Block, Inc. (XYZ)
SIC breadcrumb: Services > Business Services > SIC 7372 Services-Prepackaged Software
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1512673. Latest filing source: 0001628280-26-012254.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 24,193,683,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-26 |
| Net income | 1,305,636,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-26 |
| Assets | 39,549,887,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-26 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-26. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001512673.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,708,721,000 | 2,214,253,000 | 3,298,177,000 | 4,713,500,000 | 9,497,578,000 | 17,661,203,000 | 17,531,587,000 | 21,915,623,000 | 24,121,053,000 | 24,193,683,000 |
| Net income | -171,590,000 | -62,813,000 | -38,453,000 | 375,446,000 | 213,105,000 | 166,284,000 | -540,747,000 | 9,772,000 | 2,897,047,000 | 1,305,636,000 |
| Operating income | -170,453,000 | -54,206,000 | -36,614,000 | 26,557,000 | -18,815,000 | 161,112,000 | -624,532,000 | -278,839,000 | 892,327,000 | 1,708,406,000 |
| Gross profit | 576,038,000 | 839,306,000 | 1,303,700,000 | 1,889,685,000 | 2,733,409,000 | 4,419,823,000 | 5,991,892,000 | 7,504,886,000 | 8,889,036,000 | 10,359,929,000 |
| Diluted EPS | -0.50 | -0.17 | -0.09 | 0.81 | 0.44 | 0.33 | -0.93 | 0.02 | 4.56 | 2.10 |
| Operating cash flow | 23,131,000 | 127,711,000 | 295,080,000 | 327,630,000 | 173,110,000 | 847,830,000 | 175,903,000 | 100,961,000 | 1,707,350,000 | 2,579,714,000 |
| Capital expenditures | 25,433,000 | 26,097,000 | 61,203,000 | 62,498,000 | 138,402,000 | 134,320,000 | 170,815,000 | 151,151,000 | 153,947,000 | 155,038,000 |
| Share buybacks | 0.00 | 0.00 | 156,812,000 | 1,170,339,000 | 2,330,661,000 | |||||
| Assets | 1,211,362,000 | 2,187,270,000 | 3,281,023,000 | 4,551,258,000 | 9,869,550,000 | 15,026,360,000 | 31,364,340,000 | 33,031,308,000 | 36,777,595,000 | 39,549,887,000 |
| Liabilities | 635,209,000 | 1,400,937,000 | 2,160,522,000 | 2,836,208,000 | 7,187,981,000 | 11,712,771,000 | 14,112,985,000 | 14,338,472,000 | 15,542,633,000 | 17,380,005,000 |
| Stockholders' equity | 576,153,000 | 786,333,000 | 1,120,501,000 | 1,715,050,000 | 2,681,569,000 | 3,272,855,000 | 17,222,879,000 | 18,695,256,000 | 21,267,932,000 | 22,204,278,000 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 452,030,000 | 696,474,000 | 583,173,000 | 1,047,118,000 | 3,158,058,000 | 4,443,669,000 | 4,544,202,000 | 4,996,465,000 | 8,075,247,000 | 6,564,092,000 |
| Free cash flow | -2,302,000 | 101,614,000 | 233,877,000 | 265,132,000 | 34,708,000 | 713,510,000 | 5,088,000 | -50,190,000 | 1,553,403,000 | 2,424,676,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | -10.04% | -2.84% | -1.17% | 7.97% | 2.24% | 0.94% | -3.08% | 0.04% | 12.01% | 5.40% |
| Operating margin | -9.98% | -2.45% | -1.11% | 0.56% | -0.20% | 0.91% | -3.56% | -1.27% | 3.70% | 7.06% |
| Return on equity | -29.78% | -7.99% | -3.43% | 21.89% | 7.95% | 5.08% | -3.14% | 0.05% | 13.62% | 5.88% |
| Return on assets | -14.17% | -2.87% | -1.17% | 8.25% | 2.16% | 1.11% | -1.72% | 0.03% | 7.88% | 3.30% |
| Liabilities / equity | 1.10 | 1.78 | 1.93 | 1.65 | 2.68 | 3.58 | 0.82 | 0.77 | 0.73 | 0.78 |
| Current ratio | 1.73 | 1.83 | 2.07 | 1.90 | 1.88 | 1.78 | 1.85 | 2.01 | 2.33 | 2.20 |
Financial Charts
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-07. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001512673.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | -0.36 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | -0.02 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | -0.03 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 5,534,957,000 | -122,506,000 | -0.20 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 5,617,493,000 | -28,954,000 | -0.05 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 5,773,042,000 | 178,070,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 5,957,128,000 | 472,005,000 | 0.74 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 6,155,563,000 | 195,268,000 | 0.31 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 5,975,801,000 | 283,754,000 | 0.45 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 6,032,561,000 | 1,946,020,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 5,771,796,000 | 189,872,000 | 0.30 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 6,054,457,000 | 538,458,000 | 0.87 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 6,114,952,000 | 461,544,000 | 0.74 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 6,252,478,000 | 115,762,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 6,056,847,000 | -308,681,000 | -0.52 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001628280-26-032200.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the information set forth within the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity and capital resources, our plans, estimates, beliefs and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
Overview
We launched the Square ecosystem in February 2009 to enable businesses ("sellers") to accept card payments, a critical capability that had previously been inaccessible to many businesses. We have since expanded to provide sellers additional products and services and to give them access to a cohesive ecosystem of tools to help them start, run, and grow their businesses. Similarly, with Cash App, we have built an ecosystem of financial products and services to help consumers manage their money. Cash App now provides an ecosystem of commerce solutions, financial solutions, and bitcoin capabilities focused on helping consumers make their money go further by enabling customers to store, send, receive, spend, invest, BNPL, borrow, or save their money. In addition, our nascent ecosystems include TIDAL as well as Bitcoin, which includes businesses such as Proto and Bitkey.
In the first quarter of 2026, we generated gross profit of $2.9 billion, up 27% year over year. Cash App generated gross profit of $1.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 38% year over year, driven by growth in Cash App Borrow. Square generated gross profit of $981.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 9% year over year, driven by financial solutions, most notably Square Loans.
In the first quarter of 2026, operating loss was $172.0 million and Adjusted Operating Income was $727.7 million, compared to operating income of $329.3 million and Adjusted Operating Income of $466.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $308.7 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $189.9 million for the same period in 2025, and Adjusted EBITDA was $1.0 billion for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $812.8 million for the same period in 2025. Net loss for the first quarter of 2026 and net income for the first quarter of 2025 included losses of $172.8 million and $93.4 million, respectively, from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment.
Refer to the Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") equivalents.
In February 2026, we announced a workforce reduction restructuring plan (the “Workforce Plan”) designed to better align our organizational structure with our operating model and strategic priorities. As part of the Workforce Plan, we reduced our workforce by more than 40%. Restructuring charges in connection to the Workforce Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2026 were $495.3 million, which primarily consisted of cash expenditures for notice period and severance payments, employee benefits and related costs, as well as share-based compensation expense. We expect to incur additional immaterial related charges related to the Workforce Plan and expect that these remaining charges will be substantially complete by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026. We expect to realize benefits related to our focus on disciplined growth and cost efficiencies, and we expect to continue to benefit from these actions in future periods. We plan to continue to operate at this smaller size and are continuing to look at ways to improve our efficiency through a combination of AI automation, prioritization of our scope, performance management, and centralization of teams and functions to reduce duplication.
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The following table presents a summary of severance and other personnel costs related to the Workforce Plan (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product development | $ | 351,350 |
| Sales and marketing | 45,260 | |
| General and administrative | 98,643 | |
| Total | $ | 495,253 |
While timing and savings are subject to change, we expect annualized net cost savings associated with the Workforce Plan of approximately $800 million to $900 million, related to employee compensation, a portion of which we expect to strategically reinvest in the Company. We expect that we will begin to realize these cost savings upon the completion of the Workforce Plan. Refer to Note 20, Restructuring, within Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding charges related to the Workforce Plan.
We ended the first quarter of 2026 with $9.1 billion in available liquidity, with $8.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, as well as an undrawn amount of $900.0 million available under our revolving credit facility. This represents a decrease of $120.5 million from our available liquidity as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to $636.0 million of share repurchases in the first quarter of 2026 and net purchases and originations of loans originally classified as held for investment of $414.0 million, partially offset by net proceeds from principal repayments of consumer receivables of $652.6 million and an increase of $125.0 million to our revolving credit facility.
In November 2025, the board of directors of the Company authorized an increase to the Company's share repurchase program to repurchase up to an additional $5 billion of the Company's Class A common stock, for a total authorization of $9 billion. The goal of the program is to return capital to shareholders. The timing and number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the stock price, business and market conditions, corporate and regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities, acquisition opportunities, and other factors. As of March 31, 2026, we have repurchased a total of $4.3 billion of our Class A common stock under the program, of which $636.0 million was purchased in the first quarter of 2026.
Results of Operations
Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Commerce enablement revenue | $ | 2,938,470 | $ | 2,566,975 | $ | 371,495 | 14 | % | ||||||
| Financial solutions revenue | 1,321,985 | 875,011 | 446,974 | 51 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin ecosystem revenue | 1,796,392 | 2,329,810 | (533,418) | (23) | % | |||||||||
| Total net revenue | $ | 6,056,847 | $ | 5,771,796 | $ | 285,051 | 5 | % |
Total net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 increased by $285.1 million, or 5%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. Bitcoin ecosystem revenue decreased by $533.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. Excluding bitcoin ecosystem revenue, total net revenue increased by $818.5 million, or 24%, in the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025.
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Commerce enablement revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 increased by $371.5 million, or 14%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. This increase in revenue was driven by growth in Square processing, which increased by $161.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025, as well as growth in Cash App Card and Afterpay Post-Purchase revenue of $72.3 million and $71.1 million, respectively. The growth in Square processing was in line with Square gross payment volume ("GPV") growth of 13%, driven primarily by strength in Food and Beverage sellers. See below in Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further discussion of GPV.
Financial solutions revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 increased by $447.0 million, or 51%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. The increase was primarily due to growth in Cash App's financial solutions-related products, specifically Cash App Borrow origination volumes. For the three months ended March 31, 2026 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025, Cash App Borrow revenue increased by $369.4 million as we continued to expand access to the product. Additionally, revenue from Square's financial solutions-related products increased by $45.7 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily related to Square Lending.
Bitcoin ecosystem revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 decreased by $533.4 million, or 23%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. As bitcoin ecosystem revenue is primarily the total sale amount of bitcoin to customers, the amount of bitcoin ecosystem revenue recognized will fluctuate depending on customer demand as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. The decrease in the three months ended March 31, 2026 was driven by a decrease in trading volume as well as the average market price of bitcoin, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. While the bitcoin ecosystem contributed 30% and 40% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025, respectively, gross profit generated from the bitcoin ecosystem was only 2% and 4% of the total gross profit for both the three months ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025.
Cost of Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Commerce enablement costs | $ | 1,317,459 | $ | 1,152,200 | $ | 165,259 | 14 | % | ||||||
| Financial solutions costs | 89,375 | 77,922 | 11,453 | 15 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin ecosystem costs | 1,727,957 | 2,237,397 | (509,440) | (23) | % | |||||||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 12,817 | 14,674 | (1,857) | NM | ||||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | $ | 3,147,608 | $ | 3,482,193 | $ | (334,585) | (10) | % |
(i) Not meaningful ("NM")
Total cost of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 decreased by $334.6 million, or 10%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. Bitcoin ecosystem costs of revenue, which decreased by $509.4 million, was the primary driver of the decrease in total cost of revenue. Excluding bitcoin ecosystem costs of revenue, total cost of revenue increased by approximately $174.9 million, or 14%, in the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025, largely related to an increase in Square GPV.
Commerce enablement costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026 increased by $165.3 million, or 14%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025. Commerce enablement costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026 were primarily driven by growth in Square processing costs, which were in line with the growth of Square GPV of 13%, as well as an increase in Square hardware costs.
Financial solutions costs for the three months ended March 31, 2026 increased by $11.5 million, compared to the three mont
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This management's discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations, key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, and liquidity and capital resources of Block, Inc. on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K").
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024. The comparison of the fiscal 2024 results with the fiscal 2023 results that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis Results of Operations" section in the Company's fiscal 2024 Annual Report within Part II, Item 7 of Form 10-K, filed on February 24, 2025.
The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources; our plans, estimates, beliefs, and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties; and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
Overview
We launched the Square ecosystem in February 2009 to enable businesses ("sellers") to accept card payments, a critical capability that had previously been inaccessible to many businesses. We have since expanded to provide sellers additional products and services and to give them access to a cohesive ecosystem of tools to help them start, run, and grow their businesses. Similarly, with Cash App, we have built an ecosystem of financial products and services to help consumers manage their money. Cash App now provides an ecosystem of commerce solutions, financial services, and bitcoin capabilities focused on helping consumers make their money go further by enabling customers to store, send, receive, spend, invest, BNPL, borrow, or save their money. In addition, our nascent ecosystems include TIDAL as well as Bitcoin, which includes businesses such as Proto and Bitkey.
In 2025, we generated gross profit of $10.4 billion, up 17% year over year. Cash App generated gross profit of $6.3 billion in 2025, up 21% year over year, primarily driven by growth in Cash App Borrow. Square generated gross profit of $3.9 billion in 2025, up 9% year over year, driven by financial solutions, most notably Square Loans.
In 2025, operating income was $1.7 billion and Adjusted Operating Income was $2.1 billion, compared to operating income of $892.3 million and Adjusted Operating Income of $1.6 billion in 2024. Net income attributable to common stockholders was $1.3 billion compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $2.9 billion for the same period in 2024, and Adjusted EBITDA was $3.5 billion, an increase of 14% year over year. Net income for 2025 and 2024 included a loss of $55.9 million and gain of $420.9 million, respectively, from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment. In 2024, we released our valuation allowance associated with certain federal and state deferred tax assets, as well as recognized deferred tax assets as part of internal legal entity restructuring efforts, which resulted in benefits to net income for 2024 of $1.9 billion. Refer to the Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") equivalents.
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Starting in 2023, we sharpened our focus on our organizational structure and expenditures with a view to identifying areas where we can be more cost efficient as we focus on disciplined growth. We made progress on our cost efficiency goals in 2025, and we expect to continue these efforts. For the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we recorded $78.6 million and $26.8 million of severance and other expenses related to these efforts, respectively. In February 2026, we announced a workforce reduction restructuring plan (the “Workforce Plan”) designed to better align our organizational structure with our operating model and strategic priorities. As part of the Workforce Plan, we expect to reduce our current workforce by more than 40%. We expect that the execution of the Workforce Plan will be substantially complete by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026. We will continue to incur expenses, including additional restructuring costs, in the short term to implement these initiatives. We expect to realize benefits related to our focus on disciplined growth and cost efficiencies, and we expect to continue to benefit from these actions in future periods. We plan to continue to operate at this smaller size and are continuing to look at ways to improve our efficiency through a combination of AI automation, prioritization of our scope, performance management, and centralization of teams and functions to reduce duplication.
During the third quarter of 2025, we issued $2.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes comprised of $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2030 ("2030 Senior Notes") and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount due 2033 ("2033 Senior Notes"). We ended 2025 with $9.2 billion in available liquidity, with $8.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, as well as an undrawn amount of $775.0 million available under our revolving credit facility, which was amended on January 14, 2026 to, among other things, increase the unsecured revolving loan facility to $900 million. This represents a decrease of $1.5 billion from the end of 2024, primarily due to a $1.0 billion cash payment for the settlement of the outstanding 2025 Convertible Notes that matured in March 2025 and $2.3 billion of share repurchases in 2025, partially offset by $2.2 billion cash received related to the issuance of the 2030 Senior Notes and 2033 Senior Notes.
