Proof of Reserves for Stablecoins Crypto ETFs Real-World Assets Asset-backed Tokens Crypto Custodians Exchange Platforms

Transparency services for a network-driven world.

What is Proof of Reserves?

The Proof of Reserves Equation: Reserve Assets ≥ Customer Liabilities

 Proof of Reserves Services

  • Conventional Proof of Reserves

    “Traditional” CPA-attestation for your stablecoin, exchange or ETF to fulfill your regulatory, licensing and customer needs.

  • Merkle Tree Proof of Reserves

    A cutting-edge fusion using crypto-native Merkle Tree and Zero-Knowledge Proofs and “traditional” CPA attestations covering both customer assets and liabilities, delivering unparalleled transparency for both “TradFi” and “DeFi” users alike.

  • On-Chain Proof of Reserves

    Thir consulting service brings your reserve data on-chain via Oracle Networks like Chainlink for use in smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and enhanced security.

  • Real-Time Proof of Reserves

    The world’s first real-time CPA-attestation reporting system, integrating directly into bank accounts, blockchains and more, and shrinking the “gold standard” attestation reporting interval from every 30 days to every 30 seconds.

Selected Proof of Reserves Clients

 Comparison of Proof of Reserves Solutions

Stablecoin Issuers

Available Services:
- Real-Time Reserves
- On-Chain Proof of Reserves
- Conventional Proof of Reserves

Reporting Frequency:
- Real-Time
- Real-Time
- Monthly or Quarterly

Results for Clients and Users:
- CPA Attestations every 30 seconds
- Off-Chain Data Published on Chain
- CPA Attestations

RWAs & Asset-Backed Token Issuers

Available Services:
- Real-Time Reserves
- On-Chain Proof of Reserves
- Conventional Proof of Reserves

Reporting Frequency:
- Real-Time
- Real-Time
- Monthly or Quarterly

Results for Clients and Users:
- CPA Attestations every 30 seconds
- Off-Chain Data Published on Chain
- CPA Attestations

Exchange Platforms & Digital Asset Service Providers

Available Services:
- Merkle Tree Proof of Reserves
- Conventional Proof of Reserves

Reporting Frequency:
- Quarterly or Semi-Annual
- Monthly or Quarterly

Results for Clients and Users:
- CPA Attestation + Customer Verifier (Merkle)
- CPA Attestations

Crypto Custodians

Available Services:
- Merkle Tree Proof of Reserves
- Conventional Proof of Reserves

Reporting Frequency:
- Quarterly or Semi-Annual
- Monthly or Quarterly

Results for Clients and Users:
- CPA Attestation + Customer Verifier (Merkle)
- CPA Attestations

Crypto-backed Exchange Traded Fund Issuers

Available Services:
- Real-Time Reserves
- Conventional Proof of Reserves

Reporting Frequency:
- Real-Time
- Monthly or Quarterly

Results for Clients and Users:
- CPA Attestations every 30 seconds
- CPA Attestations

The Missing Piece to your
Transparency Program

Proof of Reserves is a new and important addition to every digital asset company’s
transparency reporting stack.
 

Proof of Reserves

CPAs provide a third-party attestation report, relevant to the company's presentation of customer assets being sufficient to meet customer liabilities at a point in time

SOC 1 / ISAE 3402

CPAs provide third-party assurance opinion relevant to the design and operating effectiveness of the company's internal controls relevant to financial reporting.

SOC 2 / ISO 27001

CPAs provide third-party assurance opinion relevant to the design and operating effectiveness of the company's controls to achieve criteria for security, availability, etc.

Financial Statement Audit

CPA's third-party assurance opinion, under private or public co. auditing standards, relevant to the company's presentation of financial statements being free from material misstatements.

CCSS, PCI-DSS, etc.

Allow management to demonstrate application of security best practices and controls relevant to private key management and other security domains.

The Results

Businesses create TRUST with customers, demonstrate COMPLIANCE to regulators, or show business MATURITY to investors by producing third-party assurance and/or other third-party reporting under recognized standards.

Why Include a CPA in your Proof of Reserves Process?

Significant transparency gaps around reserve assets haven’t been solved with cryptography, blockchains, or decentralization alone.
CPA attestation services allow you to fill these transparency gaps.

Fulfill Regulatory Cryptocurrency Reporting Requirements:

Management’s disclosure of reserve asset addresses is a great step towards transparency. However, regulators in the U.S. and globally, require CPA attestations because independent third-party reporting performed under standards is a more comparable and reliable source of key information related to Proof of Reserves. 

Balances Held Off-Chain:

Publishing on-chain addresses may be easy for some. However, in complex exchange and custody environments, publishing wallet addresses does not provide useable and insightful transparency for customers. Crypto accountants can aggregate balance information from reserve assets and customer liabilities creating insights not possible when publishing wallet addresses only.

Customer Participation in the Proof of Reserves process:

In certain PoR services, the customer is invited to participate by checking their account’s inclusion in the overall “customer liability extract” provided by the exchange or custodian. Merkle Trees enable this customer participation. However, the involvement of a CPA can provide transparency to users regarding specific procedures performed over the customer liability extract. This involvement of an independent CPA provides an important addition to the PoR reporting process.

Maintaining Confidentiality of Custody Addresses:

Publishing addresses is great for transparency, but most exchanges and custody providers have thousands or millions addresses holding customer funds. Additionally, keeping custody addresses confidential while proving reserves can increase confidentiality and security. A crypto accounting firm can help publish reliable reserve balance information in the aggregate. Digital Assets Service Providers can maintain business confidentiality and security while giving customers the transparency they want and need. deserve.

 

“TNF’s Proof of Reserves attestation process allowed us to give our customers the reporting they demanded, but it also provided significant value to our business by creating better reserve asset hygiene, best practices, and internal collaboration between finance and custody teams.”

Who Benefits from Proof of Reserves?

Your Users & Customers

Enhances trust in the service provider by providing users and customers unparalleled transparency.

Your Partners

Increases trust and confidence in your platform, creating new partner opportunities, yields
and industry growth.

Regulators

Regulators get key information related to customer reserves, increasing their understanding and potentially reducing costly examinations.

 

Your Management

Enables improved visibility to the balance of reserve assets and customer liabilities, including historical
positions.

The Industry as a Whole

Enhances the reputation of the industry as a whole by mitigating the risk of customer losses and systemic failures which threaten industry progress.

 

Learn more about Crypto Proof of Reserves Services

The Network Firm is an experienced and trusted crypto accounting firm that provides crypto compliance and consulting services to help you find the right solutions for your digital assets. Simply use the link below to book an introductory meeting with one of our crypto CPAs.