Before we get out our big sexy accounting books, a quick refresher on crytocurrencies. A cryptocurrency is a medium of exchange such as the US dollar. There are bitcoin stock 2015 frs many different types of cryptocurrency in existence. The most popular, Bitcoin, was the first cryptocurrency to appear in January Like the US dollar, cryptocurrency bitcoin stock 2015 frs no intrinsic value in that it is not redeemable for another commodity, such as gold.
Unlike the US dollar, however, cryptocurrency has no physical form, is not legal tender, and is not currently backed by any government or legal entity.
In addition, its supply is not determined by a central bank and all transactions are performed and validated by the users of the system without an intermediary such as a bank facilitating these functions. The term cryptocurrency is used because the technology is based bitcoin stock 2015 frs public-key cryptography for those without a PhD in programming, this just means that the communication is secure from third parties.
The speed, ease and cost savings associated with this type of currency means it has the potential to become the popular choice for payments, with large brands such as EBay, Dell and PayPal accepting Bitcoin payment.
Although the function of a cyptocurrency is to improve the ability of parties to bitcoin stock 2015 frs digitally bitcoin stock 2015 frs each other, to date most investors in cryptocurrencies are investing in them with the hope of realising capital gains.
Holdings bitcoin stock 2015 frs cryptocurrencies can be both large and their value can be volatile — so users of financial statements probably want to know about them. However, there is a significant shortcoming: Most common sense accountants yes, there are still some of us left would agree that the best accounting for a cryptocurrency would be fair value. In order to bitcoin stock 2015 frs able to measure cryptocurrencies at fair value sheesh, typing out cryptocurrency is getting tiring, can I just say Bitcoin from now on please, you know what I mean?
So Bitcoins fail the definition of a financial asset. Okay, so where does that leave us other than scratching our collective heads in consternation. If the Bitcoins are recognised as inventory, then they would need to be measured at cost. If the Bitcoins are recognised as intangible assets, then the default position would also be to measure them at cost. There is the possibility that if the Bitcoins are accounted for as intangible assets, an entity might be able to justify that there is an active market for the Bitcoins, in which case the Bitcoins would be able to be measured at fair value.
However, this is still only second prize, because movements in that fair value would be recognised through other comprehensive income and the gain would not be recycled through bitcoin stock 2015 frs and loss when the Bitcoins are realised. Accounting for Bitcoins at fair value with movements reflected in profit or loss would provide the most useful information to investors.
However, existing accounting requirements do not seem to permit this. Accounting for cryptocurrency is not on the agenda of the International Accounting Standards Board.
How long do you think it will take before cryptocurrency is a big enough deal that we need a bespoke solution? Connect with him on LinkedIn. Valentin Zhuravel 28 November at Hi Valentin - that's an excellent question, I also wondered if that might be the "silver bullet" to bitcoin stock 2015 frs this. Cryptocurrencies are not commodities because they do not represent raw materials or agricultural produce so I don't think that is a possible solution.
Obviously cryptocurrencies don't fit to any of currently existing definitions in IFRS. The good thing about commodity trading is that commodity is not specifically defined in IFRS if I'm not mistaken. Commodity can be considered as something valuable and actively traded in an open market.
Cryptocurrencies can meet this definition. But of course IASB has to react faster. Valentin Zhuravel 30 November at Of course, if a company holds crypto-currency you're right that's not fun to write out and they adopt the intangible asset viewpoint, under IAS 38, they could choose to account for their Bitcoin much easier using the revaluation option.
But, under the IAS 38 revaluation approach, accounting for revaluation gains called revaluation surplus and losses are not parallel. Gains are reported in equity, unless there were prior revaluation losses. With the current volatility of Bitcoin, I'm bitcoin stock 2015 frs that most companies would prefer reporting gains and losses in a similar manner.
For the record, I teach international accounting in the U. We've talked about Blockchain and cryto-currency and I've always taken the simple "fair value" accounting perspective, sort of like accounting for foreign currency transactions under IAS But, as you say, Bitcoin and such are non-monetary, so that approach, though sensible, isn't consistent with the standard.
I'll certainly make it required reading for my international accounting class. Richard Jones 30 November at Treasury classified bitcoin as a convertible decentralized virtual currency in Per IRS, bitcoin is taxed as a property. In Septembera federal judge ruled that "Bitcoins are funds within the plain meaning of that term".