In November 2025, the board of directors of the Company authorized an increase to the Company's share repurchase program to repurchase up to an additional $5 billion of the Company's Class A common stock, for a total authorization of $9 billion. The goal of the program is to return capital to shareholders. The timing and amount of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the stock price, business and market conditions, corporate and regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities, acquisition opportunities, and other factors. As of December 31, 2025, we have repurchased $3.7 billion of our Class A common stock under the program, of which $2.3 billion was purchased in 2025.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Commerce Enablement Revenue
Commerce enablement revenue is primarily comprised of revenue generated from Square payments, software, and hardware, Cash App Card, Cash App Pay, the Company’s BNPL products, Cash App Business accounts, and TIDAL. Commerce enablement revenue also includes various other software as a service (“SaaS”) products offered through Square. Our other SaaS products include subscription fees on our vertical software solutions, operational tool products (including Square Team Management and Square Payroll), and other products.
We charge our sellers a transaction fee that is generally calculated as a percentage of the total transaction amount processed. We also selectively offer custom pricing for certain larger sellers. We also charge transaction fees to Cash App Business customers for peer-to-peer transactions or funding transactions with a credit card.
Cash App Card offers Cash App customers the ability to use their stored funds via a Visa prepaid card that is linked to the balance the customer stores in Cash App. We also earn interchange fees when a Cash App Card is used to make a purchase. These transaction and interchange fees are treated as revenue when charged.
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Revenue from our BNPL products include merchant fees generated from consumer receivables, late fees, gift cards, and certain affiliate and advertising fees. Through the use of our BNPL products, consumers can pay for their purchases over time by splitting their purchase price generally into three or four installments, typically due in two-week increments, without paying fees (if payments are made on time). For the majority of our BNPL products, we do not charge consumers interest or fees, other than late fees, which may be charged in certain regions as an incentive to encourage consumers to pay their outstanding balances as and when they fall due. We also offer the ability for consumers to pay for larger transaction sizes over a three-, six-, twelve-, or twenty-four-month period using a monthly payment option, which includes no late fees and no compounding interest with a cap on total interest owed. We may sell the rights, title, and interest to a third-party investor for an upfront consideration subsequent to origination of some of the loans. We are retained by the third-party investor to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions.
TIDAL primarily generates revenue from subscriptions to customers, and such subscriptions allow access to the song library, video library, and improved sound quality. Customers can subscribe to services directly from the TIDAL website or through the Apple store. For both subscription channels, we charge customers a monthly fee for those subscription services.
Revenue from Square hardware includes revenue from sales of magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Third-party peripherals include cash drawers, receipt printers, scales, and barcode scanners, all of which can be integrated with Square Stand, Square Register, or Square Terminal to provide a comprehensive point-of-sale solution.
Financial Solutions Revenue
Financial solutions revenue is primarily comprised of revenue the Company generates from Cash App Borrow, Cash App Instant Deposit, ATM withdrawal fees, interest earned on customer funds, and Square Loans.
Cash App Borrow allows customers to access short-term loans for a fee. The loans are repaid at the end of the loan term and customers may elect to prepay all or a part of the outstanding balance. If the outstanding balance is not paid when due, late fees in the form of interest may be charged. Historically, all Cash App Borrow loans were facilitated through a partnership with a third-party industrial bank. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, the Company also began originating Cash App Borrow loans through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Square Financial Services. For loans originated by the bank partner, the Company purchases the loans obtaining all rights, title, and interest. Net amounts paid to the bank partner are recorded as the cost of the loans purchased, and amounts collected in excess of the carrying value are recognized as revenue over the life of the loans. For loans originated through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Square Financial Services, the Company records the loans at the amount originated and amounts collected in excess of the originated amount are recognized as revenue over the life of the loans.
Instant Deposit is a functionality within Cash App and our managed payment solutions that enables customers, including individuals and sellers, to instantly deposit funds into their bank accounts. We charge the customer a per transaction fee when they instantly deposit funds to their bank account or withdraw funds from an ATM.
Square Loans to sellers that are originated by Square Financial Services are generally repaid through withholding a percentage of the seller's receivables collected and processed by us or a specified monthly amount. We also originate loans to the customers of certain sellers, which are generally repaid via ACH. For some of the loans, it is our intention to sell the rights, title, and interest to third-party investors for an upfront consideration. We are retained by the third-party investors to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions. Certain loans, for which we have the intention and ability to hold through maturity, are not immediately sold to third-party investors. Interest and fees earned on these loans are recognized as revenue using the effective interest method. The Company records the amounts advanced to the customers or the net amounts paid to purchase the loans as cost of the loans.
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Bitcoin Ecosystem Revenue
Bitcoin ecosystem revenue is primarily comprised of revenue the Company generates from customer purchases of bitcoin within Cash App, Proto, and bitcoin withdrawal fees. We recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account. We purchase bitcoin from private broker dealers or from Cash App customers and apply a small margin before selling it to our customers. The sale amounts received from our customers are recorded as revenue on a gross basis and the associated bitcoin cost as cost of revenues, as we are the principal in the bitcoin sale transaction. Bitcoin revenue may fluctuate as a result of changes in customer demand or the market price of bitcoin. Bitcoin withdrawal is a functionality within Cash App that enables customers to withdraw bitcoin stored on Cash App to a third-party wallet. We charge customers a fee for the option of faster withdrawal speeds.
Cost of Revenue
Commerce Enablement Costs
Commerce enablement costs consist primarily of interchange and assessment fees, processing fees, and bank settlement fees paid to third-party payment processors and financial institutions, as well as costs associated with the Company’s BNPL products, TIDAL, and Square hardware and software.
Financial Solutions Costs
Financial solutions costs consist primarily of partnership fees related to Cash App including ATM withdrawals and Instant Deposit.
Bitcoin Ecosystem Costs
Bitcoin ecosystem costs consist primarily of the amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin that is sold to customers, which fluctuate in line with bitcoin revenue, as well as costs associated with Proto.
Amortization of Acquired Technology Assets
Amortization of acquired technology assets is primarily comprised of amortization related to the acquired technology assets from the acquisition of Afterpay.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of product development; sales and marketing; general and administrative expenses; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; and amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets. For product development and general and administrative expenses, the largest single component is personnel-related expenses, including salaries, commissions and bonuses, employee benefit costs, severance-related expenses, and share-based compensation. In the case of sales and marketing expenses, a significant portion is related to Cash App peer-to-peer transactions and Cash App Card issuance costs, in addition to paid advertising and personnel-related expenses. Operating expenses also include allocated overhead costs for facilities, human resources, and IT.
Product Development Expenses
Product development expenses currently represent the largest component of our operating expenses and consist primarily of expenses related to our engineering, data science, and design personnel; fees and supply costs related to maintenance at third-party data center facilities; Square hardware related development and tooling costs; software and cloud computing infrastructure fees; and fees for software licenses, consulting, legal, and other services that are directly related to growing and maintaining our portfolio of products and services. Additionally, product development expenses include the depreciation of product-related infrastructure and tools, including data center equipment, internally developed software, and computer equipment. We continue to focus our product development efforts on adding new features and expanding our apps, and on enhancing the functionality and ease of use of our offerings. Our ability to realize returns on these investments is substantially dependent upon our ability to successfully address current and emerging requirements of sellers, buyers, and customers through the development and introduction of these new products and services.
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Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses are aggregated into two main components. The first component consists of traditional advertising costs incurred such as direct sales expense, account management, local and product marketing, retail and e-commerce, partnerships, and communications personnel. The second component of sales and marketing expenses consists of costs incurred for services, incentives, and other costs that are not directly related to revenue generating transactions that we consider to be marketing costs to encourage the usage of Cash App. These expenses include, but are not limited to, Cash App peer-to-peer processing costs and transaction losses, card issuance costs, customer referral bonuses, and promotional giveaways that are expensed as incurred.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of expenses related to our customer support, finance, legal, risk operations, human resources, and administrative personnel. General and administrative expenses also include costs related to fees paid for professional services, including legal, tax, and accounting services.
Transaction, Loan, and Consumer Receivable Losses
Transaction losses include chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and the inability to collect on disputes between buyers and sellers over the delivery of goods or services, as well as losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash App Business, and Cash App Card. We base our reserve estimates on prior chargeback history and current period data points indicative of transaction loss. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. The establishment of appropriate reserves for transaction losses is an inherently uncertain process, and ultimate losses may vary from the current estimates. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new facts become known and events occur that may affect the settlement or recovery of losses.
Loan losses primarily relate to Square Loans, Cash App Borrow, and BNPL products. For loans classified as held for sale, losses are recorded whenever the amortized cost of a loan exceeds its fair value. Such charges are reversed for subsequent increases in fair value, but only to the extent that such reversals do not result in the amortized cost of a loan exceeding its fair value. For loans classified as held for investment and consumer receivables, losses relate to management's estimate of expected credit losses in the outstanding portfolios. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve.
Amortization of Customer and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets is primarily as a result of the intangible assets from the Afterpay acquisition.
Interest Expense (Income), net
Interest expense (income), net consists primarily of interest expense related to our long-term debt and interest income on our investments in marketable debt securities.
Remeasurement Loss (Gain) on Bitcoin Investment
Remeasurement loss (gain) on bitcoin investment is the result of gains or losses arising from remeasurements of our bitcoin investment.
Other Expense (Income), net
Other expense (income), net consists primarily of gains or losses arising from remeasurements of our investments in equity securities and foreign currency-related gains and losses.
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Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consists primarily of federal, state, local, and foreign tax. Our effective tax rate fluctuates from period to period due to changes in the mix of income and losses in jurisdictions with a wide range of tax rates, the effect of acquisitions, changes resulting from the amount of recorded valuation allowance, permanent differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and local tax laws, certain one-time items, and changes in tax contingencies.
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Results of Operations
Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Commerce enablement revenue | $ | 11,514,162 | $ | 10,512,453 | $ | 1,001,709 | 10 | % | ||||||
| Financial solutions revenue | 4,176,734 | 3,250,817 | 925,917 | 28 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin ecosystem revenue | 8,502,787 | 10,357,783 | (1,854,996) | (18) | % | |||||||||
| Total net revenue | $ | 24,193,683 | $ | 24,121,053 | $ | 72,630 | — | % |
Total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $72.6 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Bitcoin ecosystem revenue decreased by $1.9 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Excluding bitcoin ecosystem revenue, total net revenue increased by $1.9 billion, or 14%, in the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.
Commerce enablement revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $1.0 billion, or 10%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. This increase in revenue was driven by growth in Square processing, which increased by $541.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as growth in Cash App Card usage and revenue from Afterpay Post-Purchase of $278.0 million and $88.0 million, respectively. The growth in Square processing was in line with Square GPV growth of 10%, driven primarily by strength in Food and Beverage sellers. See below in Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further discussion of GPV.
Financial solutions revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $925.9 million, or 28%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to growth in Cash App's financial service-related products, specifically Cash App Borrow volumes. For the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, Cash App Borrow revenue increased by $686.8 million as we continue to expand access to the product. Growth in Square's financial services-related products of $169.7 million, primarily related to Square Lending, also contributed to the increase in revenue in 2025.
Bitcoin ecosystem revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $1.9 billion, or 18%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. As bitcoin ecosystem revenue is primarily the total sale amount of bitcoin sold to customers, the amount of bitcoin ecosystem revenue recognized will fluctuate depending on customer demand as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the decrease in the total sale amount of bitcoin sold to customers was driven by a decrease in trading volume, partially offset by an increase in the average market price of bitcoin, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. While the bitcoin ecosystem contributed 35% and 43% of the total revenue in 2025 and 2024, respectively, gross profit generated from the bitcoin ecosystem was only 4% and 5% of the total gross profit in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Cost of Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Commerce enablement costs | $ | 5,353,254 | $ | 4,913,124 | $ | 440,130 | 9 | % | ||||||
| Financial solutions costs | 339,878 | 311,209 | 28,669 | 9 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin ecosystem costs | 8,083,772 | 9,939,320 | (1,855,548) | (19) | % | |||||||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 56,850 | 68,364 | (11,514) | NM (i) | ||||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | $ | 13,833,754 | $ | 15,232,017 | $ | (1,398,263) | (9) | % |
(i) Not meaningful ("NM")
Total cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $1.4 billion, or 9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Bitcoin ecosystem costs of revenue, which decreased by $1.9 billion, was the primary driver of the decrease in total cost of revenue. Excluding bitcoin ecosystem costs of revenue, total cost of revenue increased by approximately $457.3 million, or 9%, in the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, largely related to an increase in Square GPV.
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Commerce enablement costs for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $440.1 million, or 9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Commerce enablement costs for the year ended December 31, 2025 were primarily driven by growth in Square processing costs, which were in line with the growth of Square GPV of 10%, as well as an increase in Square hardware costs.
Financial solutions costs for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $28.7 million, or 9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily driven by growth in Cash App's financial service-related products on Cash App Card, including Instant Deposit, ATM, and related processing costs. While financial solutions revenue increased by 28% for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, the costs of revenues increased by 9% for the same comparative period. This gross margin expansion is primarily due to more favorable economics in Cash App's financial services-related products.
Bitcoin ecosystem costs for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $1.9 billion, or 19%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Bitcoin ecosystem costs are primarily comprised of the total amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin, which fluctuates in line with bitcoin ecosystem revenue. The decrease in bitcoin ecosystem costs in the year ended December 31, 2025 was partially offset by costs related to Proto.
Operating Expenses (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Product development | $ | 2,907,889 | $ | 2,914,415 | $ | (6,526) | — | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 28 | % | 33 | % | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 2,273,072 | $ | 1,984,265 | $ | 288,807 | 15 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 9 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 22 | % | 22 | % | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 1,997,587 | $ | 2,149,099 | $ | (151,512) | (7) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 8 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 19 | % | 24 | % | ||||||||||
| Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses | $ | 1,337,246 | $ | 794,221 | $ | 543,025 | 68 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 6 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 13 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | $ | 135,729 | $ | 154,709 | $ | (18,980) | (12) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 1 | % | 2 | % | ||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 8,651,523 | $ | 7,996,709 | $ | 654,814 | 8 | % |
Product development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025, decreased by $6.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in expenses was driven by impairment charges of certain assets related to our TIDAL reporting unit of $60.3 million recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024 that did not recur during the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as a decrease of $21.7 million in personnel expenses due to a decrease in headcount, which is a result of executing on our cost efficiency goals and employee headcount cap. These decreases in expenses were partially offset by an increase in allocated facilities, human resources, and IT expenses of $43.5 million as well as an increase of $32.1 million, primarily related to amortization of internally developed software and Proto hardware development.
Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $288.8 million, or 15%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily driven by higher marketing and advertising costs of $249.7 million as we prioritize marketing investments to support the growth of Cash App and Square. Further, for the year ended December 31, 2025, personnel costs increased by $27.7 million, which were impacted by restructuring costs, including severance and other related expenses.
