Crypto Accounting Course

Lesson 1 • Wallets, Keys, and Custody

Explains private keys, wallet types, and custodial arrangements. Directly informs how ownership and control are assessed for balance-sheet recognition.

Lesson 2 • Reading Blockchain Explorers

Teaches navigation of block explorer tools to retrieve transaction details. Enables accountants to independently verify on-chain data for reconciliation.

Lesson 3 • Types of Digital Assets

Distinguishes cryptocurrencies, tokens, stablecoins, and NFTs by function and structure. Provides the classification basis required for correct accounting treatment.

Lesson 1 • Current Regulatory Landscape

Surveys how standard-setting bodies have addressed digital assets to date. Contextualizes why no single universal standard yet exists and what guidance applies.

Lesson 2 • Disclosure Requirements for Digital Assets

Identifies mandatory and recommended disclosures for digital asset holdings. Prepares students to draft compliant notes to financial statements.

Lesson 3 • Measurement Models and Valuation Bases

Compares cost, revaluation, and fair value measurement models for digital assets. Students select the appropriate model based on asset class and entity type.

Lesson 1 • Transfers, Fees, and Internal Movements

Handles wallet-to-wallet transfers, network fees, and inter-entity movements. Prevents common errors where transfers are misclassified as taxable disposals.

Lesson 2 • Crypto Payments to Vendors and Employees

Journals outgoing crypto used to pay expenses, vendors, and compensation. Links payment entries to simultaneous disposal and expense recognition.

Lesson 3 • Purchases and Acquisitions

Records the initial recognition of digital assets acquired through purchase or exchange. Establishes cost basis calculation as the foundation for all subsequent entries.

Lesson 4 • Staking, Mining, and Earned Income

Records crypto received through mining, staking rewards, and yield activities. Addresses income recognition timing and fair value measurement at receipt.

Lesson 1 • Cost Basis Fundamentals

Defines cost basis components including purchase price, fees, and adjustments. Establishes why accurate lot tracking is essential for both accounting and tax reporting.

Lesson 2 • HIFO and Specific Identification

Implements highest-in first-out and taxpayer-selected lot identification strategies. Demonstrates how lot selection can be optimized within permissible accounting rules.

Lesson 3 • Lot Tracking Systems and Automation

Evaluates software tools and spreadsheet models for maintaining lot-level records. Connects accurate lot data to downstream tax reporting and audit readiness.

Lesson 4 • Average Cost and Pooling Methods

Calculates weighted average cost for pooled holdings and evaluates applicability. Addresses when pooling is permitted and its effect on gain or loss precision.

Lesson 1 • Ordinary Income from Crypto Activities

Classifies mining, staking, airdrops, and compensation as ordinary income. Covers self-employment tax implications for active crypto income earners.

Lesson 2 • Identifying Taxable Events

Catalogs every transaction type that triggers a taxable event under prevailing guidance. Distinguishes taxable disposals from non-taxable transfers and receipt events.

Lesson 3 • Foreign Asset and Exchange Reporting

Addresses reporting obligations for assets held on foreign exchanges or in foreign accounts. Applies threshold-based filing requirements to crypto holdings abroad.

Lesson 4 • Short-Term vs. Long-Term Capital Gains

Applies holding period rules to classify gains as short-term or long-term. Demonstrates the rate differential impact on tax liability across portfolio scenarios.

Lesson 1 • NFT Acquisition, Creation, and Sale

Applies inventory or intangible asset models to NFTs based on holder intent. Covers creator royalty income, platform fees, and secondary market sale entries.

Lesson 2 • Bridging, Wrapping, and Cross-Chain Events

Determines whether bridging and wrapping transactions constitute taxable disposals. Records the receipt of wrapped tokens and tracks basis through cross-chain movements.

Lesson 3 • Decentralized Exchange Transactions

Records token swaps executed on automated market maker protocols. Addresses liquidity pool entry and exit as distinct accounting events from simple trades.

Lesson 4 • Lending, Borrowing, and Collateral

Accounts for crypto collateral posted, loans received, and interest accrued in DeFi protocols. Distinguishes collateral pledging from disposal for recognition purposes.

Lesson 1 • Close Checklist and Quality Controls

Implements a structured checklist to ensure completeness and accuracy at close. Embeds review controls that catch common crypto-specific errors before reporting.

Lesson 2 • Wallet and Exchange Reconciliation

Matches wallet balances and exchange statements to general ledger balances. Isolates unrecorded transactions, timing differences, and data errors for resolution.

Lesson 3 • Data Sourcing and Aggregation

Identifies all data sources required for a complete crypto reconciliation. Establishes a data hierarchy that prioritizes on-chain records over exchange reports.

Lesson 4 • Fair Value Pricing at Period End

Selects defensible price sources and applies them to period-end holdings. Covers principal market selection, pricing hierarchy, and documentation standards.

Lesson 1 • Responding to Auditor Inquiries

Prepares accountants to explain crypto accounting judgments clearly to auditors. Covers common audit procedures for digital assets and how to respond efficiently.

Lesson 2 • Building Audit-Ready Workpapers

Structures workpapers to support every financial statement assertion for digital assets. Covers evidence standards, cross-referencing, and workpaper indexing conventions.

Lesson 3 • Cash Flow Statement Treatment

Classifies crypto inflows and outflows within operating, investing, and financing activities. Addresses non-cash crypto transactions and supplemental disclosure requirements.

Lesson 4 • Income Statement and OCI Reporting

Routes realized gains, unrealized changes, and crypto income to correct statement lines. Ensures consistent classification between periods for comparability.