FASB (Bitcoin Accounting)
The U.S. accounting standard requiring Bitcoin to be measured at fair value, with gains and losses recognized in earnings.
Definition
The FASB rules on Bitcoin are set out in update ASU 2023-08, which created the accounting subtopic ASC 350-60 (Crypto Assets). It is mandatory for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Its effect is decisive for corporate Bitcoin accounting: it requires cryptoassets to be measured at fair value at each reporting date, recognizing both unrealized gains and unrealized losses in the income statement.
Before this standard, Bitcoin was treated as an indefinite-lived intangible asset under a cost-less-impairment model: companies could only record losses (impairment) when the price fell, but never recoveries until sale, which artificially penalized balance sheets. That asymmetric treatment was one of the main accounting deterrents keeping CFOs from putting Bitcoin on the balance sheet. By moving to fair value, the FASB removed that distortion and, in practice, unlocked corporate adoption of the Bitcoin standard in the United States.
In Context
Under ASC 350-60, a company holding Bitcoin reflects the asset's appreciation in its earnings — not just the declines, as was the case before 2025.
Related Terms
Mentioned in
- BlogHow to start a Bitcoin treasury at your company (2026): a step-by-step guide
- BlogCryptocurrencies for legal entities: the legal, tax and operational guide (2026)
- BlogHow to protect company cash from inflation (and why Bitcoin enters the conversation)
- BlogBitcoin accounting for companies: FASB vs IFRS
- BlogHow to buy Bitcoin for a company: a treasury execution guide (2026)
- BlogHODL stocks: the listed companies that never sell their Bitcoin
- BlogWhat is a Bitcoin treasury company? The complete guide (2026)
- BlogHow to read a Bitcoin treasury's balance sheet: a practical investor guide
Explore more on SatsIntel
From the concept to the real dataSpot Bitcoin ETFs
The 12 SEC-approved spot ETFs. Daily flows, fees and comparator.
Ver sección →BTC-backed preferreds
Fixed income with Bitcoin exposure. STRK, STRF, STRC, STRD and SATA.
Ver sección →Treasuries directory
Companies applying this concept on their balance sheets. Holdings, mNAV and live ranking.
Ver sección →More glossary terms
60 definitions from the corporate Bitcoin ecosystem: protocol, metrics, regulation.
Ver sección →Read this term in Spanish: versión en español →
Corporate Bitcoin, explained every week
Definitions, data and analysis on treasuries, ETFs and preferreds in your inbox. No spam.