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General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025, decreased by $151.5 million, or 7%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to the following:
•a decrease in expenses related to litigation and regulatory matters for the year ended December 31, 2025. These expenses during the year ended December 31, 2024 were primarily driven by estimated and settled amounts in connection with certain litigation and regulatory matters that did not recur during the year ended December 31, 2025;
•impairment charges recognized during the year ended December 31, 2024 related to our TIDAL reporting unit that did not recur during the year ended December 31, 2025; partially offset by
•an increase in personnel costs of $71.4 million, primarily driven by increased employee travel as well as restructuring costs, including severance and other related expenses, recognized during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses for the year ended December 31, 2025, increased by $543.0 million, or 68%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, as detailed below:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Loan losses | $ | 820,810 | $ | 322,962 | $ | 497,848 | 154 | % | ||||||
| Consumer receivable losses (i) | 314,422 | 273,249 | 41,173 | 15 | % | |||||||||
| Transaction losses | 202,014 | 198,010 | 4,004 | NM | ||||||||||
| Total transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses | $ | 1,337,246 | $ | 794,221 | $ | 543,025 | 68 | % |
(i) Amounts do not include reserves for certain receivables, such as late fees. Consumer receivables losses also includes provision for charge-back losses that are realized and written-off within the same period, rather than through the allowance for consumer receivable losses.
•Loan losses increased by $497.8 million, or 154%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in loan losses was driven by significant growth in loan volumes, particularly from Cash App Borrow, which increased 143% compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as Square Loans, while loan loss rates remained stable. Additionally, beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Cash App Borrow, along with certain other loan products, were retained on our balance sheet and classified as held for investment, resulting in upfront recognition of expected credit losses upon origination.
•Consumer receivable losses increased by $41.2 million, or 15%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, aligning with growth of our BNPL products, while loss rates remained stable.
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets decreased $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to the impairment of certain assets in the fourth quarter of 2024, which resulted in no corresponding amortization in 2025. Refer to Note 10, Acquired Intangible Assets within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Interest Expense (Income), Net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | $ | 129,363 | $ | 9,302 | $ | 120,061 | 1,291 | % |
Interest expense, net, of $129.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 was primarily due to interest expense related our 2030 and 2033 Senior Notes issued in the third quarter of 2025, which more than offset interest income received on invested funds. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details. Interest expense, net, of $9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily due to interest expense related to our 2032 Senior Notes issued in the second quarter of 2024, offset by interest income received on invested funds.
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Remeasurement Loss (Gain) on bitcoin investment (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Remeasurement loss (gain) on bitcoin investment | $ | 55,900 | $ | (420,918) | $ | 476,818 | (113) | % |
Remeasurement loss on bitcoin investment of $55.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 and gain of $420.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, was due to the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment to its fair value at each reporting date. Refer to Note 13, Bitcoin within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment.
Other Expense (Income), Net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Other income, net | $ | (166,768) | $ | (53,211) | $ | (113,557) | 213 | % |
Other income, net, of $166.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 was primarily due to the revaluation of certain equity investments, partially offset by losses from the currency revaluation of intercompany loans. In the third quarter of 2025, one of the Company's investments closed on an additional financing round, which the Company assessed as an observable price change. The Company recorded a $171.6 million upward adjustment to the carrying value of this investment. Other income, net, of $53.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was comprised of unrealized gains of $37.7 million arising from the revaluation of certain equity investments as well as accretion of investments in marketable debt securities.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes | $ | 385,701 | $ | (1,509,343) | $ | 1,895,044 | (126) | % |
Provision for income taxes of $385.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to a benefit from income taxes of $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, was primarily due to a benefit of $1.9 billion related to both the release of the valuation allowance associated with certain federal and state deferred tax assets as well as the recognition of deferred tax assets as part of internal legal entity restructuring efforts in the fourth quarter of 2024. These benefits were partially offset by $487.7 million related to current and deferred tax provisions associated with 2024 activity. Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Segment Results
Square
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 8,451,911 | $ | 7,681,656 | $ | 770,255 | 10 | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 4,516,870 | 4,082,744 | 434,126 | 11 | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 3,935,041 | $ | 3,598,912 | $ | 336,129 | 9 | % |
Revenue
Revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $770.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to the Square items referenced within the Company's overall revenue discussion.
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Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $434.1 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to the Square items referenced within the Company's overall cost of revenue discussion.
Cash App
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 15,425,043 | $ | 16,247,880 | $ | (822,837) | (5) | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 9,089,500 | 11,008,869 | (1,919,369) | (17) | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 6,335,543 | $ | 5,239,011 | $ | 1,096,532 | 21 | % |
Revenue
Revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $822.8 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was due to the Cash App items referenced within the Company's overall revenue discussion. While bitcoin ecosystem revenue contributed 54% and 64% of Cash App revenue in 2025 and 2024, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin ecosystem was only 6% and 8% of Cash App gross profit in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Excluding bitcoin ecosystem revenue, Cash App net revenue increased $1.2 billion, or 20%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $1.9 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was due to the items referenced within the Company's overall revenue and cost of revenue discussion. Excluding bitcoin ecosystem cost of revenue, Cash App cost of revenue increased $48.4 million, or 5%.
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Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We collect and analyze operating and financial data to evaluate the health of our business, allocate our resources, and assess our performance. In addition to total net revenue, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other results reported under GAAP, the following table sets forth key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures we use to evaluate our business. We believe these metrics and measures are useful to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our business, and to facilitate comparisons of our performance to that of other payment solution providers.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
| Gross Payment Volume (GPV) (in millions) | $ | 259,631 | $ | 240,812 | $ | 227,699 | ||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (in thousands) | $ | 2,083,813 | $ | 1,608,790 | $ | 351,351 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) | $ | 3,466,568 | $ | 3,029,031 | $ | 1,792,420 | ||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 2.41 | $ | 2.01 | $ | 0.43 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 2.37 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 0.42 |
Change in Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Beginning in fiscal 2025, we revised our definition of Adjusted Net Income Per Share ("Adjusted EPS") to include share-based compensation. We believe this change provides a more comprehensive view of our operating performance and also aligns with our non-GAAP measure of Adjusted Operating Income. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect the updated presentation.
Gross Payment Volume
GPV includes Square GPV and Cash App GPV. Square GPV is defined as the total dollar amount of all card and bank payments processed by sellers using Square, net of refunds. Cash App GPV is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts, and peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. GPV does not include transactions related to our BNPL products.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, and Adjusted Operating Income
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that represent our net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share, adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below. Adjusted Operating Income is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents our operating income (loss), adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below.
We have included these non-GAAP financial measures in this Form 10-K because they are key measures used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions, including those relating to operating expenses and the allocation of internal resources. Accordingly, we believe these measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. In addition, they provide useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business, as they remove the effect of certain non-cash items and certain variable charges that do not vary with our operations.
•We believe it is useful to exclude certain non-cash charges, such as amortization of intangible assets, from our non-GAAP financial measures because the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations.
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•We believe that excluding the expense related to amortization of debt discount and issuance costs from our non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because such incremental non-cash interest expense does not represent a current or future cash outflow for the Company and is therefore not indicative of our continuing operations or meaningful when comparing current results to past results. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted Adjusted EPS, we add back cash interest expense on convertible notes, as if converted at the beginning of the period, if the impact of the note conversion is dilutive.
•We exclude the following from non-GAAP financial measures because we do not believe that these items are reflective of our ongoing business operations: gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment; gain or loss on revaluation of equity investments; gain or loss from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment; and discrete benefits from the release of valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets, as applicable.
•To aid in comparability of our results across periods, we also exclude certain acquisition-related and integration costs associated with business combinations, various restructuring and other costs, and goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, each of which are not normal operating expenses. Acquisition related costs include amounts paid to redeem acquirees’ unvested share-based compensation awards, charges associated with holdback liabilities, and legal, accounting, valuation, and due diligence costs. Integration costs include advisory and other professional services or consulting fees necessary to integrate acquired businesses. Contingencies, restructuring and other costs that are not reflective of our core business operating expenses may include severance costs, contingent losses, impairment charges, and certain litigation and regulatory charges. We also add back the impact of the acquired deferred revenue and deferred cost adjustment, which was written down to fair value in purchase accounting.
In addition to the items above, Adjusted EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization, other cash interest income and expense, and other income and expense.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, should be considered as supplemental in nature, and are not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the following:
•the intangible assets being amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and the non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or other capital commitments; and
•non-GAAP measures do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs.
In addition to the limitations above, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the effect of share-based compensation expense, which has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy, depreciation and amortization expense and related cash capital requirements, income taxes that may represent a reduction in cash available to us, and the effect of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, which is included in other income and expense.
In view of the limitations associated with Adjusted EBITDA, we also present Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain expenses that we believe are not reflective of our core operating performance, including amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related accelerated share-based compensation expenses, and acquisition-related, integration, and other costs, and goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS include the effect of share-based compensation expense, as well as depreciation expense.
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate the non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, you should consider the non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss) and our other financial results presented in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 1,708,406 | $ | 892,327 | $ | (278,839) | ||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 56,850 | 68,364 | 72,829 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 2,059 | 49,019 | 11,422 | |||||||
| Contingencies, restructuring and other charges | 168,509 | 302,446 | 239,582 | |||||||
| Restructuring share-based compensation expense | 12,260 | 8,071 | — | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | — | 133,854 | 132,313 | |||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | 135,729 | 154,709 | 174,044 | |||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 2,083,813 | $ | 1,608,790 | $ | 351,351 |
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | 1,305,636 | $ | 2,897,047 | $ | 9,772 | ||||
| Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (1,426) | (30,550) | (30,896) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | 1,304,210 | 2,866,497 | (21,124) | |||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,203,220 | 1,264,486 | 1,276,097 | |||||||
| Restructuring share-based compensation expense | 12,260 | 8,071 | — | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 369,529 | 376,127 | 408,560 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 2,059 | 49,019 | 11,422 | |||||||
| Contingencies, restructuring and other charges | 168,509 | 302,446 | 239,582 | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | — | 133,854 | 132,313 | |||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 129,363 | 9,302 | (47,221) | |||||||
| Remeasurement loss (gain) on bitcoin investment | 55,900 | (420,918) | (207,084) | |||||||
| Other expense (income), net | (166,768) | (53,211) | 4,609 | |||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes | 385,701 | (1,509,343) | (8,019) | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 2,546 | 2,634 | 3,186 | |||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue and cost adjustment | 39 | 67 | 99 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 3,466,568 | $ | 3,029,031 | $ | 1,792,420 |
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | 1,305,636 | $ | 2,897,047 | $ | 9,772 | ||||
| Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (1,426) | (30,550) | (30,896) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | 1,304,210 | 2,866,497 | (21,124) | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 2,059 | 49,019 | 11,422 | |||||||
| Contingencies, restructuring and other charges | 168,509 | 302,446 | 239,582 | |||||||
| Restructuring share-based compensation expense | 12,260 | 8,071 | — | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | — | 133,854 | 132,313 | |||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 192,579 | 223,072 | 246,873 | |||||||
| Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs | 13,499 | 14,413 | 11,904 | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on revaluation of equity investments | (172,256) | (32,245) | 16,523 | |||||||
| Remeasurement loss (gain) on bitcoin investment | 55,900 | (420,918) | (207,084) | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 2,546 | 2,634 | 3,186 | |||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue and cost adjustment | 39 | 67 | 99 | |||||||
| Income tax benefits from deferred tax assets | (58,196) | (1,909,848) | — | |||||||
| Tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments | (43,761) | 2,854 | (173,748) | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - basic | $ | 1,477,388 | $ | 1,239,916 | $ | 259,946 | ||||
| Cash interest expense on convertible notes | 1,244 | 2,711 | 3,554 | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - diluted | $ | 1,478,632 | $ | 1,242,627 | $ | 263,500 | ||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | 612,243 | 616,993 | 608,856 | |||||||
| Diluted | 622,838 | 636,390 | 628,320 | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 2.41 | $ | 2.01 | $ | 0.43 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 2.37 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 0.42 |
Diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is computed by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of all potential shares of common stock. In periods when we reported an Adjusted Net Loss, diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is the same as basic Adjusted Net Income Per Share because the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments to our provision for (benefit from) income taxes (in thousands, except effective tax rate):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes, as reported | $ | 385,701 | $ | (1,509,343) | $ | (8,019) | ||
| Income tax benefits from deferred tax assets | 58,196 | 1,909,848 | — | |||||
| Tax effect of other non-GAAP net income adjustments | 43,761 | (2,854) | 173,748 | |||||
| Adjusted provision for income taxes, non-GAAP | $ | 487,658 | $ | 397,651 | $ | 165,729 | ||
| Non-GAAP effective tax rate | 25 | % | 24 | % | 39 | % |
We determined the adjusted provision for income taxes by calculating the estimated annual effective tax rate based on our adjusted provision for income taxes, non-GAAP and applying it to Adjusted Net Income before income taxes.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately $9.2 billion in available liquidity, with $8.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, as well as an undrawn amount of $775.0 million available under our revolving credit facility. Additionally, we had $323.9 million available to be withdrawn under our warehouse funding facilities. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details. We intend to continue focusing on our long-term business initiatives and believe that our available funds are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future, including our share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2025, we were in compliance with all financial covenants associated with our revolving credit facility and senior notes. None of our warehouse funding facilities contain financial covenants.
The following table summarizes our available liquidity (in thousands):
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 6,564,092 | $ | 8,075,247 | ||
| Short-term restricted cash (i) | 1,071,574 | 902,478 | ||||
| Long-term restricted cash | 73,786 | 69,915 | ||||
| Investments in short-term debt securities | 517,777 | 403,426 | ||||
| Investments in long-term debt securities | 188,887 | 471,977 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility | 775,000 | 775,000 | ||||
| Total liquidity | $ | 9,191,116 | $ | 10,698,043 |
(i) As of December 31, 2025, the Company has invested $293.5 million of restricted cash into a money market fund. See Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. Customer funds cash and cash equivalents are excluded from our liquidity as these are funds we hold on behalf of customers that are separate from our corporate funds and are not available for corporate purposes. Investments in marketable debt securities were held primarily in certificates of deposits, money market funds, reverse repurchase agreements, U.S. government and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate bonds. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale.
As of December 31, 2025, we held approximately 8,883 bitcoins for long-term investment purposes ("bitcoin investment") with a fair value of $777.5 million based on observable market prices, which is included within “Bitcoin investment” on the consolidated balance sheets. We believe cryptocurrency is an instrument of economic empowerment that aligns with our corporate purpose. We expect to hold these investments for the long term but will continue to reassess our bitcoin investment relative to our balance sheet. Bitcoin is considered an indefinite-lived intangible asset, and upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-08, Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets, effective January 1, 2023, our bitcoin investment is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date with changes recognized in net income through "Remeasurement loss (gain) on bitcoin investment" within the consolidated statements of operations. We purchased approximately 398 bitcoins with a cost basis of $41.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2025 for investment purposes. We did not sell any of our bitcoin investment during the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. We recognized a loss of $55.9 million and gain of $420.9 million from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment during the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
In September 2020, we announced our intent to invest $100.0 million towards impact investments that further our purpose of economic empowerment. As of December 31, 2025, we have invested $75.9 million in aggregate towards this initiative, of which $7.9 million and $23.6 million were invested in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Our principal commitments consist of convertible notes, senior notes, our revolving credit facility, warehouse funding facilities, operating leases, capital leases, and purchase commitments. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness and Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on these commitments.
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In February 2026 we announced the Workforce Plan designed to better align our organizational structure with our operating model and strategic priorities. We currently expect to incur charges of $450 million to $500 million in connection with the Workforce Plan, consisting primarily of cash expenditures for notice period and severance payments, employee benefits, and related costs as well as non-cash expenses related to vesting of share-based awards. We expect that the majority of the restructuring charges will be incurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, and that the execution of the Workforce Plan will be substantially complete by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026. The Company’s estimates are subject to a number of assumptions, and the actual costs incurred may differ materially from those initial estimates.
