Cash App’s quarterly Bitcoin revenue triples despite BTC impairment loss for Square

Jack Dorsey’s Square has reported a 200% increase in Bitcoin revenue for the second quarter year-on-year (YoY).

The company announced the impressive earnings figures in its second-quarter shareholder letter on August 1. In the report, Square revealed its total gross profit grew 91% YoY to $1.14 billion.

Bitcoin services drove $2.72 billion in revenue for the app, with a gross profit of $55 million, respective increases of 210% and 223% respectively year-on-year. Cash App generated a gross profit of $546 million overall, up 94% YoY.

“Bitcoin revenue and gross profit benefited from year-over-year increases in the price of bitcoin and bitcoin activities, and growth in customer demand.”

However, compared to the first quarter of this year, Bitcoin revenue and gross profit decreased and is down 22.3% from 3.5 billion.

Square attributed the weaker performance to the more than 50% retracement suffered by the broader crypto markets during May and June.

Square also reported an impairment loss of $45 million on the Bitcoin it holds. As Tesla holds its Bitcoin (BTC) as an “intangible asset,” accounting rules require the firm report an impairment loss when the asset’s price drops below its cost basis. Square is also not required to report increases in the value of its intangible asset holdings until the position is realized through a sale.

According to Bitcoin Treasuries, Square currently holds 8,027 BTC worth an estimated $320 million at the time of writing.

Related: Square doubles down on Bitcoin, investing another $170M

Square recently bought 3,318 BTC in February for $170 million, adding to its initial purchase of 4,709 BTC in October 2020.

On July 30, Cointelegraph reported that mobile software firm MicroStrategy pledged to buy more BTC despite an impairment loss of $425 million on its Bitcoin stash for Q2. Tesla also reported an impairment loss of $23 million for the quarter.