KPMG Digital Assets

KPMG's Digital Assets practice covers crypto tax and reporting, digital asset audit, corporate balance sheet accounting for crypto holdings, regulatory compliance, crypto fund audit, DeFi tax treatment, and NFT accounting. The firm has developed a globally recognised 'Crypto Assets' accounting guidance framework widely used by CFOs and finance teams navigating the accounting treatment of digital assets.

Yes — crypto fund audit is an explicit focus area for KPMG's practice. For funds seeking institutional LP capital, a KPMG audit is often a prerequisite, as LP due diligence processes typically require Big Four or recognised-firm audit credibility. KPMG has also developed proprietary blockchain analytics tools to support audit of on-chain assets.

Sal Ternullo leads KPMG's US digital assets practice, while Lisa Lombardi leads for the UK. KPMG's global network means there are digital assets specialists in most major jurisdictions — the right entry point depends on the client's primary market and the nature of the engagement.

KPMG has invested heavily in proprietary blockchain analytics tools that supplement manual audit processes — enabling on-chain verification of asset holdings, transaction tracing, and automated reconciliation for high-volume crypto portfolios. This tooling gives KPMG an edge for auditing exchange and fund clients with large numbers of on-chain transactions.

Yes — DeFi tax treatment is an explicit focus area for KPMG, covering the accounting and tax implications of liquidity provision, yield farming, staking, and other DeFi activities. The firm provides jurisdiction-specific guidance for clients with complex DeFi portfolios, integrating on-chain data analysis with tax reporting requirements.

Engagement begins via KPMG's local office or the firm's website, directed to the digital assets team in the relevant jurisdiction. For fund audits, the process typically starts with a scoping meeting to assess the fund's on-chain footprint and reporting requirements before agreeing fees. Big Four audit timelines tend to be longer than boutique alternatives, so engaging KPMG early in a fund's calendar year is advisable.