Senior Notes and Convertible Notes
As of December 31, 2025, we held $7.4 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt, comprised of $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 1, 2026 ("2026 Convertible Notes"), and $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on November 1, 2027 ("2027 Convertible Notes," collectively referred to as the “Convertible Notes”), as well as an outstanding $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2026 ("2026 Senior Notes"), $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on August 15, 2030 ("2030 Senior Notes"), $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2031 ("2031 Senior Notes"), $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on May 15, 2032 ("2032 Senior Notes), and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on August 15, 2033 ("2033 Senior Notes" and, together with the 2026 Senior Notes, 2030 Senior Notes, 2031 Senior Notes, and 2032 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Convertible Notes, the “Notes”). Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
On March 5, 2020, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion of convertible senior notes ("2025 Convertible Notes"). On March 1, 2025, we paid $1.0 billion in cash to settle the outstanding principal balance and interest on the 2025 Convertible Notes upon maturity.
Revolving Credit Facility
We have entered into a revolving credit agreement with certain lenders, as subsequently amended, which provides a $775.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (as amended, the "Credit Agreement") maturing in June 2028. On January 14, 2026, we amended and restated its Credit Agreement (the "Restated Credit Agreement") to, among other things, increase the unsecured revolving loan facility to $900 million. The Restated Credit Agreement matures on January 14, 2031, provided that if on the date that is 91 days prior to the maturity date of any of our existing convertible notes or senior notes, the aggregate amount of liquidity (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) would be less than $250 million after giving pro forma effect to the repayment of such existing convertible notes or such senior notes at maturity, then the maturity date of the revolving loan facility shall be modified to be such date. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Warehouse Funding Facilities
We have warehouse funding facilities ("Warehouse Facilities") with an aggregate amount of $1.7 billion on a revolving basis, of which $1.4 billion was drawn as of December 31, 2025. The Warehouse Facilities have been arranged utilizing wholly-owned and consolidated entities (collectively, the Warehouse Special Purpose Entities ("Warehouse SPEs")) formed for the sole purpose of financing the origination of consumer receivables to partly fund certain BNPL products. Borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities are secured against the respective consumer receivables. While the Warehouse SPEs are included in our consolidated financial statements, they are separate legal entities that maintain legal ownership of the receivables they hold. The assets of the Warehouse SPEs are not available to satisfy our claims or those of our creditors.
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Cash, Restricted Cash, and Working Capital
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, investment in marketable debt securities, and availability under our line of credit and warehouse funding facilities will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, including any expenditures related to strategic transactions and investment commitments that we may from time to time enter into, short-term debt repayments, shares repurchased through our share repurchase program, and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. From time to time, we have raised capital by issuing equity, equity-linked, or debt securities such as our Convertible Notes and Senior Notes; and we may do so in the future. However, such funding may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
During 2025, we received an investment grade rating by Fitch Ratings, Inc. (BBB-) and a non-investment grade rating from Moody's Corporation (Ba1), and our non-investment grade rating from S&P Global Ratings (BB+) was affirmed. We expect that these credit rating agencies will continue to monitor our performance, including our capital structure and results of operations. Our liquidity, access to capital, and borrowing costs could be adversely impacted by declines in our credit rating.
Short-term restricted cash of $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2025 primarily includes cash held by the Warehouse SPEs used in the Warehouse Facilities funding arrangements that will be used to pay the borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities or will be distributed to us. It also includes pledged cash deposits in accounts at the financial institutions that process our sellers' payment transactions and collateral pursuant to various agreements with banks relating to our products. We use restricted cash to secure letters of credit with the related financial institutions to provide collateral for cash flow timing differences in the processing of payments. We have recorded these amounts as current assets on our consolidated balance sheet given the short-term nature of these cash flow timing differences and that there is no minimum time frame during which the cash must remain restricted.
Long-term restricted cash of $73.8 million as of December 31, 2025 is primarily related to cash held as collateral as required by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") for Square Financial Services. We have recorded these amounts as non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet as the requirement by the FDIC specifies a time frame of 12 months or longer during which the cash must remain restricted.
We experience significant day-to-day fluctuations in our cash and cash equivalents due to fluctuations in settlements receivable, and customers payable, and hence working capital. These fluctuations are primarily due to:
•Timing of period end. For periods that end on a weekend or a bank holiday, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable balances typically will be higher than for periods ending on a weekday, as we settle to our sellers for payment processing activity on business days; and
•Fluctuations in daily GPV. When daily GPV increases, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable amounts increase. Typically our settlements receivable and customers payable balances at period end represent one to four days of receivables and disbursements to be made in the subsequent period. Customers payable, excluding amounts attributable to Cash App stored funds, and settlements receivable balances typically move in tandem, as pay-out and pay-in largely occur on the same business day. However, customers payable balances will be greater in amount than settlements receivable balances due to the fact that a subset of funds are held due to unlinked bank accounts, risk holds, and chargebacks. Customer funds obligations, which may be impacted by the timing of period end, number of processors used and processing times, are included in customers payable and may also cause customers payable to trend differently than settlements receivable. Holidays and day-of-week may also cause significant volatility in daily GPV amounts.
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Cash Flow Activities
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 2,579,714 | $ | 1,707,350 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (2,801,932) | 649,952 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (613,099) | 1,952,662 | ||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents | 86,081 | (88,539) | ||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and customer funds | $ | (749,236) | $ | 4,221,425 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash provided by operating activities was $2.6 billion, primarily due to net income of $1.3 billion, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $3.4 billion consisting primarily of transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; share-based compensation; depreciation and amortization; changes in deferred income taxes; non-cash lease expense; and losses on bitcoin remeasurement, each of which contributed positively to cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, there were net inflows from loans originally classified as held for sale of $57.3 million. These were partially offset by amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments on consumer receivables of $1.1 billion; gains on the revaluation of certain equity investments of $172.3 million; and net outflows related to changes in other assets and liabilities, including settlements receivable, customers payable, and prepaid expenses, of $841.5 million due to timing of period end.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash provided by operating activities was $1.7 billion, primarily due to net income of $2.9 billion, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.6 billion, consisting primarily of share-based compensation; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; depreciation and amortization; goodwill and intangible asset impairments; and non-cash lease expense, each of which contributed positively to cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, there were net inflows related to changes in other assets and liabilities, including settlements receivables, customers payable, and prepaid expenses, of $207.3 million due to timing of period end. These were partially offset by a change in deferred income taxes of $1.7 billion; amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments on consumer receivables of $1.1 billion; net outflows from loan products of $797.5 million; bitcoin remeasurement of $420.9 million; and gains on the revaluation of certain equity investments of $32.2 million.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, we began originating Cash App Borrow loans through Square Financial Services, which are classified as loans held for investment. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2025, Cash App Borrow loans and certain other customer loan products purchased from our bank partner, along with customer loan products originated through Square Financial Services, are retained on the Company's balance sheet and classified as held for investment. Cash flows associated with these loans, including originations and principal repayments, are included within cash flows from investing activities.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash used in investing activities was $2.8 billion, primarily due to net outflows of $3.5 billion related to loans originally classified as held for investment, particularly Cash App Borrow, as well as purchases of property and equipment of $155.0 million. These were partially offset by net inflows of consumer receivables of $789.0 million and proceeds from investments of marketable securities of $177.6 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash provided by investing activities was $650.0 million, primarily due to a net inflow related to consumer receivables of $604.0 million and net proceeds from investments of marketable securities of $253.9 million. These were partially offset by the purchase of property and equipment of $153.9 million and purchases of other investments of $53.9 million.
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash used in financing activities was $613.1 million, primarily due to $2.3 billion of share repurchases; a $1.0 billion cash payment for the settlement of the outstanding 2025 Convertible Notes that matured in March 2025; net repayments under Warehouse Facility borrowings of $151.6 million; and a net outflow for other financing activities of $35.3 million. These were partially offset by approximately $2.2 billion of net proceeds related to the issuance of the 2030 and 2033 Senior Notes in the third quarter of 2025; an increase in customer funds of $589.0 million; proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $88.9 million; and an increase in interest-bearing deposits of $55.5 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash provided by financing activities was $2.0 billion, primarily due to approximately $2.0 billion of net proceeds related to the issuance of the 2032 Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2024, a change in customer funds of $1.0 billion, and proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $154.8 million. These were partially offset by repurchases of common stock of $1.2 billion, a net outflow from warehouse facilities borrowings of $74.0 million, and a net outflow for other financing activities of $18.5 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, anticipated future trends, and other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because these accounting estimates require significant judgment, our actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
We believe accounting policies and the assumptions and estimates associated with the determination of valuation allowances for deferred taxes could potentially have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, and therefore are critical accounting policies and estimates.
Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance
Deferred income tax assets represent amounts available to reduce income taxes payable on taxable income in future years. Such assets arise because of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as well as from net operating loss, capital loss, and tax credit carryforwards. We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis to determine whether a valuation allowance is necessary and reduce such assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. This evaluation requires significant judgment and involves the consideration of all available positive and negative evidence, including our historical operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in recent years, ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, and projections of future taxable income. The assumptions utilized in determining future taxable income require significant judgment and are consistent with the plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying business. Actual operating results in future years could differ from our current assumptions, judgments and estimates.
Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” described in Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001628280-25-007376.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This management's discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations, key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, and liquidity and capital resources of Block, Inc. on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K").
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023. The comparison of the fiscal 2023 results with the fiscal 2022 results that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis Results of Operations" section in the Company's fiscal 2023 Annual Report within Part II, Item 7 of Form 10-K, filed on February 22, 2024.
The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources; our plans, estimates, beliefs, and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties; and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
Overview
We launched the Square ecosystem in February 2009 to enable businesses ("sellers") to accept card payments, an important capability that was previously inaccessible to many businesses. We have expanded to provide sellers additional products and services and to give them access to a cohesive ecosystem of tools to help them manage and grow their businesses. Similarly, with Cash App, we have built an ecosystem of financial products and services to help individuals manage their money. In January 2022, we completed the acquisition of Afterpay, a buy now, pay later ("BNPL") platform that facilitates commerce between retail merchants and consumers by allowing retail merchant clients to offer their customers the ability to buy goods and services on a BNPL basis. In addition, our nascent businesses include TIDAL and two bitcoin businesses, Bitkey and Proto.
We delivered strong growth across our primary ecosystems in 2024, with gross profit of $8.9 billion, up 18% year over year. Cash App generated gross profit of $5.2 billion in 2024, up 21% year over year. Performance was driven by growth in inflows per active as we execute on our Bank Our Base strategy, which prioritizes engaging customers with more products across our ecosystem and increasing paycheck deposit actives. Square generated gross profit of $3.6 billion in 2024, up 15% year over year, as we continued to increase product velocity and optimize our go-to-market strategies.
In 2024, operating income was $892.3 million and Adjusted Operating Income was $1.6 billion, compared to an operating loss of $278.8 million and Adjusted Operating Income of $351.4 million in 2023. For the same period, net income attributable to common stockholders was $2.9 billion compared to $9.8 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $3.0 billion, an increase of 69% year over year. Net income for 2024 and 2023 included a gain of $420.9 million and $207.1 million, respectively, from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment. Additionally, as a result of our improved profitability in the United States, we released our valuation allowance associated with certain federal and state deferred tax assets, as well as recognized deferred tax assets as part of internal legal entity restructuring efforts, which resulted in one-time benefits to net income for 2024 of $1.9 billion. These one-time tax benefits had a corresponding impact of $3.10 and $3.00 per share on our basic and diluted net income per share, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Refer to the Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") equivalents.
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Starting in 2023, we sharpened our focus on our organizational structure and expenditures with a view to identifying areas where we can be more cost efficient as we focus on disciplined growth and pursuing cost efficiencies. In 2023, we also announced we would implement an absolute cap of 12,000 on the number of employees we have at our company, which we have achieved in 2024, and we plan to continue to operate below this cap through a combination of performance management, centralization of teams and functions to reduce duplication, and prioritization of our scope. In 2024, we continued to make progress on cost efficiency goals and we expect to continue these efforts, including implementing greater expense discipline and reassessing certain contractual vendor arrangements. We may continue to incur expenses, including restructuring costs, in the short term to implement these initiatives. We continue to realize benefits related to our focus on disciplined growth and cost efficiencies and we expect to continue to benefit from these actions in future periods.
During the second quarter of 2024, we issued $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2032 ("2032 Senior Notes"). We ended 2024 with $10.7 billion in available liquidity, with $9.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, as well as an undrawn amount of $775.0 million available under our revolving credit facility. This represents an increase of $3.0 billion from the end of 2023.
On October 26, 2023, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1 billion of the Company’s Class A common stock. On July 25, 2024, our board of directors authorized an increase to this share repurchase program to repurchase up to an additional $3 billion of our Class A common stock, for a total overall authorization of $4 billion. The goal of the program is to return capital to shareholders. The timing and amount of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the stock price, business and market conditions, corporate and regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities, acquisition opportunities, and other factors. As of December 31, 2024, we have repurchased $1.3 billion of our Class A common stock under the program, of which $1.2 billion was purchased in 2024.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Transaction-based Revenue
We charge our sellers a transaction fee that is generally calculated based on a percentage of the total transaction amount processed. We also selectively offer custom pricing for certain larger sellers. Transaction-based revenue also includes amounts we charge our Cash App customers for peer-to-peer transactions to business accounts and payments sent from a credit card.
Subscription and Services-based Revenue
Subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of revenue we generate from Cash App, Square Loans (formerly known as Square Capital), our BNPL platform, TIDAL, and various other software as a service (“SaaS”) products that we offer through Square. Cash App subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of transaction fees from Cash App Instant Deposit, Cash App Card, bitcoin withdrawal fees, and other Cash App financial services offerings. Our other SaaS products include subscription fees on our vertical software solutions (including Square for Restaurants, Square Appointments, and Square for Retail), Customer Engagement products (including Square Loyalty, Square Marketing, Square Gift Cards), staff management products (including Square Team Management and Square Payroll), website hosting and domain name registration services, and other products.
Instant Deposit is a functionality within the Cash App and our managed payment solutions that enables customers, including individuals and sellers, to instantly deposit funds into their bank accounts.
Cash App Card offers Cash App customers the ability to use their stored funds via a Visa prepaid card that is linked to the balance the customer stores in Cash App. We charge the customer a per transaction fee when they instantly deposit funds to their bank account or withdraw funds from an ATM. We also earn interchange fees when a Cash App Card is used to make a purchase. These transaction and interchange fees are treated as revenue when charged.
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Square Loans originates loans to sellers that are generally repaid through withholding a percentage of the collections of the seller's receivables processed by us or a specified monthly amount. In April 2021, we began originating loans in the U.S. through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Square Financial Services. We also originate loans to the customers of certain sellers, which are generally repaid via ACH. For some of the loans, it is our intention to sell the rights, title, and interest to third-party investors for an upfront fee. We are retained by the third-party investors to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions. Certain loans, for which we have the intention and ability to hold through maturity, are not immediately sold to third-party investors, in which case, interest and fees earned are recognized as revenue using the effective interest method.
Cash App Borrow, the first credit product for Cash App customers, allows customers to access short-term loans for a small fee. The loans are repaid at the end of the loan term and customers may elect to prepay all or a part of the outstanding balance. If the outstanding balance is not paid when due, late fees in the form of interest may be charged. The short-term loans are facilitated through a partnership with an industrial bank. The loans are originated by the bank partner, from whom the Company purchases the loans obtaining all rights, title, and interest. Net amounts paid to the bank are recorded as the cost of the loans purchased, and amounts collected in excess of the carrying value are recognized as revenue over the life of the loans.
