Accounting Standard for Crypto Assets in the UAE

Many companies now hold cryptocurrencies. However, until recently, the rules governing the reporting of these assets in financial statements were unclear. This created confusion, inconsistent reporting, and made it hard for investors to understand a company’s real financial position. Before ASU 2023-08, crypto assets like Bitcoin were treated as indefinite-lived intangible assets under U.S. GAAP, meaning companies had to record losses when the value dropped, but couldn’t recognize gains unless the assets were sold—a method that failed to reflect the real-time value of crypto holdings.

To tackle these problems, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) introduced ASU 2023-08 is an Accounting Standards Update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in 2023 that provides new guidance on how companies should account for certain crypto assets under U.S. GAAP. This new standard brings clear guidance for handling certain crypto assets under U.S. accounting rules.

At Jitendra Chartered Accountants (JCA), our expert accountants in the UAE ensure that businesses stay up to date with evolving accounting and bookkeeping standards—no matter the industry.

What Does ASU 2023-08 Change?

• Fair Value Accounting
  Crypto assets that meet certain criteria must now be measured at fair value, with changes in value recognized in net income.
• Separate Presentation
  These assets must be presented separately from other intangibles in the balance sheet.
• Enhanced Disclosures
  Companies now must disclose: Fair value and cost basis of crypto holdings, Quantity held, Restrictions on sale, Roll forward (movement) of crypto assets annually

Which Crypto Assets does ASU 2023-08 cover?

ASU 2023-08 applies only to crypto assets that meet all of the following conditions:

• They are classified as intangible assets under U.S. GAAP.
• They do not convey rights to receive goods, services, or other assets.
• They are created using blockchain or similar distributed ledger technologies.
• They are secured through cryptographic techniques.
• They are fungible—meaning each unit has equal value and can be interchanged.
• They are not created or issued by the reporting entity.

This excludes items like NFTs, tokenized securities, or other digital assets that have specific rights or claims. Only standard fungible cryptocurrencies—such as Bitcoin and Ethereum—are included under this standard. Get a better understanding of this from outsourced accountants in the UAE.

How to Measure Crypto Assets?

Under ASU 2023-08, crypto assets must be measured at fair value. This means:

• Entities must follow the fair value measurement framework under ASC 820.
• All unrealized gains or losses are recognized in the income statement each reporting period.

This represents a major shift from the earlier model, where crypto was accounted for like intangible assets such as software or patents—where losses were recognized when value dropped, but gains were only recorded upon sale.

Importantly, the standard does not prescribe how to treat transaction costs (e.g., fees to acquire or sell crypto). Companies may use their professional judgment and existing accounting policies to determine how to handle these.

How Should Crypto Assets Appear in Financial Statements?

ASU 2023-08 provides clear guidance on the presentation of crypto assets:

• Balance Sheet: Present crypto assets separately from other intangible assets to improve visibility for stakeholders.
• Income Statement: Show gains and losses from fair value changes distinctly, separate from other asset changes.
• Cash Flow Statement: When crypto assets are converted to cash within a short period(typically hours or days), classify those cash flows under operating activities.

Still unsure? Get in touch with expert accountants in Dubai for tailored guidance.

Disclosure Requirements

The standard introduces detailed disclosure requirements to enhance transparency:

Quarterly and Annual Reporting:

• Name, cost, fair value, and quantity of each major crypto asset.
• Total cost and fair value of all other crypto assets combined.
• Any restrictions on the saleof crypto assets must be disclosed, including the nature of the restriction, its duration, and the specific conditions under which the restriction could be lifted.

Annual Reporting Only:

• A reconciliation of beginning and ending balances must be provided, showing gains and losses, purchases and sales, and presenting separate line items for each type of cryptocurrency held.
• Explanation of reasons for additions and disposals(e.g., mining, customer payments, sales).
• Disclosure of the cost basis tracking method used (FIFO, weighted average, specific identification, etc.).

Effective Date and Adoption

• Effective for: Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024
• Early adoption: Permitted, as long as financial statements haven’t been issued yet

Transition Method:

• Use a modified retrospective approach
• Adjust retained earnings as of the start of the fiscal year, based on the difference between the old carrying value and the new fair value
• No need to restate prior periods

You can also take assistance from outsourced accountants in the UAE for this purpose.

What does this mean for Businesses?

This shift to fair value accounting could lead to greater earnings volatility, especially for businesses holding large volumes of crypto assets—given how quickly their market values fluctuate.

However, the benefits are substantial:

• Improved financial transparency
• Greater consistency across businesses
• More useful information for investors and other stakeholders

How Can JCA (Jitendra Chartered Accountants) Help?

With the introduction of ASU 2023-08, businesses now have a standardised framework to account for crypto assets that reflects their real economic impact. If your business holds or plans to hold crypto, it’s time to get prepared.

Jitendra Chartered Accountants (JCA) offers expert support to help you:

• Comply with the new accounting standards
• Properly value and disclose your crypto assets
• Minimise reporting risks and audit issues

Let JCA’s team in Dubai guide you through this transition with confidence.