It’s also a gain or loss if there was a gain or loss.

If you got paid and liquidated immediately, the price change was not worth mentioning and the income tax is.

If you bought crypto to immediately pay for a server, the price change is not worth mentioning because it likely didn’t change more than a fraction of a percent and the expense is worth mentioning.

Current law factors that in, because current law doesn't factor in what asset was used for payment.

With rise of stablecoins like DAI and USDC where equally large volumes are being used, focusing exclusively on capital gain/loss is even more misguided.

It doesn't matter though. It's like when I get RSUs and sell all immediately. I still have to file the sales as a capital gain, even if the amount is basically 0.

The also was italicized for emphasis.

But to your point, RSUs - unless you did an 83b election - have a bigger income tax component, especially in your sell immediately example. Which reinforces my point that the prioritization is wrong and that focusing exclusively on capital gain/loss is misguided. This time I’ll italicize exclusively, for emphasis, lest that somehow gets lost in the message.