Revenue from our BNPL platform includes fees generated from consumer receivables, late fees, and certain affiliate and advertising fees. Through the use of our BNPL platform, consumers can pay for their purchases over time by splitting their purchase price generally into three or four installments, typically due in two-week increments, without paying fees (if payments are made on time). For the majority of our BNPL products, we do not charge consumers interest or fees, other than late fees, which may be charged in certain regions as an incentive to encourage consumers to pay their outstanding balances as and when they fall due. We also offer the ability for consumers to pay for larger transaction sizes over a six- or twelve-month period using a monthly payment option, which includes no late fees and no compounding interest with a cap on total interest owed. For some of the loans, it is our intention to sell the rights, title, and interest to a third-party investor for an upfront fee. We are retained by the third-party investor to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions.
TIDAL primarily generates revenue from subscriptions to customers, and such subscriptions allow access to the song library, video library, and improved sound quality. Customers can subscribe to services directly from the TIDAL website or through the Apple store. For both subscription channels, we charge customers a monthly fee for those subscription services.
Hardware Revenue
Hardware revenue includes revenue from sales of magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Third-party peripherals include cash drawers, receipt printers, scales, and barcode scanners, all of which can be integrated with Square Stand, Square Register, or Square Terminal to provide a comprehensive point-of-sale solution.
Bitcoin Revenue
Our Cash App customers have the ability to purchase bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. We recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account. We purchase bitcoin from private broker dealers or from Cash App customers and apply a small margin before selling it to our customers. The sale amounts received from our customers are recorded as revenue on a gross basis and the associated bitcoin cost as cost of revenues, as we are the principal in the bitcoin sale transaction. Bitcoin revenue may fluctuate as a result of changes in customer demand or the market price of bitcoin.
Cost of Revenue
Transaction-based Costs
Transaction-based costs consist primarily of interchange and assessment fees, processing fees, and bank settlement fees paid to third-party payment processors and financial institutions.
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Subscription and Services-based Costs
Subscription and services-based costs consist primarily of processing and partnership fees related to Cash App including Instant Deposit and Cash App Card, and our BNPL platform, as well as costs associated with TIDAL.
Hardware Costs
Hardware costs consist primarily of product costs associated with magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Product costs include manufacturing-related overhead and personnel-related costs, certain royalties, packaging, and fulfillment costs. Hardware is sold primarily as a means to grow our transaction-based revenue and, as a result, generating positive gross margins from hardware sales is not the primary goal of the hardware business.
Bitcoin Costs
Bitcoin costs consist of the amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin that is sold to customers. These costs fluctuate in line with bitcoin revenue.
Amortization of Acquired Technology Assets
Amortization of acquired technology assets is primarily comprised of amortization related to the acquired technology assets from the acquisition of Afterpay.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of product development; sales and marketing; general and administrative expenses; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; bitcoin impairment losses; and amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets. For product development and general and administrative expenses, the largest single component is personnel-related expenses, including salaries, commissions and bonuses, employee benefit costs, and share-based compensation. In the case of sales and marketing expenses, a significant portion is related to the Cash App peer-to-peer transactions and Cash App Card issuance costs, in addition to paid advertising and personnel-related expenses. Operating expenses also include allocated overhead costs for facilities, human resources, and IT.
Product Development Expenses
Product development expenses currently represent the largest component of our operating expenses and consist primarily of expenses related to our engineering, data science, and design personnel; fees and supply costs related to maintenance at third-party data center facilities; hardware related development and tooling costs; software and cloud computing infrastructure fees; and fees for software licenses, consulting, legal, and other services that are directly related to growing and maintaining our portfolio of products and services. Additionally, product development expenses include the depreciation of product-related infrastructure and tools, including data center equipment, internally developed software, and computer equipment. We continue to focus our product development efforts on adding new features and expanding our apps, and on enhancing the functionality and ease of use of our offerings. Our ability to realize returns on these investments is substantially dependent upon our ability to successfully address current and emerging requirements of sellers, buyers, and customers through the development and introduction of these new products and services.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses are aggregated into two main components. The first component consists of traditional advertising costs incurred such as direct sales expense, account management, local and product marketing, retail and e-commerce, partnerships, and communications personnel. The second component of sales and marketing expenses consists of costs incurred for services, incentives, and other costs that are not directly related to revenue generating transactions that we consider to be marketing costs to encourage the usage of Cash App. These expenses include, but are not limited to, Cash App peer-to-peer processing costs and transaction losses, card issuance costs, customer referral bonuses, and promotional giveaways that are expensed as incurred.
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General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of expenses related to our customer support, finance, legal, risk operations, human resources, and administrative personnel. General and administrative expenses also include costs related to fees paid for professional services, including legal, tax, and accounting services.
Transaction, Loan, and Consumer Receivable Losses
Transaction losses include chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and the inability to collect on disputes between buyers and sellers over the delivery of goods or services, as well as losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash for Business, and Cash App Card. We base our reserve estimates on prior chargeback history and current period data points indicative of transaction loss. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. The establishment of appropriate reserves for transaction losses is an inherently uncertain process, and ultimate losses may vary from the current estimates. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new facts become known and events occur that may affect the settlement or recovery of losses.
Loan losses relate to Square Loans and Cash App Borrow and are recorded whenever the amortized cost of a loan exceeds its fair value. Such charges are reversed for subsequent increases in fair value, but only to the extent that such reversals do not result in the amortized cost of a loan exceeding its fair value.
Losses on consumer receivables relate to management's estimate of expected credit losses in the outstanding portfolio of consumer receivables. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve.
Amortization of Customer and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets is primarily as a result of the intangible assets from the Afterpay acquisition.
Interest Expense (Income), net
Interest expense (income), net consists primarily of interest expense related to our long-term debt and interest income on our investments in marketable debt securities.
Remeasurement Loss (Gain) on Bitcoin Investment
Remeasurement loss (gain) on bitcoin investment is the result of gains or losses arising from remeasurements of our bitcoin investment.
Other Expense (Income), net
Other expense (income), net consists primarily of gains or losses arising from remeasurements of our investments in equity securities and foreign currency-related gains and losses.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consists primarily of federal, state, local, and foreign tax. Our effective tax rate fluctuates from period to period due to changes in the mix of income and losses in jurisdictions with a wide range of tax rates, the effect of acquisitions, changes resulting from the amount of recorded valuation allowance, permanent differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and local tax laws, certain one-time items, and changes in tax contingencies.
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Results of Operations
Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based revenue | $ | 6,613,680 | $ | 6,315,301 | $ | 298,379 | 5 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based revenue | 7,164,799 | 5,944,842 | 1,219,957 | 21 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware revenue | 143,369 | 157,178 | (13,809) | NM (i) | ||||||||||
| Bitcoin revenue | 10,199,205 | 9,498,302 | 700,903 | 7 | % | |||||||||
| Total net revenue | $ | 24,121,053 | $ | 21,915,623 | $ | 2,205,430 | 10 | % |
(i) Not meaningful ("NM")
Total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $2.2 billion, or 10%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Bitcoin revenue increased by $700.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Excluding bitcoin revenue, total net revenue increased by $1.5 billion, or 12%, in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.
Transaction-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $298.4 million, or 5%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase in revenue was largely in line with the increase in Gross Payment Volume ("GPV") of 6% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. GPV increased due to overall Square GPV growth. Square GPV growth was driven by improvements in both card-present and card-not-present volumes as a result of growth from in-person and online channels, as well as growth in our international markets. See below in Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further discussion of GPV.
Subscription and services-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $1.2 billion, or 21%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to growth in Cash App's financial service-related products, including Cash App Card usage, Cash App Borrow, Cash App Instant Deposit volumes, and Cash App Pay, as well as revenue from the BNPL platform. Revenue generated from the BNPL platform was $1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. Growth in Square's financial services-related products, primarily Square Lending, also contributed to the increase in revenue in 2024.
Bitcoin revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $700.9 million, or 7%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. As bitcoin revenue is the total sale amount of bitcoin sold to customers, the amount of bitcoin revenue recognized will fluctuate depending on customer demand as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. This increase for the year ended December 31, 2024 was driven by an increase in the average market price of bitcoin, partially offset by a decrease in the quantity of bitcoin sold to customers, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. While bitcoin contributed 42% and 43% of the total revenue in 2024 and 2023, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 3% of the total gross profit in both 2024 and 2023.
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Cost of Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based costs | $ | 3,881,013 | $ | 3,702,016 | $ | 178,997 | 5 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based costs | 1,135,813 | 1,075,129 | 60,684 | 6 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware costs | 236,441 | 267,650 | (31,209) | NM | ||||||||||
| Bitcoin costs | 9,910,386 | 9,293,113 | 617,273 | 7 | % | |||||||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 68,364 | 72,829 | (4,465) | NM | ||||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | $ | 15,232,017 | $ | 14,410,737 | $ | 821,280 | 6 | % |
Total cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $821.3 million, or 6%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Bitcoin costs of revenue, which increased by $617.3 million, was the primary driver of the increase in total cost of revenue, with the remaining increase related to an increase in GPV. Excluding bitcoin costs of revenue, total cost of revenue increased by approximately $204.0 million, or 4%, in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.
Transaction-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $179.0 million, or 5%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Transaction-based costs were largely in line with the growth of GPV of 6%, partially offset by more favorable interchange economics for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Subscription and services-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $60.7 million, or 6%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was driven by growth in Cash App's financial service-related products, including Cash App Card and related processing costs and fees as well as the cost of revenues associated with the BNPL platform. Cost of revenues associated with the BNPL platform were $311.6 million and $286.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Bitcoin costs for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $617.3 million, or 7%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Bitcoin costs are comprised of the total amount we pay to purchase bitcoin, which fluctuates in line with bitcoin revenue.
Operating Expenses (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Product development | $ | 2,914,415 | $ | 2,720,819 | $ | 193,596 | 7 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 33 | % | 36 | % | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 1,984,265 | $ | 2,019,009 | $ | (34,744) | (2) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 8 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 22 | % | 27 | % | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 2,149,099 | $ | 2,209,190 | $ | (60,091) | (3) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 9 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 24 | % | 29 | % | ||||||||||
| Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses | $ | 794,221 | $ | 660,663 | $ | 133,558 | 20 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 3 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 9 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | $ | 154,709 | $ | 174,044 | $ | (19,335) | (11) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 2 | % | 2 | % | ||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 7,996,709 | $ | 7,783,725 | $ | 212,984 | 3 | % |
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Product development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $193.6 million, or 7%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase of $154.1 million in software and cloud computing infrastructure fees for the year ended December 31, 2024, as a result of increased capacity needs and expansion of our cloud-based services. Impairment charges of certain assets related to TIDAL of $60.3 million were also recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase in product development expenses was partially offset by a decrease of $87.9 million in personnel costs primarily due to a decrease in headcount, which is a result of executing on our cost efficiency goals and employee headcount cap.
Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased by $34.7 million, or 2%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to a decrease of $49.5 million in marketing and other advertising costs from decreased online campaigns as we focused on expense discipline as well as a release of estimated chargeback losses of $27.3 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was partially offset by charges related to changes to certain contractual arrangements as well as inventory write-offs during the third quarter of 2024.
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased by $60.1 million, or 3%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the following:
•a decrease in personnel costs of $169.4 million due to a decrease in headcount as well as a reduction of facilities and other expenses of $59.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024;
•a decrease in certain impairment charges related to TIDAL of $58.8 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Refer to Note 9, Goodwill within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details; partially offset by
•an increase in accrued expenses for estimated and settled amounts in connection with certain litigation and regulatory matters of $231.9 million. Refer to Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details; and
•a charge of $32.2 million related to adjustments of certain TIDAL acquisition deferred purchase consideration during the first quarter of 2024, as well as a derecognition of $15.1 million during the second quarter of 2024 of certain indemnification assets related to the TIDAL acquisition which were deemed no longer recoverable.
Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses for the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $133.6 million, or 20%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the following:
•an increase in loan losses of $221.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to increased loan volumes; partially offset by
•a decrease in transaction losses of $87.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in transaction losses is attributable to both an operational outage in the third quarter of 2023, which resulted in higher transaction losses incurred, as well as a release of previously established risk loss provisions in the second quarter of 2024 related to prior periods.
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets decreased $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily as a result of the revision of certain intangibles' useful lives in the third quarter of 2023.
Interest Expense (Income), Net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | $ | 9,302 | $ | (47,221) | $ | 56,523 | (120) | % |
Interest expense, net, of $9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in interest expense related to our 2032 Senior Notes issued in the second quarter of 2024, which more than offset an increase in interest income received as a result of higher investment balances. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details. Interest income, net, of $47.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in interest income received as a result of both higher interest rates and investment balances, which more than offset interest expense in the period.
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Remeasurement Loss (Gain) on bitcoin investment (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Remeasurement gain on bitcoin investment | $ | (420,918) | $ | (207,084) | $ | (213,834) | 103 | % |
Remeasurement gain on bitcoin investment of $420.9 million and $207.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was due to the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment to its fair value at each reporting date. Refer to Note 13, Bitcoin within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment.
Other Expense (Income), Net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | $ | (53,211) | $ | 4,609 | $ | (57,820) | NM |
Other income, net, of $53.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was comprised of unrealized gains of $37.7 million arising from the revaluation of certain equity investments as well as accretion of investments in marketable debt securities. Other expense, net, of $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was due to unrealized losses on certain marketable and non-marketable investments, partially offset by accretion of investments in marketable debt securities.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Benefit from income taxes | $ | (1,509,343) | $ | (8,019) | $ | (1,501,324) | NM |
Benefit from income taxes of $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a benefit from income taxes of $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily due to one-time benefits of $1.9 billion related to both the release of the valuation allowance associated with certain federal and state deferred tax assets as well as the recognition of deferred tax assets as part of internal legal entity restructuring efforts in the fourth quarter of 2024. These benefits were partially offset by $487.7 million related to our current and deferred tax provisions associated with 2024 activity. Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Segment Results
Square Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 7,681,656 | $ | 7,033,384 | $ | 648,272 | 9 | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 4,082,744 | 3,904,730 | 178,014 | 5 | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 3,598,912 | $ | 3,128,654 | $ | 470,258 | 15 | % |
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Revenue
Revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $648.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the Square items referenced within the Company's overall revenue discussion.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $178.0 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to the Square items referenced within the Company's overall cost of revenue discussion.
Cash App Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 16,247,880 | $ | 14,681,686 | $ | 1,566,194 | 11 | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 11,008,869 | 10,358,223 | 650,646 | 6 | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 5,239,011 | $ | 4,323,463 | $ | 915,548 | 21 | % |
Revenue
Revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $1.6 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was due to the Cash App items referenced within the Company's overall revenue discussion. While bitcoin revenue contributed 63% and 65% of Cash App revenue in 2024 and 2023, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 6% and 5% of Cash App gross profit in both 2024 and 2023.
Excluding bitcoin revenue, Cash App net revenue increased $865.3 million, or 17%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $650.6 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was due to the items referenced within the Company's overall revenue and cost of revenue discussion. Excluding bitcoin cost of revenue, Cash App cost of revenue increased $33.4 million, or 3%.
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Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We collect and analyze operating and financial data to evaluate the health of our business, allocate our resources, and assess our performance. In addition to total net revenue, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other results reported under GAAP, the following table sets forth key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures we use to evaluate our business. We believe these metrics and measures are useful to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our business, and to facilitate comparisons of our performance to that of other payment solution providers.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Gross Payment Volume (GPV) (in millions) | $ | 240,812 | $ | 227,699 | $ | 203,536 | ||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) (in thousands) | $ | 1,608,790 | $ | 351,351 | $ | (145,408) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) | $ | 3,029,031 | $ | 1,792,420 | $ | 990,964 | ||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 3.47 | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.05 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 3.37 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.00 |
Gross Payment Volume ("GPV")
GPV includes Square GPV and Cash App Business GPV. Square GPV is defined as the total dollar amount of all card and bank payments processed by sellers using Square, net of refunds. Cash App Business GPV is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts, and peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. GPV does not include transactions from our BNPL platform because GPV is related only to transaction-based revenue and not to subscription and services-based revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income Per Share ("Adjusted EPS") and Adjusted Operating Income
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that represent our net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share, adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below. Adjusted Operating Income is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents our operating income (loss), adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below.
