Dumb question, how does CashApp make so much money? Isn't it a free app with no fees? I have to imagine the free 1-3 business day deposit is highly preferred to the 1-3% transaction free instant-payment-deposit feature.
I am not sure the justification of it. Ages ago the debate was, if bitcoin was asset, currency or commodity? But how does buying something through an exchange results in the asset's entire price to be recognized as revenue for the company? They are doing it only for Bitcoin, not for any other things. I have no clue because it doesn't make sense.
From the 10-k [0]
...customers access to hundreds of listed stocks and ETFs, as well as the ability to buy and sell bitcoin. Stocks, ETFs, or bitcoin can be purchased...e. For bitcoin buying and selling, we recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account.
...During the year ended December 31, 2021, we saw a significant increase in total Cash App revenue, primarily from bitcoin revenue which contributed 57% of total consolidated net revenue in 2021, and 48% of the total increase in consolidated net revenues in 2021
CashApp made most of their money through Bitcoin and the exchange fees (something like 70% in 2021?).
Additionally, they charge extra for instant transfers in and out of CashApp. I believe its 1.5%.
Lastly, they also make money by keeping the Cash in the CashApp/Square network. Since it is all within Block, they will not have to pay interchange fees when a customer pays with CashApp to a Square merchant.
Lots of comments related to Block revenue wrt Bitcoin that needs some context. Block is making inflated revenue because they're legally required to report buying a Bitcoin for $49.5k and selling for $50k as $50k in revenue, even though their profit will be negligible. Since their bitcoin fees, their gross profit is a much better metric, as how many bitcoins they're skimming, adding to inflated revenue metrics, is meaningless.
halfway_there|3 years ago
Revenue feels like the wrong place for this number to show up, but the result is that it inflates their revenue number
srfilipek|3 years ago
anyfactor|3 years ago
I am not sure the justification of it. Ages ago the debate was, if bitcoin was asset, currency or commodity? But how does buying something through an exchange results in the asset's entire price to be recognized as revenue for the company? They are doing it only for Bitcoin, not for any other things. I have no clue because it doesn't make sense.
From the 10-k [0]
...customers access to hundreds of listed stocks and ETFs, as well as the ability to buy and sell bitcoin. Stocks, ETFs, or bitcoin can be purchased...e. For bitcoin buying and selling, we recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account.
...During the year ended December 31, 2021, we saw a significant increase in total Cash App revenue, primarily from bitcoin revenue which contributed 57% of total consolidated net revenue in 2021, and 48% of the total increase in consolidated net revenues in 2021
[0] https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1512673/000162828022...
hotpotamus|3 years ago
ezaf|3 years ago
Lastly, they also make money by keeping the Cash in the CashApp/Square network. Since it is all within Block, they will not have to pay interchange fees when a customer pays with CashApp to a Square merchant.
reducesuffering|3 years ago
cheriot|3 years ago
soperj|3 years ago