2. Separate Unrealised Gains From Realised Results

An unrealised gain reflects an increase in the estimated value of an asset still held.

A realised trading result generally arises when an asset is sold or otherwise disposed of, comparing proceeds with the relevant cost under the calculation method used.

Hypothetical Example:

• Recorded acquisition cost: $1,000.
  • Current estimated holding value: $1,200.
  • Displayed unrealised gain: $200.

The $200 remains a valuation difference while the holding is unsold. A later sale may produce a different result.

This is a performance explanation, not a tax calculation. Tax treatment requires separate assessment.

3. Understand That Sale Proceeds Include Your Capital

Cash received from selling an investment is not all profit.

Part of the proceeds represents the money originally committed.

Hypothetical Example

An investor spends $1,000 in total to acquire a holding and later receives $1,180 after selling costs.

The simplified trading gain is:

$1,180 − $1,000 = $180.

The sale generated $1,180 in proceeds, but only $180 represents the gain in this example.

Withdrawing those proceeds changes where the money is held. It does not create an additional investment return.

4. Compare the Valuation Price With the Execution Price

A portfolio tracker may use the last traded price, a midpoint or another reference.

An order executes against the available market or provider quote. That price can differ from the valuation displayed earlier.

Reasons for Differences Include

• Price movement between viewing and selling.
  • The difference between buying and selling quotes.
  • Limited orders near the displayed price.
  • An order executing across several prices.
  • Delayed or indicative market data.

The difference between an expected execution price and the actual price is commonly called slippage.

A limit order can restrict the acceptable price, but execution is not guaranteed.

5. Account for Fees Without Counting Them Twice

Different stages of the transaction can involve different costs.

Costs to Review

• Purchase fees.
  • Selling fees.
  • Bid–ask spread.
  • Currency conversion charges.
  • Fiat withdrawal charges.
  • Blockchain fees where an on-chain transfer occurs.

Not every cost applies to every transaction.

A spread may already be reflected in the execution price. Subtracting it again as a separate charge would overstate costs.

Likewise, a bank withdrawal does not automatically involve a blockchain network fee.

A Hypothetical Valuation-to-Cash Example

Assume the original acquisition cost was $1,000, including purchase charges.

The initial estimated gain was $200. The final cash gain was $175.

This example assumes the entire holding was sold, no other cash flows occurred and no tax was deducted. It does not describe OptimCoins’ actual fees or pricing.

6. Separate Deposits From Investment Growth

An account balance can rise because more money was added.

Hypothetical Example:

• Starting account value: $2,000.
  • Additional deposit: $1,000.
  • Ending account value: $3,100.
  • No withdrawals or other external transfers.

The account increased by $1,100, but $1,000 came from the deposit.

The simplified value increase after accounting for that contribution is $100.

A Basic Reconciliation

For a defined account boundary:

Value change excluding external flows = Ending value − Starting value − Contributions + Withdrawals

Include external crypto transfers at a consistent valuation where relevant.

This calculates a monetary change under the stated assumptions. It is not automatically a valid percentage return, because the timing of contributions and withdrawals matters.

7. Keep Partial Sales Separate From Remaining Holdings

Selling part of a portfolio creates cash while leaving some exposure to future price movements.

The cash result on the sold portion and the unrealised result on the remaining portion should be examined separately.

Questions to Ask

• How many units were sold?
  • What cost was allocated to those units?
  • What proceeds were received?
  • What charges applied?
  • How many units remain?
  • How are remaining holdings valued?

A dashboard showing gains on open positions may exclude losses from positions already closed.

Check whether the displayed result covers your complete transaction history.

8. Review the Currency Used

A cryptocurrency can rise in US-dollar terms while producing a different result in Australian dollars.

Currency conversion can affect both valuation and cash proceeds.

Hypothetical Example

• Initial asset value: US$1,000.
  • Initial exchange rate: A$1.50 per US$1.
  • Initial Australian-dollar value: A$1,500.
  • Later asset value: US$1,100.
  • Later exchange rate: A$1.35 per US$1.
  • Later Australian-dollar value: A$1,485.

The asset rose 10% in US dollars but fell 1% in Australian-dollar terms before transaction costs.

Use the same currency when comparing purchase costs, portfolio values and cash received.

9. Check Transferred Assets and Missing Cost Records

Moving crypto between wallets or providers can create gaps in a tracker’s acquisition history.

A receiving platform may know the number of units received without knowing what you originally paid.

Review These Details

• Original purchase transactions.
  • Purchase fees.
  • Transfer dates and quantities.
  • Network fees.
  • Duplicate transaction imports.
  • Missing sales.
  • Transfers incorrectly classified as purchases or withdrawals.

A missing or zero cost can make a displayed gain misleading.

A transfer between your own wallets is not a new purchase merely because it appears as an incoming transaction on the receiving platform.

10. Distinguish Performance From Withdrawability

A positive balance does not explain when funds can be withdrawn.

Access may be affected by settlement processes, verification requirements, product lockups or provider restrictions.

Confirm

• Whether the asset has been sold.
  • Whether sale proceeds are available.
  • Any pending orders or holds.
  • Withdrawal minimums and limits.
  • Expected processing stages.
  • Supported withdrawal methods.

These conditions do not necessarily explain an investment loss, but they affect access to cash.

ASIC identifies both market and pricing risks in crypto assets, including difficulties valuing some assets reliably. A displayed valuation should therefore be interpreted alongside actual trading and custody arrangements. ASIC

A Practical Portfolio and Cash Reconciliation Checklist

What OptimCoins Users Should Confirm

Ask OptimCoins how its current reporting calculates the figures displayed.

Useful Questions Include

• Does the gain figure include closed positions?
  • Is it a personal return or market price change?
  • Which prices value holdings?
  • Are fees included?
  • How are external transfers handled?
  • Can missing acquisition costs be recorded?
  • How are currency conversions calculated?
  • Can transactions and fees be exported?
  • What separates total value from withdrawable cash?

Confirm these features directly rather than assuming a particular dashboard calculation.