We have included these non-GAAP financial measures in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because they are key measures used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions, including those relating to operating expenses and the allocation of internal resources. Accordingly, we believe these measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. In addition, they provide useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business, as they remove the effect of certain non-cash items and certain variable charges that do not vary with our operations.
•We believe it is useful to exclude certain non-cash charges, such as amortization of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses, from our non-GAAP financial measures because the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations.
•We believe that excluding the expense related to amortization of debt discount and issuance costs from our non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because such incremental non-cash interest expense does not represent a current or future cash outflow for the Company and is therefore not indicative of our continuing operations or meaningful when comparing current results to past results. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted Adjusted EPS, we add back cash interest expense on convertible notes, as if converted at the beginning of the period, if the impact is dilutive.
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•We exclude the following from non-GAAP financial measures because we do not believe that these items are reflective of our ongoing business operations: gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment; gain or loss on revaluation of equity investments; remeasurement gain or loss of our bitcoin investment, bitcoin impairment losses on our bitcoin investment (prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-08), and one-time income tax impacts from deferred taxes, as applicable.
•To aid in comparability of our results across periods, we also exclude certain acquisition-related and integration costs associated with business combinations, various restructuring and other costs, and goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, each of which are not normal operating expenses. Acquisition related costs include amounts paid to redeem acquirees’ unvested share-based compensation awards, charges associated with holdback liabilities, and legal, accounting, valuation, and due diligence costs. Integration costs include advisory and other professional services or consulting fees necessary to integrate acquired businesses. Contingencies, restructuring and other costs that are not reflective of our core business operating expenses may include severance costs, contingent losses, impairment charges, and certain litigation and regulatory charges. We also add back the impact of the acquired deferred revenue and deferred cost adjustment, which was written down to fair value in purchase accounting.
In addition to the items above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure also excludes depreciation and amortization, other cash interest income and expense, and other income and expense.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, should be considered as supplemental in nature, and are not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the following:
•share-based compensation expense has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy;
•the intangible assets being amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and the non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or other capital commitments; and
•non-GAAP measures do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs.
In addition to the limitations above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure does not reflect the effect of depreciation and amortization expense and related cash capital requirements, income taxes that may represent a reduction in cash available to us, and the effect of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, which is included in other income and expense.
In view of the limitations associated with Adjusted EBITDA, we also present Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain expenses that we believe are not reflective of our core operating performance, including amortization of intangible assets, bitcoin investment impairment losses (prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-08), acquisition-related accelerated share-based compensation expenses, acquisition-related and integration costs, contingencies, restructuring and other costs, and goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) does however include the effect of share-based compensation expense, which is a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy, as well as depreciation expense.
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate the non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, you should consider the non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss) and our other financial results presented in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 892,327 | $ | (278,839) | $ | (624,532) | ||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 68,364 | 72,829 | 70,194 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 49,019 | 11,422 | 105,518 | |||||||
| Contingencies, restructuring and other charges | 302,446 | 239,582 | 51,746 | |||||||
| Restructuring share-based compensation expense | 8,071 | — | — | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | 133,854 | 132,313 | — | |||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | — | — | 46,571 | |||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | 154,709 | 174,044 | 138,758 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related share based acceleration costs | — | — | 66,337 | |||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 1,608,790 | $ | 351,351 | $ | (145,408) |
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 2,897,047 | $ | 9,772 | $ | (540,747) | ||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (30,550) | (30,896) | (12,258) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | 2,866,497 | (21,124) | (553,005) | |||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,264,486 | 1,276,097 | 1,069,289 | |||||||
| Restructuring share-based compensation expense | 8,071 | — | — | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 376,127 | 408,560 | 340,523 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 49,019 | 11,422 | 105,518 | |||||||
| Contingencies, restructuring and other charges | 302,446 | 239,582 | 51,746 | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | 133,854 | 132,313 | — | |||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 9,302 | (47,221) | 36,228 | |||||||
| Remeasurement gain on bitcoin investment | (420,918) | (207,084) | — | |||||||
| Other expense (income), net | (53,211) | 4,609 | (95,443) | |||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | — | — | 46,571 | |||||||
| Benefit from income taxes | (1,509,343) | (8,019) | (12,312) | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 2,634 | 3,186 | 1,619 | |||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue and cost adjustment | 67 | 99 | 230 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 3,029,031 | $ | 1,792,420 | $ | 990,964 |
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 2,897,047 | $ | 9,772 | $ | (540,747) | ||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (30,550) | (30,896) | (12,258) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | 2,866,497 | (21,124) | (553,005) | |||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,264,486 | 1,276,097 | 1,069,289 | |||||||
| Restructuring share-based compensation expense | 8,071 | — | — | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 49,019 | 11,422 | 105,518 | |||||||
| Contingencies, restructuring and other charges | 302,446 | 239,582 | 51,746 | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | 133,854 | 132,313 | — | |||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 223,072 | 246,873 | 208,952 | |||||||
| Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs | 14,413 | 11,904 | 15,162 | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on revaluation of equity investments | (32,245) | 16,523 | (73,457) | |||||||
| Remeasurement gain on bitcoin investment | (420,918) | (207,084) | — | |||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | — | — | 46,571 | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 2,634 | 3,186 | 1,619 | |||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue and cost adjustment | 67 | 99 | 230 | |||||||
| Tax effect of one-time income tax benefits from deferred tax assets | (1,909,848) | — | — | |||||||
| Tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments | (360,782) | (582,703) | (264,523) | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - basic | $ | 2,140,766 | $ | 1,127,088 | $ | 608,102 | ||||
| Cash interest expense on convertible notes | 2,711 | 3,554 | 5,014 | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - diluted | $ | 2,143,477 | $ | 1,130,642 | $ | 613,116 | ||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | 616,993 | 608,856 | 578,949 | |||||||
| Diluted | 636,390 | 628,320 | 615,034 | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 3.47 | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.05 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 3.37 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.00 |
Diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is computed by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of all potential shares of common stock. In periods when we reported an Adjusted Net Loss, diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is the same as basic Adjusted Net Income Per Share because the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of the tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments to our provision for (benefit from) income taxes (in thousands, except effective tax rate):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Benefit from income taxes, as reported | $ | (1,509,343) | $ | (8,019) | $ | (12,312) | ||
| Tax effect of one-time income tax benefits from deferred tax assets | 1,909,848 | — | — | |||||
| Tax effect of other non-GAAP net income adjustments | 360,782 | 582,703 | 264,523 | |||||
| Adjusted provision for income taxes, non-GAAP | $ | 761,287 | $ | 574,684 | $ | 252,211 | ||
| Non-GAAP effective tax rate | 26 | % | 34 | % | 29 | % |
We determined the adjusted provision for income taxes by calculating the estimated annual effective tax rate based on our adjusted provision for income taxes, non-GAAP and applying it to Adjusted Net Income before income taxes.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately $10.7 billion in available liquidity, with $9.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, which includes net proceeds of approximately $2.0 billion from the issuance of our 2032 Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2024, as well as an undrawn amount of $775.0 million available under our revolving credit facility subject to compliance with the terms of the credit facility, including our covenants. Additionally, we had $253.9 million available to be withdrawn under our warehouse funding facilities. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details. We intend to continue focusing on our long-term business initiatives and believe that our available funds are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future, including our share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all financial covenants associated with our revolving credit facility and senior notes. None of our warehouse funding facilities contain financial covenants.
The following table summarizes our available liquidity (in thousands):
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 8,075,247 | $ | 4,996,465 | ||
| Short-term restricted cash (i) | 902,478 | 770,380 | ||||
| Long-term restricted cash | 69,915 | 71,812 | ||||
| Investments in short-term debt securities | 403,426 | 851,901 | ||||
| Investments in long-term debt securities | 471,977 | 251,127 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility | 775,000 | 775,000 | ||||
| Total liquidity | $ | 10,698,043 | $ | 7,716,685 |
(i) As of December 31, 2024, the Company has invested $319.8 million of restricted cash into a money market fund. See Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. Customer funds cash and cash equivalents are excluded from our liquidity as these are funds we hold on behalf of customers that are separate from our corporate funds and are not available for corporate purposes. Investments in marketable debt securities were held primarily in certificates of deposits, money market funds, reverse repurchase agreements, U.S. government and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate bonds. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale.
As of December 31, 2024, we held approximately 8,485 bitcoins for investment purposes ("bitcoin investment") with a fair value of $792.3 million based on observable market prices, which is included within “Other non-current assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. We believe cryptocurrency is an instrument of economic empowerment that aligns with our corporate purpose. We expect to hold these investments for the long term but will continue to reassess our bitcoin investment relative to our balance sheet. Bitcoin is considered an indefinite-lived intangible asset, and upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-08, Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets, effective January 1, 2023, our bitcoin investment is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date with changes recognized in net income through the consolidated statements of operations. We purchased approximately 447 bitcoins with a cost basis of $31.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 for investment purposes. We did not sell any of our bitcoin investment during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. We recognized gains of $420.9 million and $207.1 million from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
In September 2020, we announced our intent to invest $100.0 million towards impact investments that further our purpose of economic empowerment. As of December 31, 2024, we have invested $67.9 million in aggregate towards this initiative, of which $23.6 million and $12.3 million were invested in the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Our principal commitments consist of convertible notes, senior notes, our revolving credit facility, warehouse funding facilities, operating leases, capital leases, and purchase commitments. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness and Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on these commitments.
Senior Notes and Convertible Notes
As of December 31, 2024, we held $6.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt, comprised of, $1.0 billion in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on March 1, 2025 ("2025 Convertible Notes"), $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 1, 2026 ("2026 Convertible Notes"), and $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on November 1, 2027 ("2027 Convertible Notes," collectively referred to as the “Convertible Notes”), as well as an outstanding $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2026 ("2026 Senior Notes"), $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2031 ("2031 Senior Notes"), and $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes that mature on May 15, 2032 ("2032 Senior Notes" and, together with the 2026 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Convertible Notes, the “Notes”). Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
On May 25, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate principal amount of $862.5 million of convertible senior notes ("2023 Convertible Notes"). On May 15, 2023, we paid $461.8 million in cash to settle the outstanding principal balance and interest on the 2023 Convertible Notes upon maturity.
Revolving Credit Facility
We have entered into a revolving credit agreement with certain lenders, as subsequently amended, which provides a $775.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2020 Credit Facility") maturing in June 2028. Refer to Note 14, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Warehouse Funding Facilities
We have warehouse funding facilities ("Warehouse Facilities") with an aggregate commitment amount of $1.7 billion on a revolving basis, of which $1.5 billion was drawn as of December 31, 2024. The Warehouse Facilities have been arranged utilizing wholly-owned and consolidated entities (collectively, the "Warehouse Special Purpose Entities (SPEs)") formed for the sole purpose of financing the origination of consumer receivables to partly fund our BNPL platform. Borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities are secured against the respective consumer receivables. While the Warehouse SPEs are included in our consolidated financial statements, they are separate legal entities that maintain legal ownership of the receivables they hold. The assets of the Warehouse SPEs are not available to satisfy our claims or those of our creditors.
Cash, Restricted Cash, and Working Capital
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, investment in marketable debt securities, and availability under our line of credit will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, including any expenditures related to strategic transactions and investment commitments that we may from time to time enter into, and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. From time to time, we have raised capital by issuing equity, equity-linked, or debt securities such as our convertible notes and senior notes; and we may do so in the future, however, such funding may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
During 2024, we received a non-investment grade rating by S&P Global Ratings (BB+), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (BB+), and Moody's Corporation (Ba2). We expect that these credit rating agencies will continue to monitor our performance, including our capital structure and results of operations. Our liquidity, access to capital, and borrowing costs could be adversely impacted by declines in our credit rating.
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Short-term restricted cash of $902.5 million as of December 31, 2024 primarily includes cash held by the Warehouse SPEs used in the Warehouse Facilities funding arrangements that will be used to pay the borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities or will be distributed to us. It also includes pledged cash deposits in accounts at the financial institutions that process our sellers' payment transactions and collateral pursuant to various agreements with banks relating to our products. We use restricted cash to secure letters of credit with the related financial institutions to provide collateral for cash flow timing differences in the processing of payments. We have recorded these amounts as current assets on our consolidated balance sheet given the short-term nature of these cash flow timing differences and that there is no minimum time frame during which the cash must remain restricted.
Long-term restricted cash of $69.9 million as of December 31, 2024 is primarily related to cash held as collateral as required by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") for Square Financial Services. We have recorded these amounts as non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet as the requirement by the FDIC specifies a time frame of 12 months or longer during which the cash must remain restricted.
We experience significant day-to-day fluctuations in our cash and cash equivalents due to fluctuations in settlements receivable, and customers payable, and hence working capital. These fluctuations are primarily due to:
•Timing of period end. For periods that end on a weekend or a bank holiday, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable balances typically will be higher than for periods ending on a weekday, as we settle to our sellers for payment processing activity on business days; and
•Fluctuations in daily GPV. When daily GPV increases, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable amounts increase. Typically our settlements receivable and customers payable balances at period end represent one to four days of receivables and disbursements to be made in the subsequent period. Customers payable, excluding amounts attributable to Cash App stored funds, and settlements receivable balances typically move in tandem, as pay-out and pay-in largely occur on the same business day. However, customers payable balances will be greater in amount than settlements receivable balances due to the fact that a subset of funds are held due to unlinked bank accounts, risk holds, and chargebacks. Customer funds obligations, which may be impacted by the timing of period end, number of processors used and processing times, are included in customers payable and may also cause customers payable to trend differently than settlements receivable. Holidays and day-of-week may also cause significant volatility in daily GPV amounts.
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Cash Flow Activities
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,707,350 | $ | 100,961 | ||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | 649,952 | 683,201 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 1,952,662 | (240,137) | ||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents | (88,539) | 29,156 | ||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and customer funds | $ | 4,221,425 | $ | 573,181 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash provided by operating activities was $1.7 billion, primarily due to net income of $2.9 billion, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.6 billion consisting primarily of share-based compensation; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; depreciation and amortization; goodwill and intangible asset impairments; and non-cash lease expense, each of which contributed positively to cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, there were net inflows related to changes in other assets and liabilities, including settlements receivable and customers payable, of $207.3 million due to timing of period end. These were partially offset by a change in deferred income taxes of $1.7 billion; amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments on consumer receivables of $1.1 billion; net outflows from loan products of $797.5 million; bitcoin remeasurement of $420.9 million; and gains on the revaluation of certain equity investments of $32.2 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by operating activities was $101.0 million, comprised of net loss of $21.1 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.6 billion, consisting primarily of share-based compensation; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; depreciation and amortization; non-cash lease expense; and goodwill impairment, all of which contributed positively to operating activities. These were partially offset by the amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments of $984.4 million; net outflows from loan products of $553.6 million; bitcoin remeasurement of $207.1 million; a change in deferred income taxes of $85.9 million; as well as changes in other assets and liabilities, including settlements receivable and customers payable, of $685.3 million due to timing of period end, including a $350.0 million deposit held by a processor to meet requirements related to processing volumes.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash provided by investing activities was $650.0 million, primarily due to a net inflow related to consumer receivables of $604.0 million and net proceeds from investments of marketable securities of $253.9 million. These were partially offset by the purchase of property and equipment of $153.9 million and purchases of other investments of $53.9 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by investing activities was $683.2 million, primarily due to the net proceeds from investments of marketable securities of $600.3 million and a net inflow related to consumer receivables of $272.9 million. These were partially offset by the purchase of property and equipment of $151.2 million and purchases of other investments of $38.8 million.
