concept of money. Since the second part of the term contains “currency”. However, the
judgments and conclusions of scholars predominantly are formed basing on the
interpretation of the first part of the name of this phenomenon - “crypto”, that is the
vast majority of economists when conducting research relies on the form of this
phenomenon, and not its content [2]. This leads to the fact that cryptocurrency is
considered in the context of electronic money usage as its kind. Such a one-sided
approach to this phenomenon, from the standpoint of describing the technical model of
the functioning of the latter, does not allow to adequately disclose the method of
accounting display of cryptocurrency as a kind of asset.
At the same time, the authors note that according to modern monetary theory,
there are three approaches to money interpretation – functional, equivalent and
portfolio. The conducted study showed: firstly, cryptocurrency payments have not been
massively distributed either in Ukraine or in other countries of the world; however, this
currency is quite attractive to investors, since the Bitcoin rate is not influenced by the
political conditions or activities of the Central Banks of the countries, and it involves
receiving extra profits from speculative operations; and secondly, cryptocurrency is
limitedly used in service of commodity turnover, both in Ukraine and abroad; thirdly,
in accordance with the portfolio approach, cryptocurrency should have the quality to
be easily exchanged for any other goods, that is to be a general equivalent, which is
also not practiced [2].
Considering the essence of cryptocurrency as a methodological precondition for
its accounting reflection, it is advisable to refer to the Conceptual framework for
financial reporting [11]. In accordance with which the use of cryptocurrency by
business entities as an asset meets three criteria of four: be delivered to the entity
through an exchange for other assets, be used for debt repayment, distribution between
owners of the entity.
However, different views have been expressed in determining which International
Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) to apply when accounting for holdings of digital
currencies under. These include accounting for the holding of digital currencies as cash
or cash equivalents under IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows, as financial instruments
under IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (or IFRS 9
Financial Instruments), as intangible assets under IAS 38 Intangible Assets [14] or as
inventory under IAS 2 Inventory [15]. These different views have already resulted in
diversity in practice.
By analyzing the IAS it can be concluded that
digital currency:
●
does not meet the definition for cash or cash equivalents under IAS 7 as it
lacks broad acceptance as a means of exchange (at present) and it is not issued by a
central bank.
●
does not meet the definition of a financial instrument (other than cash) under
IAS 39 as there is no contractual relationship that results in a financial asset for one
party and a financial liability for another.
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