ACCOUNTING METHODOLOGY FOR STABLECOIN TRANSACTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE: RECOGNITION AND VALUATION ISSUES

Abstract

The growing use of stablecoins as a settlement instrument in cross-border trade creates a gap between the rapid evolution of digital financial instruments and the existing accounting framework, which lacks unified methodological approaches to their recognition, measurement, and disclosure. This study aims to develop theoretical foundations and practical recommendations for the accounting of stablecoin transactions in international trade, addressing the issues of identification, classification, valuation, and financial reporting presentation. The research employs a combination of general scientific and special methods: dialectical and abstraction methods to formulate the conceptual apparatus, systemic and structural analysis to construct a classification model, comparative legal analysis of IFRS and Ukrainian national standards, economic and statistical analysis of market dynamics including correlation analysis, and modelling to develop accounting procedures and chart of accounts correspondence. The study reveals that stablecoins cannot be unambiguously classified under existing IAS 38 or IAS 2 frameworks due to their hybrid nature as both a means of payment and a store of value. A classification algorithm is proposed based on the purpose of holding and the existence of an active market, which for leading stablecoins is confirmed by statistical data showing a 0.94 correlation between transaction volumes and capitalisation and a bid-ask spread of 0.08–0.12%. The comparative analysis of valuation models demonstrates that the cost model defers the recognition of impairment and precludes reflecting value increases, whereas the revaluation model provides more relevant information for users. A comprehensive chart of accounts correspondence for recording stablecoin acquisition, settlement, exchange differences, and impairment in international trade transactions is developed and substantiated. The study concludes that the current regulatory framework in Ukraine requires amendments at the by-law level, specifically to the Regulation on the Inventory of Assets and Liabilities and the Methodological Recommendations for the Accounting of Intangible Assets, to introduce provisions for virtual asset accounting and mandatory disclosure of information on accounting policies, fair value, and risk concentration. The proposed methodological approaches ensure faithful presentation of stablecoin transactions, minimise tax risks, and enhance the informational value of financial statements for stakeholders in the digital economy.