First Available Stablecoins Framework for CPA's

Digital assets have been keeping CPA firms on their toes for years. Stablecoins, in particular, tend to spark the same questions in audit planning meetings across the country: 

• Do these transactions belong in the financial statements at all? 

• Are they cash equivalents—or something else entirely? 

• And what disclosures are actually expected? 

Until now, the answers have often felt… less than stable. 

That’s why the Assurance Services Executive Committee (ASEC) releasing its 2025 Criteria for Stablecoin Reporting is such a meaningful step forward. This guidance represents the first available framework for stablecoins, offering long-awaited structure and consistency in an area that has been anything but clear. 

Let’s break down what’s included—and what it means for CPA firms performing financial statement audits and navigating peer review expectations. 

 

An Overview of the First Available Stablecoin Framework for CPA's

The 2025 ASEC criteria apply to asset-backed, fiat-pegged tokens and are designed to promote consistent, transparent reporting among token issuers. In practical terms, this framework gives practitioners a common language—and a clearer roadmap—for evaluating stablecoin-related information. 

Key disclosure areas include: 

• Defined in-scope minted token quantities 

• Redeemable tokens outstanding 

• Differences between minted tokens and redeemable tokens 

• Known or unresolved events that materially affect token quantities 

• Issuer terms for purchases and redemptions, including redemption rights 

• Counterparties holding redemption assets 

• Descriptions and measurement bases of redemption assets 

• Risk mitigation strategies related to redemption assets 

• Material matters impacting redeemable tokens, such as litigation 

• Applicable risks, contingencies, and commitments 

The ASEC doesn’t stop at theory—it also includes practical examples of each disclosure, making this guidance especially useful when preparing or reviewing financial statements that touch stablecoin activity. 

Why the First Available Framework for Stablecoins Matters 

At its core, this framework is about streamlining reporting through transparency. When stablecoin information is presented consistently: 

• Stakeholders gain clearer insight into financial performance and risk exposure 

• Investors can more easily evaluate opportunities and compare entities 

• Regulators can better monitor compliance with evolving requirements 

• Lenders have stronger visibility into financial stability 

• Reporting entities benefit from operational efficiency, stronger controls, and smoother audits 

In other words, clarity helps everyone—and makes the audit process more efficient along the way. 

What the Stablecoin Framework Means for CPA Firms 

Here’s where nuance matters. Most stablecoin reporting currently occurs outside traditional GAAP financial statements. Under the GENIUS Act, only payment stablecoin issuers with more than $50 billion in outstanding stablecoins are required to prepare GAAP financial statements and undergo a financial statement audit. 

That said, many companies engaging in stablecoin activity still seek attestation engagements to enhance credibility, accuracy, and quality control. And that’s where CPA firms need to be especially prepared. 

As reporting expectations continue to evolve: 

• Peer reviewers will expect awareness of emerging guidance 

• Consistency will shift from “best practice” to baseline expectation 

• Standardized criteria will reduce ambiguity—but raise the bar 

The AICPA has already begun developing additional guidance, with more requirements on the horizon. While firms have a three-year transition period, early adoption allows teams to refine methodologies, educate staff, and address peer review considerations well before compliance becomes mandatory. 

The Takeaway for CPA Firms Performing Audits and Peer Reviews 

The first available framework for stablecoins is a foundational step toward a more trusted and transparent digital asset ecosystem. For CPA firms, it’s also a signal: digital assets are no longer fringe topics—they’re becoming part of the mainstream assurance conversation. 

Firms that stay proactive, informed, and aligned with emerging standards will be better positioned to support clients, navigate peer reviews confidently, and maintain audit quality as expectations evolve. 

How BryMar Can Help 

At BryMar CPA, our partners are certified peer reviewers with deep experience supporting firms through today’s evolving assurance landscape. From emerging guidance on stablecoins and digital assets to audit quality and system-of-quality-control considerations, we help firms approach peer review with confidence—not last-minute stress. 

If your firm is due for a peer review or planning ahead, we’re here to make the process efficient, thoughtful, and value-adding. 

Contact us today to schedule your peer review and partner with a team that understands where the profession is headed.