The Historical Evolution, Developments and Accounting Implications of Cryptocurrency Operations

Abstract

The governments around the globe except Salvadoran government had issued several warnings such as outright ban against the investment in the cryptocurrency. This act was due to the associated risk of loss of investment and lack of accountability framework in the countries. This paper, therefore, appraises the historical evolution and accounting implications of cryptocurrency operations. The desk review methodology anchored on content analysis of relevant literatures and conveniency sampling method was used for the study. The paper identified that the evolution of cryptocurrency was based on the desire to jettison government intervention in financial control vis-a-vis the experience of the global meltdown of year 2007-2008. Also, the study revealed that lack of local and global accounting standard affects accountability in terms of cryptocurrency. The study, therefore, concludes that cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are new trends in the evolution of monetary economics. It, therefore, recommends that International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) should, in the interest of global citizenry, put in place an emergency machinery and framework for the setting and release of global accounting standard that is specific to cryptocurrency.