An Israeli central district court reportedly ruled in favor of the country’s tax authority Monday, recognizing bitcoin as a financial asset and not a currency. Profits on its sale in Israel are therefore subject to capital gains tax.

Judge Shmuel Bornstein simultaneously rejected an appeal by the founder of a blockchain startup who argues that bitcoin should be considered a currency, so the proceeds from its sale should not be subject to taxation. Globes daily financial newspaper reported Tuesday:

The Central District Court in Lod accepted the tax authority’s interpretation, and held that bitcoin is an asset and not a currency, and that the transaction in question is therefore taxable.

Emphasizing that the status of bitcoin is still undefined in the country, the judge stated in his ruling that “it was hard to envisage a result whereby bitcoin would be considered a currency for tax purposes in particular,” the news outlet conveyed, noting that the case could reach the supreme court.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: news.bitcoin.com