Bitcoin is legal in Mexico as of It is to be regulated as a virtual asset by the FinTech Law. Japan officially recognizes bitcoin and digital currencies as a "means of payment that is not a legal currency" see Article of Japans's Payment Services Act PSA 25 May On 7 Marchthe Japanese government, in response to a series of questions asked in the National Diet, made a cabinet decision on the legal treatment of bitcoins in the form of answers to the questions.
The decision did not see bitcoin as currency nor bond under the current Banking Act and Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, bitcoin stock 2015 frs banks and securities companies from dealing in bitcoins. The decision also acknowledges that there are no laws to unconditionally prohibit individuals or legal entities from receiving bitcoins bitcoin stock 2015 frs exchange for goods or services.
Taxes may be applicable to bitcoins. According to Nikkei Asian Review, in February"Japanese financial regulators have proposed handling virtual currencies as methods of payment equivalent to conventional currencies". The city of Hirosaki is officially accepting bitcoin donations with the goal of attracting international tourists and financing local projects. On 19 Augustthe German Finance Ministry announced that bitcoin is now essentially a "unit of account" and can be used for the purpose of tax and trading in the country, meaning that purchases made with it must pay VAT as with Bitcoin stock 2015 frs transactions.
It is not classified as a foreign currency or e—money but stands as "private money" which can be used in "multilateral clearing circles", according to the ministry. Bitcoin businesses in Switzerland are subject to anti-money laundering regulations and in some instances may need to obtain a banking license. In response to the parliament postulates, the Swiss Federal Council issued a report on virtual currencies in June InZug added bitcoin as a means of paying city fees, in a test and an attempt to advance Zug as a region that is advancing future technologies.
Swiss Federal Railways, government-owned railway company of Switzerland, sells bitcoins at its ticket machines. The Estonian Ministry of Finance have concluded that there is no legal obstacles to use bitcoin-like crypto currencies as payment method.
Traders must therefore identify the buyer when establishing business relationship or if the buyer acquires more than 1, euros of the currency in a month. The Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier has issued a communication in February acknowledging the status of currency to the bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The first BitLicence was issued in Octoberand the government is actively supporting this development.
Bitcoin is treated as 'private money'. When bitcoin is exchanged for sterling or for foreign currencies, such as euro or bitcoin stock 2015 frs, no VAT will be due on the value of the bitcoins themselves. However, in all instances, VAT will be due in the normal way from suppliers of any goods or services bitcoin stock 2015 frs in exchange for bitcoin or other similar cryptocurrency.
Profits and losses on cryptocurrencies are subject to capital gains tax. Was the Zimbabwe dollar not considered cash or cash equivalents? Its value was exposed to significant changes in market value, but I'm sure it is considered a cash or cash equivalents.
Did Sterling stop being a cash because of volatility in the days following Brexit? John 01 February at Look forward to see where we bitcoin stock 2015 frs with this bitcoin stock 2015 frs IASB. Before bitcoin stock 2015 frs through the post, default thought was to think yes, definitely valued at FV - simimlar to FX transactions like Richard above have pointed out. Neethu Stephen 02 March at Zafar Yaqoob 04 March at Thanks to John for his comment above, wow it looks like you've really done your homework with respect to legal tender!
I actually had a related discussion with a former colleague michael gaull who asked where exactly IAS 32 AG3 stated that cash needs to be legal tender? Based on that discussion and your points above, I think there is perhaps another debate that needs to be had as to whether "currency" defined in IAS 32 AG3 can only represent cash issued by government authorities.
I couldn't find any bitcoin stock 2015 frs definitions of currency in IAS 32 or IAS 21 and a good old google and online dictionary search bitcoin stock 2015 frs the word "currency" isn't clear whether this needs to be legal tender.
Thanks for the post and interest in the blog! Gary 06 March at The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. As a final step before bitcoin stock 2015 frs your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs bitcoin stock 2015 frs posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them. Name is required to post a comment. Please enter a valid email address. Accounting for Cryptocurrency 28 November What is cryptocurrency? Not legal tender i.
Conclusion Accounting for Bitcoins at fair value with movements reflected in profit or loss would provide the most useful information to investors. Gary, not sure that I'd agree with you here: Verify your Comment Previewing your Comment.
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