Bitcoin
Why Accountants Are Now Learning About Bitcoin
The Bitcoin logo is displayed on a smartphone. Photographic illustration by Omar Marques.
SOPA/LightRocket Images via Getty Images
Bitcoin is becoming an integral part of modern finance, and accounting bodies now see it as both an opportunity and a risk. Recognizing this change, AICPA and CIMA are beginning to take the lead in educating accountants about this new asset class. Last week, they organized the event “Blockchain, Bitcoin & Power BI in the Financial and Accounting Industry”. This marked an important step in the involvement of the AICPA and CIMA as thought leaders in the bitcoin economy.
James Dewar gave a lecture on the importance of including bitcoin in accounting education. Dewar, a CIMA qualified accountant with 20 years in financial services, also has a research master’s degree in finance and accounting, where his dissertation compared bitcoin to gold.
Bitcoin can be described as a network communication protocol, similar to TCP and IP, the protocols that underpin the Internet. Bitcoin’s design includes a difficulty adjustment algorithm, ensuring a stable issuance rate. This scarcity makes bitcoin unique, unlike fiat currencies whose supply can be increased by private banks, central banks and governments. Its open-source and decentralized nature further sets it apart, making it resilient to central control.
Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralization set it apart from traditional currencies and other cryptocurrencies. Different proof of bet systems, which mirror existing financial structures, bitcoin proof of work The system provides security and scarcity without any central controlling entity. Creating scarcity in an environment like the Internet, designed for infinite replication, is an important advance and is now being recognized by accounting bodies.
UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 22: A mechanical hand calculator made by the Bell Punch Company Limited, a… [+] later variant of the popular German lever-operated Brunsviga calculator. Key-operated adding and calculating machines were widely used in accounting and business until the late 1970s, when they were replaced by electronic calculators. Photo by SSPL/Getty Images
SSPL via Getty Images
Dewar emphasized the need for accountants to be well versed in bitcoin to identify strategic threats and opportunities posed by this technology. He said including bitcoin in accounting curricula and risk registers is crucial to future-proof financial literacy. Once this asset comes to the attention of finance and risk teams, ignoring it could be considered negligence.
The strategic use of Bitcoin in business
Microstrategyled by CEO Michael Saylor, adopted bitcoin as its main reserve asset. This shrewd move demonstrates how bitcoin can serve as a strategic tool for corporate growth. Other companies are following suit. For example, Metaplaneta Tokyo-based investment firm, recently followed Microstrategy’s example.
This decision was influenced by Japan’s high debt levels and the declining value of the yen. Metaplanet views bitcoin as a hedge against these economic challenges and a way to stabilize its financial outlook. Semler Scientific also announced plans to adopt bitcoin as a reserve asset, showing the growing trend of companies capitalizing on bitcoin for financial stability and growth.
Business in various sectors, including energy and waste management, leverage bitcoin to economic benefits. For example, companies now use excess methane to fuel bitcoin mining, turning a waste product into a revenue stream. Bitcoin mining is also helping to build renewable energy projects acting as a buyer of last resort for excess energy, which can stabilize the grid and make renewable infrastructure more viable.
Implications for finance
The integration of bitcoin into corporate finance is not limited to MicroStrategy. Pension funds like the Wisconsin Pension Fund are now allocating assets to bitcoin ETFs. This trend reflects a growing recognition of bitcoin’s value proposition and its positive impact on a portfolio’s Sharpe ratio. The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF has almost reached US$10 billion in assets in 49 days, further highlighting the demand for bitcoin investments.
POLAND – 03/21/2024: In this photo illustration, a Micro Strategy logo is displayed on a smartphone… [+] with Bitcoin logo in the background. (Photo illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SOPA/LightRocket Images via Getty Images
The role of accountants
The initiative by the AICPA and CIMA to incorporate bitcoin education into their programs is timely. Forward-thinking organizations understand that knowledge of bitcoin is essential for accountants. Dewar’s presentation provided tangible reasons why bitcoin needs to be taught: both the potential and the pitfalls that organizations need to identify, explore or mitigate.
Bitcoin’s unique characteristics – decentralization, scarcity and security – make it an important asset for modern finance. Accountants must be equipped with the knowledge to navigate accordingly. Not including bitcoin in educational curricula could leave accountants unprepared for the future.
The AICPA and CIMA’s efforts to educate their members about bitcoin are the first of their kind in this sector. With leaders like James Dewar at the forefront, the accounting profession is well positioned to embrace this new asset class. Understanding bitcoin is no longer optional; is necessary for anyone involved in corporate finance and risk today.
Accountants should learn about bitcoin to provide additional value to their employees. This landmark event marks the beginning of a new chapter in accounting education, where digital assets like bitcoin take center stage.
Bitcoin
‘This is huge’ — Billionaire Mark Cuban issues ‘incredible’ Bitcoin and crypto prediction amid price slump
Bitcoin has surged again this year under former President Donald Trump Cryptocurrency boosts US presidential election in November with ‘revolutionary’ plan.
The price of bitcoin has surged to more than its all-time high in recent months, surpassing $70,000 per bitcoin and triggering a wave of mega-optimistic predictions about the price of bitcoinalthough it fell again this week to below $65,000 after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady.
Now, as Elon Musk suddenly breaks his silence on bitcoin and cryptocurrenciesBillionaire investor Mark Cuban called a California plan to digitize 42 million car titles using blockchain an “incredible step forward” and “huge” for cryptocurrencies.
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Mark Cuban, famous Shark Tank investor and billionaire owner of the NBA team Dallas Mavericks, has… [+] called a cryptocurrency update “amazing” amid bitcoin’s price slump.
