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Everything CPAs need to know about blockchain and crypto-assets

How will blockchain and crypto-assets impact CPAs and their future roles? Explore our resources to find out more.

Understanding emerging technologies, like blockchain and crypto-assets, is strategically important for CPAs now more than ever. That’s why CPA Canada has developed the following resources to help you prepare for and manage the challenges and opportunities presented by these advancing areas.  

Crypto-assets

Business and accounting

Transacting in crypto-assets for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Learn the key challenges and top questions to ask before deciding if crypto-assets are right for your organization.

Introduction to accounting for cryptocurrencies under IFRS
Learn about cryptocurrencies and the primary issues involved in accounting for them under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Accounting for cryptocurrencies under accounting standards for private enterprises (ASPE)
Learn about cryptocurrencies and the primary issues involving in accounting for them under ASPE.

Accounting for Crypto-Asset Holdings – Payment Tokens (AcSB)
This publication was prepared by the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) as thought leadership material and it is not intended to be used as guidance in the application of IFRS® Accounting Standards or by analogy to Canadian domestic accounting standards.

Audit and assurance

Audit considerations related to cryptocurrency assets and transactions
Learn about considerations related to auditing an entity with material cryptocurrency assets and transactions under Canadian Auditing Standards (CAS). 

Viewpoints (Auditing crypto-assets): Are tests of controls needed regarding the ownership assertion?
Learn about factors an auditor may consider when determining how to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support the ownership assertion for financial statements that contain material crypto-asset balances.

Viewpoints (Auditing crypto-assets): Relevance and reliability of information from a blockchain
Learn about factors an auditor may consider concerning the relevance and reliability of information obtained from a public blockchain to be used as audit evidence.

Viewpoints (Auditing crypto-assets): Third-party service provider considerations
Learn about audit considerations when a third party provides crypto-assets services to the entity, including assessing whether a service organization relationship exists and identifying risks and relevant controls at the service organization.

Viewpoints (Auditing crypto-assets): Auditing mining revenue of entities engaged in crypto-asset mining
Read this FAQ to learn about considerations when auditing crypto-asset mining revenue and check out the illustrative examples included in the appendix. 
 

Blockchain

Business and accounting

Perspectives on blockchain from thought leaders in technology, governance, and business
Learn about collaborative possibilities between multiple disciplines in blockchain and how thought leaders across industries are thinking about blockchain for the profession.

Introduction to blockchain technology
Learn about blockchain technology and familiarize yourself with the potential implications, opportunities and risks for capital markets and reporting.

Audit and assurance

Blockchain technology and its potential impact on the audit and assurance profession
Learn about how blockchain technology may affect the audit and assurance profession, from its impact on the financial statement audit to opportunities that may arise in a blockchain-enabled world.

External resources

Auditing Blockchain & Digital Assets 
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

NOTE: Resources created by external organizations were not reviewed, developed or approved by CPA Canada. CPA Canada accepts no responsibility or liability that might occur directly or indirectly as a consequence of the use, application or reliance on these external resources.