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash provided by financing activities was $2.0 billion, primarily due to approximately $2.0 billion of net proceeds related to the issuance of the 2032 Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2024, a change in customer funds of $1.0 billion, and proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $154.8 million. These were partially offset by repurchases of common stock of $1.2 billion, a net outflow from warehouse facilities borrowings of $74.0 million, and a net outflow for other financing activities of $18.5 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in financing activities was $240.1 million, primarily as a result of a cash payment of $461.8 million to settle the 2023 Convertible Notes in May 2023, stock repurchases of $156.8 million, a net outflow for other financing activities of $20.0 million, and the repayment and forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loans of $16.8 million. These were partially offset by net proceeds from warehouse facilities borrowings of $269.6 million and proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $130.4 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, anticipated future trends, and other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because these accounting estimates require significant judgment, our actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
We believe accounting policies and the assumptions and estimates associated with the determination of valuation allowances for deferred taxes could potentially have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, and therefore are critical accounting policies and estimates.
Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance
Deferred income tax assets represent amounts available to reduce income taxes payable on taxable income in future years. Such assets arise because of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as well as from net operating loss, capital loss, and tax credit carryforwards. We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis to determine whether a valuation allowance is necessary and reduce such assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. This evaluation requires significant judgment and involves the consideration of all available positive and negative evidence, including our historical operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in recent years, ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, and projections of future taxable income.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, based on the relative weight of positive and negative evidence, including the amount of our taxable income in 2024, and consideration of our expected future taxable earnings, we concluded that it is more likely than not that a material portion of our U.S. federal and certain state deferred tax assets are realizable. Therefore, we released the valuation allowance associated with a material portion of our U.S. federal and certain states' deferred tax assets, resulting in a $1.3 billion non-cash benefit to the provision for income taxes.
We have retained a full valuation allowance against California deferred tax assets which primarily consists of tax loss carryovers and tax credit carryovers. We do not have sufficient evidence of future income to realize the California deferred tax assets on a more likely than not basis.
Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” described in Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001628280-24-006354.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This management's discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations, key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, and liquidity and capital resources of Block, Inc. on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K").
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022. The comparison of the fiscal 2022 results with the fiscal 2021 results that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis Results of Operations" section in the Company's fiscal 2022 Annual Report within Part II, Item 7 of Form 10-K, filed on February 23, 2023.
The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources; our plans, estimates, beliefs, and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties; and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
Overview
We launched the Square ecosystem in February 2009 to enable businesses ("sellers") to accept card payments, an important capability that was previously inaccessible to many businesses. We have expanded to provide sellers additional products and services and to give them access to a cohesive ecosystem of tools to help them manage and grow their businesses. Similarly, with Cash App, we have built an ecosystem of financial products and services to help individuals manage their money. In January 2022, we completed the acquisition of Afterpay, a buy now, pay later ("BNPL") platform that facilitates commerce between retail merchants and consumers by allowing retail merchant clients to offer their customers the ability to buy goods and services on a BNPL basis. In addition, we also operate TIDAL, a global platform for musicians and fans, and TBD, an open developer platform, to contribute to our purpose of economic empowerment.
We delivered strong growth across our primary ecosystems in 2023. Gross profit was $7.5 billion, up 25% year over year, driven primarily by our Cash App and Square ecosystems.
Cash App generated gross profit of $4.3 billion in 2023, up 33% year over year. Performance was driven by growth in transacting actives and adoption by transacting actives of our broader ecosystem, including financial services products.
Square generated gross profit of $3.1 billion in 2023, up 16% year over year as we continued to make progress growing upmarket with larger sellers and optimizing our go-to-market strategies.
In 2023, operating loss was $278.8 million and Adjusted Operating Income was $351.4 million, a decrease of 55% and an increase of 342% year over year, respectively. For the same period, net income was $9.8 million, an increase of 102%, year over year, and Adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 billion, an increase of 81% year over year.
Refer to the Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") equivalents.
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In 2023, we sharpened our focus on our organizational structure and expenditures with a view to identifying areas where we can be more cost efficient as we focus on disciplined growth and pursuing cost efficiencies and we expect to continue these efforts in 2024. This involves implementing greater expense discipline and reassessing certain contractual vendor arrangements. In November 2023, we announced we would implement an absolute cap of 12,000 on the number of employees we have at our company. We plan to operate below this cap through a combination of performance management, centralizing teams and functions to reduce duplication, and prioritization of our scope. The Company recorded $104.0 million of severance and other related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, of which $70.2 million related to severance recognized in the fourth quarter of 2023. We may continue to incur expenses, including restructuring costs, in the short term to implement these initiatives, but we expect to benefit from these actions in future periods.
We ended 2023 with $7.7 billion in available liquidity, with $6.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, as well as an undrawn amount of $775.0 million available under our revolving credit facility. This represents an increase of $205.8 million from the end of 2022, including a $461.8 million cash payment for the settlement of the outstanding 2023 Convertible Notes that matured in May 2023.
On October 26, 2023, the board of directors of the Company authorized the repurchase of up to $1 billion of the Company’s Class A common stock, which commenced in the fourth quarter of 2023. The goal of the program is to offset a portion of the dilution associated with stock-based compensation issued to employees as part of the Company’s overall compensation program. The timing and amount of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the stock price, business and market conditions, corporate and regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities, acquisition opportunities, and other factors. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we repurchased $156.8 million under this program.
We have historically allocated the financial results from our BNPL platform equally to the Cash App and Square segments. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we changed our management reporting structure and moved the business activities and management of our BNPL platform fully under the Cash App segment. We believe that this transition will allow us to better focus on consumer based commerce as well as the development of its financial tools within the Cash App segment. Accordingly, beginning with this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have updated our segment reporting to incorporate the financial results of the BNPL platform within the Cash App segment, rather than allocating 50% of revenue and gross profit from our BNPL platform to each of the Square and Cash App segments. We have also reflected this change for the applicable historical periods presented.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Transaction-based Revenue
We charge our sellers a transaction fee that is generally calculated based on a percentage of the total transaction amount processed. We also selectively offer custom pricing for certain larger sellers. Transaction-based revenue also includes amounts we charge our Cash App customers for peer-to-peer transactions to business accounts and payments sent from a credit card.
Subscription and Services-based Revenue
Subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of revenue we generate from Cash App, Square Loans (formerly known as Square Capital), our BNPL platform, TIDAL, and various other software as a service (“SaaS”) products that we offer through Square. Cash App subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of transaction fees from Cash App Instant Deposit, Cash App Card, bitcoin withdrawal fees, and other Cash App financial services offerings. Our other SaaS products include subscription fees on our vertical software solutions (including Square for Restaurants, Square Appointments, and Square for Retail), Customer Engagement products (including Square Loyalty, Square Marketing, Square Gift Cards), staff management products (including Square Team Management and Square Payroll), website hosting and domain name registration services, and other products.
Instant Deposit is a functionality within the Cash App and our managed payment solutions that enables customers, including individuals and sellers, to instantly deposit funds into their bank accounts.
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Cash App Card offers Cash App customers the ability to use their stored funds via a Visa prepaid card that is linked to the balance the customer stores in Cash App. We charge the customer a per transaction fee when they instantly deposit funds to their bank account or withdraw funds from an ATM. We also earn interchange fees when a Cash App Card is used to make a purchase. These transaction and interchange fees are treated as revenue when charged.
Square Loans originates loans to sellers that are generally repaid through withholding a percentage of the collections of the seller's receivables processed by us or a specified monthly amount. In April 2021, we began originating loans in the U.S. through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Square Financial Services. Prior to the launch of Square Financial Services, the loans were generally originated by a bank partner, from whom we purchased the loans to obtain all rights, title, and interests. We also originate loans to the customers of certain sellers which are generally repaid via ACH. For some of the loans, it is our intention to sell the rights, title, and interest to third-party investors for an upfront fee. We are retained by the third-party investors to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions. Certain loans, for which we have the intention and ability to hold through maturity, are not immediately sold to third-party investors, in which case, interest and fees earned are recognized as revenue using the effective interest method.
Cash App Borrow, the Company’s first credit product for consumers, allows customers to access short-term loans for a small fee. The loans are repaid at the end of the loan term and customers may elect to prepay all or a part of the outstanding balance. If the outstanding balance is not paid when due, late fees in the form of interest may be charged. The short-term loans are facilitated through a partnership with an industrial bank. The loans are originated by the bank partner, from whom the Company purchases the loans obtaining all rights, title, and interest. Net amounts paid to the bank are recorded as the cost of the loans purchased, and amounts collected in excess of the carrying value are recognized as revenue over the life of the loans.
Revenue from our BNPL platform includes fees generated from consumer receivables, late fees, and certain affiliate and advertising fees. Through the use of our BNPL platform, consumers can pay for their purchases over time by splitting their purchase price generally into three or four installments, typically due in two-week increments, without paying fees (if payments are made on time). For the majority of our BNPL products, we do not charge consumers interest or fees, other than late fees, which may be charged in certain regions as an incentive to encourage consumers to pay their outstanding balances as and when they fall due. We also offer the ability for consumers to pay for larger transaction sizes over a six- or twelve-month period using a monthly payment option, which includes no late fees and no compounding interest with a cap on total interest owed.
TIDAL primarily generates revenue from subscriptions to customers, and such subscriptions allow access to the song library, video library, and improved sound quality. Customers can subscribe to services directly from the TIDAL website or through the Apple store. With both offerings, we charge customers a monthly fee for those subscription services.
Hardware Revenue
Hardware revenue includes revenue from sales of magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Third-party peripherals include cash drawers, receipt printers, scales, and barcode scanners, all of which can be integrated with Square Stand, Square Register, or Square Terminal to provide a comprehensive point-of-sale solution.
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Bitcoin Revenue
Our Cash App customers have the ability to purchase bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. We recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account. We purchase bitcoin from private broker dealers or from Cash App customers and apply a small margin before selling it to our customers. The sale amounts received from our customers are recorded as revenue on a gross basis and the associated bitcoin cost as cost of revenues, as we are the principal in the bitcoin sale transaction. Bitcoin revenue may fluctuate as a result of changes in customer demand or the market price of bitcoin.
Cost of Revenue
Transaction-based Costs
Transaction-based costs consist primarily of interchange and assessment fees, processing fees, and bank settlement fees paid to third-party payment processors and financial institutions.
Subscription and Services-based Costs
Subscription and services-based costs consist primarily of processing and partnership fees related to Cash App including Instant Deposit and Cash App Card, and our BNPL platform, as well as costs associated with TIDAL.
Hardware Costs
Hardware costs consist primarily of product costs associated with magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Product costs include manufacturing-related overhead and personnel-related costs, certain royalties, packaging, and fulfillment costs. Hardware is sold primarily as a means to grow our transaction-based revenue and, as a result, generating positive gross margins from hardware sales is not the primary goal of the hardware business.
Bitcoin Costs
Bitcoin costs consist of the amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin that is sold to customers. These costs fluctuate in line with bitcoin revenue.
Amortization of Acquired Technology Assets
Amortization of acquired technology assets is primarily comprised of amortization related to the acquired technology assets from the acquisition of Afterpay.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of product development; sales and marketing; general and administrative expenses; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; bitcoin impairment losses; and amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets. For product development and general and administrative expenses, the largest single component is personnel-related expenses, including salaries, commissions and bonuses, employee benefit costs, and share-based compensation. In the case of sales and marketing expenses, a significant portion is related to the Cash App peer-to-peer transactions and Cash App Card issuance costs, in addition to paid advertising and personnel-related expenses. Operating expenses also include allocated overhead costs for facilities, human resources, and IT.
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Product Development Expenses
Product development expenses currently represent the largest component of our operating expenses and consist primarily of expenses related to our engineering, data science, and design personnel; fees and supply costs related to maintenance at third-party data center facilities; hardware related development and tooling costs; software and cloud computing infrastructure fees; and fees for software licenses, consulting, legal, and other services that are directly related to growing and maintaining our portfolio of products and services. Additionally, product development expenses include the depreciation of product-related infrastructure and tools, including data center equipment, internally developed software, and computer equipment. We continue to focus our product development efforts on adding new features and expanding our apps, and on enhancing the functionality and ease of use of our offerings. Our ability to realize returns on these investments is substantially dependent upon our ability to successfully address current and emerging requirements of sellers, buyers, and customers through the development and introduction of these new products and services.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses are aggregated into two main components. The first component consists of traditional advertising costs incurred such as direct sales expense, account management, local and product marketing, retail and e-commerce, partnerships, and communications personnel. The second component of sales and marketing expenses consists of costs incurred for services, incentives, and other costs that are not directly related to revenue generating transactions that we consider to be marketing costs to encourage the usage of Cash App. These expenses include, but are not limited to, Cash App peer-to-peer processing costs and transaction losses, card issuance costs, customer referral bonuses, and promotional giveaways that are expensed as incurred.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of expenses related to our customer support, finance, legal, risk operations, human resources, and administrative personnel. General and administrative expenses also include costs related to fees paid for professional services, including legal, tax, and accounting services.
Transaction, Loan, and Consumer Receivable Losses
Transaction losses include chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and the inability to collect on disputes between buyers and sellers over the delivery of goods or services, as well as losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash for Business, and Cash App Card. We base our reserve estimates on prior chargeback history and current period data points indicative of transaction loss. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. The establishment of appropriate reserves for transaction losses is an inherently uncertain process, and ultimate losses may vary from the current estimates. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new facts become known and events occur that may affect the settlement or recovery of losses.
Loan losses relate to Square Loans and Cash App Borrow and are recorded whenever the amortized cost of a loan exceeds its fair value. Such charges are reversed for subsequent increases in fair value, but only to the extent that such reversals do not result in the amortized cost of a loan exceeding its fair value.
Losses on consumer receivables relate to management's estimate of expected credit losses in the outstanding portfolio of consumer receivables. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve.
Amortization of Customer and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets is primarily as a result of the intangible assets from the Afterpay acquisition.
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Interest Expense, net, and Other Income, net
Interest and other income and expense, net consists primarily of gains or losses arising from remeasurements of our investments in equity securities, bitcoin investment, interest expense related to our long-term debt, interest income on our investments in marketable debt securities, and foreign currency-related gains and losses.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes consists primarily of federal, state, local, and foreign tax. Our effective tax rate fluctuates from period to period due to changes in the mix of income and losses in jurisdictions with a wide range of tax rates, the effect of acquisitions, changes resulting from the amount of recorded valuation allowance, permanent differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and local tax laws, certain one-time items, and changes in tax contingencies.