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The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has digitized 42 million car titles using blockchain, it was reported by Reuters, through technology company Oxhead Alpha on the Avalanche blockchain and designed to detect fraud and facilitate the securities transfer process.
“This is an incredible development for crypto,” Cuban, best known as an investor on TV’s Shark Tank and owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, posted on X, joking that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler could sue the state as part of his hostility toward cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
“The reason this is huge for crypto is because people who hold the tokens will have an app with an Avalanche wallet,” Cuban said. “Tens of millions of Californians having and using a crypto wallet in the next five years, or however long it takes, normalizes the use of wallets and crypto.”
John Wu, president of Avalanche developer Ava Labs, told Reuters that California’s DMV is “creating a wallet that you can download on your phone.”
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Bitcoin’s price has rallied this year, triggering a wave of bullish bitcoin price predictions from… [+] people like billionaire Mark Cuban.
Forbes Digital Assets
Last month, Cuban predicted that if the US dollar falls as the global reserve currency, bitcoin could become “a global ‘safe haven’” and a “global currency.” potentially sending the price of bitcoin to a much higher level.
According to Cuban, bitcoin could become what its most ardent supporters “envision” — a means “of protecting our economies… This is already happening in countries facing hyperinflation.”
The price of bitcoin has skyrocketed over the past year, largely due to the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, leading a bitcoin attack on Wall Street.
Bitcoin
Large Bitcoin (BTC) Holders Added $5.4 Billion Worth of BTC in July, Data Shows
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Bitcoin
Peter Schiff criticizes Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin hype by U.Today
U.Today – Renowned economist and cryptocurrency critic Peter Schiff has criticized Michael Saylor’s recent hype about the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies as a strategic treasury asset by corporations.
Michael Saylor, a well-known Bitcoin advocate and president of MicroStrategy, recently shared his enthusiasm on X about the growing adoption of Bitcoin as a strategic treasury asset.
Citing a comment made by Bitcoin investor Bill Miller in a recent interview with CNBC, Saylor tweeted: “We now have more companies coming forward and saying we will put Bitcoin on our balance sheet as a strategic treasury asset.”
However, not everyone shares Saylor’s enthusiasm. Schiff, a vocal Bitcoin critic and gold bull, was quick to respond with his usual skepticism. In a pointed tweet, Schiff argued: “Bitcoin is neither strategic nor appropriate as a treasury asset. Companies should not risk shareholder funds. They should pay dividends and let shareholders risk their own money.”
Bitcoin enthusiasts are not intimidated
However, Schiff’s criticism shouldn’t deter Bitcoin enthusiasts, who often take Schiff’s words with a pinch of salt. To put things in context, Michael Saylor began buying Bitcoin in 2020 as an inflation hedge and alternative to money. Saylor’s company, MicroStrategy, is among the largest public holders of Bitcoin in the world. As of June 20, it held 226,331 BTC, purchased for around $8.33 billion at an average price of $36,798.
Over the weekend, Schiff was surprised when 87% of the more than 11,000 Bitcoin holders who responded to his X survey said they would not sell any of their Bitcoin even if the price dropped more than 99% to $120. They said not only would they not sell, but that they would continue to buy even when prices dropped.
Schiff unexpectedly revealed that “the main selling point for investors to buy Bitcoin is its excellent past performance record.”
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $66,067, having reached all-time highs of nearly $74,000 in mid-March.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin Falls as ETF Flows Reverse, Mt. Gox Moves Billions
In a week of drastic fluctuations, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) has retreated from its highs and is currently trading at US$66,250, down 0.9% in European trading.
This volatility comes on the heels of a significant surge above $70,000 earlier in the week, fueled by former President Donald Trump’s ambitious cryptocurrency plans announced in a Bitcoin Conference in Nashville.
Trump’s announcement to fire Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler and establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve if elected president has temporarily sent the cryptocurrency market into a frenzy.
However, the excitement was short-lived as a series of events unfolded which caused investor sentiment to sour.
A significant sell-off of about 8% was triggered when the US Marshals Service moved $2 billion in Bitcoin for new wallets.
This move has reignited fears of a potential large-scale liquidation, compounded by lingering concerns over a possible Bitcoin liquidation from Mt. Gox. Early this morning, Mt. Gox administrator transferred US$2.2 billion value of your BTC assets in a new wallet.
Meanwhile, the US Bitcoin ETF spot market is showing signs of fluctuation, according to data from SoSo Value. On July 30, Bitcoin spot funds experienced their first net outflow in five days, totaling $18.3 million.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) saw outflows of $73.6 million, while the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) attracted $74.9 million in inflows. But outflows from other funds left the category in the red at the end of Tuesday’s trading session. The total net asset value of spot Bitcoin ETFs currently stands at a substantial $58.5 billion.
In other crypto news, Ripple (XRP) is up 8.6% in the past 24 hours, hitting over 64 cents – its highest point since March 25, according to CoinGecko. data.
This rally comes amid a scheduled token unlock and growing optimism around a potential deal in the long-running SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit.
The crypto community is closely watching the SEC’s actions, particularly its intention to amend its complaint against Binance regarding “Third-Party Cryptocurrency Securities,” which some interpret as a positive sign for Ripple.
On a market analysis noteSingapore-based cryptocurrency trading desk QCP Capital wrote that while election headlines continue to dominate, several crucial macroeconomic events loom on the horizon.
“Election headlines will continue to be a key focus, but several key macroeconomic events are also on the horizon. Key events starting with the FOMC meeting on Wednesday, megacap tech earnings (Apple, Amazon, Meta) throughout the week, and unemployment data on Friday,” QCP Capital wrote.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
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