DECENTRALIZED FINANCE (DEFI), BLOCKCHAIN AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ACCOUNTING AND TAXATION OF DIGITAL

Abstract

Relevance. Problem statement. The rapid development of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and the expansion of blockchain technologies within the digital economy and the broader process of financial digitalization complicate the application of traditional approaches to accounting and taxation of digital assets. The absence of clear criteria for interpreting the economic substance of DeFi and its implications for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure requirements of digital assets leads to heterogeneity in accounting practices, reduced comparability of financial reporting, and increased risks for auditors and investors. Consequently, there is a need to identify accounting-relevant characteristics of DeFi that can serve as a basis for accounting decisions regarding digital assets and for establishing a unified approach to their classification and measurement in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The purpose of the article is to provide a conceptual justification and structured generalization of the impact of DeFi and blockchain technologies on the methodology of accounting for digital assets through the identification of accounting-relevant characteristics that determine the specific features of their recognition, measurement, and disclosure in financial statements in accordance with IFRS, as well as their implications for the formation of tax liabilities within the DeFi environment. Methodology. The research objectives were addressed using general scientific and specialized methods, including analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparison, abstraction, and a systems approach, which ensured an appropriate level of substantiation of the proposed arguments and the formulation of well-grounded conclusions. Results. The findings indicate that the transactional transparency of blockchain is accompanied by new valuation risks that affect asset measurement and revenue recognition. Existing tax regulations often fail to account for the specific characteristics of the DeFi ecosystem. Accounting-relevant characteristics of DeFi have been systematized, demonstrating that their influence extends beyond the accounting treatment of digital assets to the specific features of the protocol-based financial architecture within which economic rights and obligations are executed through algorithmic mechanisms without a centralized counterparty. Their systemic impact on the application of control criteria, the determination of the existence of contractual rights to claims, the selection of measurement models, the identification of the timing of revenue and liability recognition, and the scope of risk disclosures under IFRS has been substantiated. The theoretical contribution of the results lies in shifting from a descriptive analysis of blockchain technology to a structured accounting interpretation of DeFi from the perspective of control, measurement, and risk management concepts. Practical significance. The identification of accounting-relevant characteristics of DeFi is essential for developing a systematic approach to accounting for digital assets in a decentralized environment, as the protocol-based ecosystem of DeFi fundamentally alters the nature of the emergence of rights and obligations as well as the accrual of income, directly affecting the application of IFRS requirements. Such an approach ensures conceptual consistency between technological innovations and the regulatory framework of accounting and enhances the quality of financial information under conditions of financial system digitalization. The practical significance of the study lies in establishing a basis for updating corporate accounting policies and developing tax instruments that promote transparency and reduce risks in the digital asset sector. Prospects for further research. Future research should focus on improving disclosure standards and developing algorithmic models for the automated identification of economic transactions and tax events based on on-chain data.