Question

Classification of Cryptocurrency Holdings (Adapted)

Software Provider (the “Company”) supports and sells computer software. The Company accepts cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin, Ether, Ripple) as payment for the sale of its computer software. The Company holds its cryptocurrencies partially for investment (e.g., expectation that they will appreciate in value) and partially to use in the future to purchase goods or services.

Cryptocurrency is a new type of value and payment method that is different from fiat currency (e.g., U.S. dollars and foreign currencies). Presently, cryptocurrencies have no government backing or recognition by a central authority as legal tender. Their value is only supported by supply and demand.

Cryptocurrencies do not have a physical form but exist as immutable distributed ledgers (electronic records) maintained on public blockchains. They are different than electronic instances of cash, such as an online bank account, in that they are not linked to a physical currency.

Bitcoin and other similar “coins” use cryptography (e.g., use of codes to secure communications) to control the security and creation of these coins, which led to the term “cryptocurrencies.”

Cryptocurrencies are usually obtained by purchasing or receiving them on a peer-to-peer basis. That is, they can be received directly from a counterparty in exchange for an asset or service or they can be purchased in exchange for a fiat currency, often from an exchange that specializes in cryptocurrencies.

For a cryptocurrency to function as a means of peer-to-peer exchange, a ledger needs to be maintained for tracking ownership of the cryptocurrency. For cryptocurrencies, this electronic ledger is maintained using blockchain. There are many copies of this ledger and many ledger keepers. Distributing the processing allows many users to each play a small part in the maintenance of the ledger system; this means that the security of the system does not rely on a few individuals.

The amount of coins for a particular cryptocurrency that are in circulation is tightly controlled. For example, for Bitcoin there is a limit on the number of coins that can exist. New Bitcoins are only created as payment to processors (called “miners”) for providing the service of validating and distributing an electronic ledger of these transactions to those involved in maintaining the blockchain.

1. How should the Company’s holdings of cryptocurrency be classified in the statement of financial position under U.S. GAAP?

2. How should the holdings of cryptocurrency be initially and subsequently measured under U.S. GAAP?

Answer 1

Crypto currency : Crypto currency is a novel type of substitute currency which is not deliberated or confirmed as legal tender or currency to contract with, it is a current development or occurrences as even auto-correct does not recognize this word as it is naturally dissimilar from fiat currency ( for example, U.S dollars and foreign currencies)

Classification in Statement of Financial Position :

U.S GAAP does not straight distinguish the accounting for crypto currencies but it considers that crypto currencies will be accounted as indefinite-lived intangible assets under ASC 350 but there may be restricted situations in which crypto currencies are :

1. Held purchasable within the normal course of business and so thought-about inventory (as within the case of a broker) or
2. accounted for as an investment by an investment company.

Measurement :

ASC 350 states that bodies should originally document intangible assets at cost

The entities within the scope of ASC 946 which holds crypto currencies as savings should account for them as their systematic investments that they measure firstly and then at fair value. ( US GAAP)