The Business Layer for Coinbase

Digital currency is a type of currency powered by blockchain technology. It enables instantaneous transactions and borderless transfer-of-ownership. Bitcoin was the first digital currency, but there are many others. Transactions are automatically verified by a large global network of independent participants. This leads to secure payments that are settled worldwide in minutes. 

Although digital currency is not government-backed, “digital dollars” like USDC are backed 1:1 by US dollars held in bank reserves, issued by licensed and regulated money transmitters, and subject to monthly attestations by independent auditors.

Digital currency is frequently cited by international monetary authorities as a significant financial innovation. Existing financial regulations are being adapted worldwide to provide legal and tax clarity and protect consumers.

‍[1] [2] [3] [4]

It is estimated that over 50 million people worldwide have transacted with digital currency. Digital currency represents over $200 billion of value in today’s market. According to a January 2020 report from Deutsche Bank, digital currency could see mainstream usage within 2 years. 
‍
Businesses are increasingly adopting digital currency as a fast and efficient way to accept payment from customers and pay employees and vendors no matter where in the world they reside. 
‍
Businesses that use digital currency today include e-commerce merchants, manufacturers, advertising networks, luxury goods producers, recruiting platforms, digital content markets, peer-to-peer lending platforms, payment companies, software firms, professional services firms, rewards businesses, mobile banking providers and other internet companies.

In the United States, the IRS treats digital currency as property subject to capital gains tax. Some digital currencies like Bitcoin vary in price compared to the US dollar and may have tax consequences. Others such as Coinbase's USDC are pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and incur minimal tax liabilities.

Gilded makes it easy to generate IRS-compliant tax forms. Please speak to a tax professional about your individual needs.

Gilded requests read-only access to your Coinbase account. Gilded encrypts your data both in transit and at rest. Gilded computer systems are subject to regularly scheduled security audits. Staff are trained on how to avoid phishing and social engineering attacks. For more details, please see our security and privacy promise.
‍
Coinbase is a regulated custodian with stringent security procedures, including 1) keeping 98% of funds offline, 2) encrypting sensitive information, and 3) requiring two-factor authentication. Read more about Coinbase’s security policy. Additionally, Coinbase is insured against losses resulting from a breach of Coinbase's physical security, cyber security, or by employee theft. This insurance policy does not cover any losses resulting from the compromise of your individual Coinbase account. Learn how to make your account more secure.

Gilded is not affiliated with or endorsed by Coinbase. Gilded uses the Coinbase API to provide payment and accounting services using your Coinbase account. While Coinbase Commerce provides a valuable solution for e-commerce merchants, Gilded is obsessively designed for B2B payments. 

Gilded provides support through the chat widget on our website during standard business hours of Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm EST time.  Customers of our Premium and Pro plans receive priority support. New customers are eligible for an onboarding consultation with our digital currency accounting expert, Joseph "Joey" Ryan, CPA.

Sure, we have a business development team ready to help. Contact us using the yellow chat bubble.

Gilded was co-founded by a CPA with 10 years of public accounting experience. We’ve built a world class accounting advisory team led by Dr. Sean Stein Smith, the Accounting Chair of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, and Doug Sleeter of the Sleeter Group. Gilded was selected to participate in the AICPA & CPA.com 2020 Startup Accelerator.