Crypto ‘Proof of Reserves’ Don’t Prove Solvency: US Audit Cop

The US audit watchdog has warned not to put too much stock in proof of reserve reports from crypto companies

article-image

Iaroslav Neliubov/Shutterstock.com modified by Blockworks

share

So-called “proof of reserves” have become en vogue for crypto companies keen to reassure users their funds are safe — but the top US audit watchdog says they can’t be totally trusted.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) warned in a Wednesday statement that investors and other associated parties may be placing undue reliance on proof of reserve (PoR) reports, which do not come under its oversight authority.

Independent third parties prepare proof of reserve reports for companies, such as crypto exchanges and stablecoin issuers. Those third parties often rely on information provided by companies themselves to verify reserves.

“Importantly, investors should note that PoR engagements are not audits and, consequently, the related reports do not provide any meaningful assurance to investors or the public,” the board said

Proof-of-reserve reports claim to provide verification for assets at a certain time, but there are “significant limitations” based on the methods used, it added. 

For instance, the process to gather information may exclude the crypto entity’s liabilities, the rights and obligations of digital asset holders or whether the assets have been borrowed in excess of customer demands.

These reports are not real-time and only provide a snapshot of the crypto entity’s assets at a specific moment, which could potentially be misleading for investors down the road.

In the aftermath of the FTX scandal, which saw billions in user funds allegedly misappropriated, several crypto firms established proof-of-reserve initiatives.

Ledn, Nexo, Kraken, BitMEX and Gate.io all introduced proof-of-reserve frameworks to help bolster user confidence. Binance did too, until its partner stopped servicing crypto altogether, now solely relying on a more complicated self-verification system.

The US audit watchdog also warned that top executives of crypto companies establish the procedures to be used by the third party when they conduct the audit, and might not address the adequacy of the entity’s reserves or its financial stability. 

This means PoR reports aren’t uniform across the crypto ecosystem, as they don’t all use the same method.

PCAOB was recently said to be facing calls to become the regulator that supervises audits on crypto companies, according to the Wall Street Journal

However, it has said that it can only oversee audits on public companies and SEC-registered broker dealers. Still, in 2019, the regulator set up a team to focus on emerging audit risks, including in crypto.

Read more: What Is Proof of Reserves and Can It Build Back Trust?


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates.png

Research

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) represent low-hanging fruit in a massive market ripe for Web3-driven disruption. The global CDN market was valued at ~$28B in 2024, and is projected to surpass $140B by 2034, (18.75% CAGR) underscoring the immense demand for efficient content delivery.

article-image

Sponsored

With early interest from an initial cohort of brands including Metaplex, Story Protocol, and Pipe Network, Shelby offers decentralized, cloud-speed storage for streaming, AI, and real-time content

article-image

The $135 million raise shows that TradFi giants are serious about crypto adoption

article-image

The banking system still processes payments like it’s 1975. Crypto might have a fix.

article-image

Fiserv’s launch follows Senate passage of the GENIUS Act for stablecoin regulation.

article-image

Bitcoin is emerging as “the new standard for long-term corporate resilience,” Swan Bitcoin CIO says

article-image

Cybersecurity experts explain how the attack could have been prevented