning more about blockchain technology and its relationship with taxation. With 17 expert speakers and an audience full of additional experienced professionals, the conference offered a comprehensive overview of the current blockchain landscape and future trends, making it a must-attend for tax professionals, academics, and students.
Attendees benefited from a diverse range of sessions covering critical topics. The day began with an introduction to blockchain technology and its tax implications, presented by Seoyoung Kim, department chair and associate professor of finance at Santa Clara University. Kim laid the groundwork for understanding the nuances of custodial versus non-custodial wallets, different mining and staking income models, and the distinctions between fungible tokens and non-fungible tokens, better known as NFTs.
Blockchain Tax Conference attendees minting their own commemorative NFT BTC 2025 token. Photo by Adriana Avila.
Adding a unique and engaging element to the conference, attendees had the opportunity to mint their own commemorative NFT BTC 2025 token using a Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP). By simply tapping their phones on a designated device, participants were directed to a POAP mint page. From there, they could claim their token by either entering their cryptocurrency wallet address or providing an email address to receive a unique minting link.
This innovative approach allowed attendees to learn about blockchain technology, while also experiencing it firsthand by creating a tangible memento of the event.
A significant portion of the conference focused on the practical application of the final Section 6045 regulations. Experts including Shehan Chandrasekera, head of tax strategy at CoinTracker, Lawrence Zlotkin, VP of Tax at Coinbase, and Erin Fennimore, VP of enterprise tax solutions at Taxbit, delved into the intricacies of these regulations, addressing the challenges custodial brokers and software support companies face in producing 2025 Forms 1099-DA. The discussion also provided valuable insights for taxpayers on how to prepare for receiving these forms.
Kristopher Klaich, policy director at The Digital Chamber, and Annette Nellen, SJSU MST Program Director and professor. Photo by Robert C. Bain.
The conference also addressed the latest developments in staking and mining and the complex issues surrounding compensatory payments made in cryptocurrency. These sessions offered practical guidance on handling crypto payments to employees and contractors, considering the technology involved and the type of digital asset used.
Other key topics included the evolving legislative landscape, with Kristopher Klaich, policy director at The Digital Chamber, and our very own Annette Nellen, MS Taxation Program Director and professor, providing updates on both tax and non-tax legislation.
Nellen reflected, “The 2025 SJSU Blockchain Tax Conference was another terrific sharing and discussion on key digital asset tax matters. We were pleased to also have so many MST alums and students involved with this conference.”
The Third Annual Blockchain Tax Conference is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026 at the Delta Hotel in Santa Clara. A 1-hour BTC update webinar will be held in late summer 2025. Details will be provided on the Tax Institute website.
Lucas College and Graduate School of Business faculty, staff, students and alumni consistently make a significant impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Many graduates have gone on to excel in various industries, with a notable presence in Silicon Valley. These organizations recognize and value the exceptional education and skills our alumni bring to their roles, making San José State University a key contributor to the region’s thriving economy. We offer MBA, PMBA, MSFA, MSAA, MST and MSTM degrees at the graduate level and 14 different BSBA concentrations at the undergraduate level, the largest set of offerings among the CSUs. These include accounting, accounting information systems, business analytics, corporate accounting & finance, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, hospitality, tourism, & event management, human resources management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations & supply chain management.