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Results of Operations
Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based revenue | $ | 6,315,301 | $ | 5,701,540 | $ | 613,761 | 11 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based revenue | 5,944,842 | 4,552,773 | 1,392,069 | 31 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware revenue | 157,178 | 164,418 | (7,240) | NM (i) | ||||||||||
| Bitcoin revenue | 9,498,302 | 7,112,856 | 2,385,446 | 34 | % | |||||||||
| Total net revenue | $ | 21,915,623 | $ | 17,531,587 | $ | 4,384,036 | 25 | % |
(i) Not meaningful ("NM")
Total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by $4.4 billion, or 25%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. Bitcoin revenue increased by $2.4 billion and represented the primary driver of the increase in total net revenue. Excluding bitcoin revenue, total net revenue increased by $2.0 billion, or 19%, in the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Transaction-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $613.8 million, or 11%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase in revenue was largely in line with the increase in Gross Payment Volume ("GPV") of 12% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. GPV increased due to overall Square GPV growth as well as growth in Cash App Business GPV, which is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts. Square GPV growth was driven by improvements in both card-present and card-not-present volumes as a result of growth from in-person and online channels, as well as growth in our international markets, and Cash App Business GPV growth was driven by increases in peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts as well as peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. See below in Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further discussion of GPV.
Subscription and services-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $1.4 billion, or 31%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to growth in Cash App's financial service-related products, including Cash App Card usage, Cash App Instant Deposit volumes, as well as revenue from the BNPL platform and interest earned on customer funds. Revenue generated from the BNPL platform was $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $811.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Bitcoin revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $2.4 billion, or 34%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. As bitcoin revenue is the total sale amount of bitcoin sold to customers, the amount of bitcoin revenue recognized will fluctuate depending on customer demand as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. This increase for the year ended December 31, 2023 was driven primarily by the quantity of bitcoin sold to customers compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The prevailing bitcoin prices fluctuated significantly within each year, but the average price for 2023 was only approximately 2% higher than 2022. While bitcoin contributed 43% and 41% of the total revenue in 2023 and 2022, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 3% of the total gross profit in both 2023 and 2022.
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Cost of Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based costs | $ | 3,702,016 | $ | 3,364,028 | $ | 337,988 | 10 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based costs | 1,075,129 | 861,745 | 213,384 | 25 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware costs | 267,650 | 286,995 | (19,345) | NM (i) | ||||||||||
| Bitcoin costs | 9,293,113 | 6,956,733 | 2,336,380 | 34 | % | |||||||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 72,829 | 70,194 | 2,635 | NM (i) | ||||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | $ | 14,410,737 | $ | 11,539,695 | $ | 2,871,042 | 25 | % |
(i) Not meaningful ("NM")
Total cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $2.9 billion, or 25%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. Bitcoin costs of revenue, which increased by $2.3 billion, was the primary driver of the increase in total cost of revenue, with the remaining increase related to an increase in GPV. Excluding bitcoin costs of revenue, total cost of revenue increased by approximately $534.7 million, or 12%, in the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Transaction-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $338.0 million, or 10%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, largely in line with the growth of GPV of 12%. Transaction-based costs grew at a slower pace compared to GPV due to more favorable interchange economics, which offset a higher percentage of card-present and credit card transactions, which are less favorable to our economics on a per transaction basis.
Subscription and services-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $213.4 million, or 25%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was driven by:
•growth in Cash App's financial service-related products, including Cash App Card and related processing costs and fees, which is partially offset by favorable terms on such processing costs due to a contract renewal executed during the third quarter of fiscal year 2023; and
•the cost of revenues associated with the BNPL platform, which were $286.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $223.2 million from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2022.
Bitcoin costs for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $2.3 billion, or 34%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. Bitcoin costs are comprised of the total amount we pay to purchase bitcoin, which fluctuates in line with bitcoin revenue.
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Operating Expenses (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Product development | $ | 2,720,819 | $ | 2,135,612 | $ | 585,207 | 27 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 12 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 36 | % | 36 | % | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 2,019,009 | $ | 2,057,951 | $ | (38,942) | (2) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 9 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 27 | % | 34 | % | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 2,209,190 | $ | 1,686,849 | $ | 522,341 | 31 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 29 | % | 28 | % | ||||||||||
| Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses | $ | 660,663 | $ | 550,683 | $ | 109,980 | 20 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 3 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 9 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | $ | — | $ | 46,571 | $ | (46,571) | (100) | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | — | % | — | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | — | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | $ | 174,044 | $ | 138,758 | $ | 35,286 | 25 | % | ||||||
| % of total net revenue | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||
| % of total gross profit | 2 | % | 2 | % | ||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 7,783,725 | $ | 6,616,424 | $ | 1,167,301 | 18 | % |
Product development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by $585.2 million, or 27%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, due primarily to the following:
•an increase of $451.5 million in personnel costs primarily due to an increase in headcount among our engineering teams, as we continue to improve and diversify our products. The increase in product development personnel costs includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $200.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023; and
•an increase of $112.5 million in software and cloud computing infrastructure fees as well as consulting fees for the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of increased capacity needs and expansion of our cloud-based services.
Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, decreased by $38.9 million, or 2%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to:
•a decrease of $163.4 million in advertising costs, primarily from decreased online and television campaigns as we focused on expense discipline; partially offset by
•an increase of $87.7 million in sales and marketing personnel costs to maintain initiatives and $52.7 million in Cash App marketing. The increase in sales and marketing personnel costs also includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $25.4 million.
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General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by $522.3 million, or 31%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to:
•an increase of $288.1 million in general and administrative personnel costs, mainly as a result of additions to our customer support and compliance personnel as we continue to maintain resources and skills to support our long-term growth; and
•a goodwill impairment charge of $132.3 million related to TIDAL recognized in the fourth quarter of 2023. Refer to Note 10, Goodwill within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses for the year ended December 31, 2023, increased by $110.0 million, or 20%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to the following:
•an increase in loan losses of $89.0 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to increased loan volumes; and
•an increase in transaction losses of $21.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to an operational outage as well as growth in Cash App Card and Square GPV.
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets increased $35.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily as a result of the revision of certain intangibles' useful lives as well as the timing of the acquisition of Afterpay in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 and the related intangible assets and measurement period adjustments. Refer to Note 11, Acquired Intangible Assets within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
Interest Expense (Income), Net, and Other Expense (Income), Net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | $ | (47,221) | $ | 36,228 | $ | (83,449) | (230) | % | ||||||
| Other income, net | (202,475) | (95,443) | (107,032) | 112 | % |
Interest income, net, of $47.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in interest income received as a result of both higher interest rates and investment balances, which more than offset interest expense in the period. Interest expense, net of $36.2 million, for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to interest expense related to our 2026 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes, which were issued in May 2021. Refer to Note 15, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Other income, net, of $202.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily driven by a gain of $207.1 million from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment following the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2023-08, Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets ("ASU 2023-08"). Refer to Note 14, Bitcoin within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details. Other income, net, of $95.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily driven by revaluation of certain equity investments.
Segment Results
Square Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 7,033,384 | $ | 6,294,137 | $ | 739,247 | 12 | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 3,904,730 | 3,587,236 | 317,494 | 9 | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 3,128,654 | $ | 2,706,901 | $ | 421,753 | 16 | % |
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Revenue
Revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $739.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to growth in Square GPV from both card-present and card-not-present volumes.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $317.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to a higher percentage of card-present and credit card transactions, which are less favorable to our economics on a per transaction basis, partially offset by more favorable interchange economics.
Cash App Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 14,681,686 | $ | 11,031,804 | $ | 3,649,882 | 33 | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 10,358,223 | 7,786,760 | 2,571,463 | 33 | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 4,323,463 | $ | 3,245,044 | $ | 1,078,419 | 33 | % |
Revenue
Revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $3.6 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to growth in bitcoin revenue, Cash App's financial service-related products, including Cash App Card, Cash App Instant Deposit volumes, as well revenue from the BNPL platform and interest earned on customer funds. Bitcoin revenue has and will fluctuate depending on customer demand, as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. The increase in bitcoin revenue was driven primarily by an increase in quantity of bitcoin sold to customers compared to prior year. The prevailing bitcoin prices fluctuated significantly within each year, but the average price for 2023 was approximately 2% higher than 2022. While bitcoin revenue contributed 65% and 64% of Cash App revenue in 2023 and 2022, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 5% of Cash App gross profit in both 2023 and 2022.
Excluding bitcoin revenue, Cash App net revenue increased $1.3 billion, or 32%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $2.6 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was due to the items referenced within the revenue discussion. Excluding bitcoin cost of revenue, Cash App cost of revenue increased $235.1 million, or 28%.
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Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We collect and analyze operating and financial data to evaluate the health of our business, allocate our resources, and assess our performance. In addition to total net revenue, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other results under GAAP, the following table sets forth key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures we use to evaluate our business. We believe these metrics and measures are useful to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our business, and to facilitate comparisons of our performance to that of other payment solution providers.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Gross Payment Volume (GPV) (in millions) | $ | 227,699 | $ | 203,536 | $ | 167,720 | ||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) (in thousands) | $ | 351,351 | $ | (145,408) | $ | 306,104 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) | $ | 1,792,420 | $ | 990,964 | $ | 1,013,657 | ||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.46 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.28 |
Gross Payment Volume ("GPV")
GPV includes Square GPV and Cash App Business GPV. Square GPV is defined as the total dollar amount of all card payments processed by sellers using Square, net of refunds, and ACH transfers. Cash App Business GPV is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts, and peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. GPV does not include transactions from our BNPL platform because GPV is related only to transaction-based revenue and not to subscription and services-based revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income Per Share ("Adjusted EPS") and Adjusted Operating Income
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that represent our net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share, adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below. Adjusted Operating Income is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents our operating income (loss), adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below.
We have included these non-GAAP financial measures in this Form 10-K because they are key measures used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions, including those relating to operating expenses and the allocation of internal resources. Accordingly, we believe these measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. In addition, they provide useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business, as they remove the effect of certain non-cash items and certain variable charges that do not vary with our operations.
•We believe it is useful to exclude certain non-cash charges, such as amortization of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses, from our non-GAAP financial measures because the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations.
•We believe that excluding the expense related to amortization of debt discount and issuance costs from our non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because such incremental non-cash interest expense does not represent a current or future cash outflow for the Company and is therefore not indicative of our continuing operations or meaningful when comparing current results to past results. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted Adjusted EPS, we add back cash interest expense on convertible notes, as if converted at the beginning of the period, if the impact is dilutive.
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•We exclude the following from non-GAAP financial measures because we do not believe that these items are reflective of our ongoing business operations: gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment; gain or loss on revaluation of equity investments; gain or loss from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment, and bitcoin impairment losses on our bitcoin investment (prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-08), as applicable.
•To aid in comparability of our results across periods, we also exclude certain acquisition-related and integration costs associated with business combinations, various restructuring and other costs, and goodwill impairment charges, each of which are not normal operating expenses. Acquisition related costs include amounts paid to redeem acquirees’ unvested share-based compensation awards, and legal, accounting, valuation, and due diligence costs. Integration costs include advisory and other professional services or consulting fees necessary to integrate acquired businesses. Restructuring and other costs that are not reflective of our core business operating expenses may include severance costs, contingent losses, impairment charges, and certain litigation and regulatory charges. We also add back the impact of the acquired deferred revenue and deferred cost adjustment, which was written down to fair value in purchase accounting.
In addition to the items above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure also excludes depreciation and amortization, other cash interest income and expense, and other income and expense.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, should be considered as supplemental in nature, and are not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the following:
•share-based compensation expense has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy;
•the intangible assets being amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and the non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or other capital commitments; and
•non-GAAP measures do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs.
In addition to the limitations above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure does not reflect the effect of depreciation and amortization expense and related cash capital requirements, income taxes that may represent a reduction in cash available to us, and the effect of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, which is included in other income and expense.
In view of the limitations associated with Adjusted EBITDA, we also present Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain expenses that we believe are not reflective of our core operating performance, including amortization of intangible assets, bitcoin investment impairment losses (prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-08), acquisition-related accelerated share-based compensation expenses, acquisition-related and integration costs, restructuring and other costs, and goodwill impairment charges. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) does however include the effect of share-based compensation expense, which is a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy, as well as depreciation expense.
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate the non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, you should consider the non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss) and our other financial results presented in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | (278,839) | $ | (624,532) | $ | 161,112 | ||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 72,829 | 70,194 | 22,645 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 11,422 | 105,518 | 15,474 | |||||||
| Restructuring and other charges | 239,582 | 51,746 | 20,000 | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 132,313 | — | — | |||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | — | 46,571 | 71,126 | |||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | 174,044 | 138,758 | 15,747 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related share based acceleration costs | — | 66,337 | — | |||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) | $ | 351,351 | $ | (145,408) | $ | 306,104 |
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 9,772 | $ | (540,747) | $ | 166,284 | ||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (30,896) | (12,258) | (7,458) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | (21,124) | (553,005) | 158,826 | |||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,276,097 | 1,069,289 | 608,042 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 408,560 | 340,523 | 134,756 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 11,422 | 105,518 | 15,474 | |||||||
| Restructuring and other charges | 239,582 | 51,746 | 20,000 | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 132,313 | — | — | |||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | (47,221) | 36,228 | 33,124 | |||||||
| Other income, net | (202,475) | (95,443) | (29,474) | |||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | — | 46,571 | 71,126 | |||||||
| Benefit for income taxes | (8,019) | (12,312) | (1,364) | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 3,186 | 1,619 | 2,633 | |||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue and cost adjustment | 99 | 230 | 514 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 1,792,420 | $ | 990,964 | $ | 1,013,657 |
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 9,772 | $ | (540,747) | $ | 166,284 | ||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (30,896) | (12,258) | (7,458) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | (21,124) | (553,005) | 158,826 | |||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,276,097 | 1,069,289 | 608,042 | |||||||
| Acquisition-related and integration costs | 11,422 | 105,518 | 15,474 | |||||||
| Restructuring and other charges | 239,582 | 51,746 | 20,000 | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 132,313 | — | — | |||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 246,873 | 208,952 | 40,522 | |||||||
| Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs | 11,904 | 15,162 | 9,822 | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on revaluation of equity investments | 16,523 | (73,457) | (35,493) | |||||||
| Bitcoin remeasurement | (207,084) | — | — | |||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | — | 46,571 | 71,126 | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 3,186 | 1,619 | 2,633 | |||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue and cost adjustment | 99 | 230 | 514 | |||||||
| Tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments | (582,703) | (264,523) | (222,104) | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - basic | $ | 1,127,088 | $ | 608,102 | $ | 669,362 | ||||
| Cash interest expense on convertible notes | 3,554 | 5,014 | 6,099 | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - diluted | $ | 1,130,642 | $ | 613,116 | $ | 675,461 | ||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | 608,856 | 578,949 | 458,432 | |||||||
| Diluted | 628,320 | 615,034 | 525,725 | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.46 | ||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.80 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.28 |
Diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is computed by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of all potential shares of common stock. In periods when we reported an Adjusted Net Loss, diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is the same as basic Adjusted Net Income Per Share because the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments to our provision (benefit) for income taxes (in thousands, except effective tax rate):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Benefit for income taxes, as reported | $ | (8,019) | $ | (12,312) | $ | (1,364) | ||||
| Tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments | 582,703 | 264,523 | 222,104 | |||||||
| Adjusted provision for income taxes, non-GAAP | $ | 574,684 | $ | 252,211 | $ | 220,740 | ||||
| Non-GAAP effective tax rate | 34% | 29% | 25% |
We determined the adjusted provision for income taxes by calculating the estimated annual effective tax rate based on adjusted pre-tax income and applying it to Adjusted Net Income before income taxes.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $7.7 billion in available liquidity, with $6.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable debt securities, as well as an undrawn amount of $775.0 million available under our revolving credit facility subject to compliance with our covenants. Additionally, we had $99.4 million available to be withdrawn under our warehouse funding facilities. Refer to Note 15, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details. We intend to continue focusing on our long-term business initiatives and believe that our available funds are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future, including the $1.0 billion share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all financial covenants associated with our revolving credit facility and senior notes. None of our warehouse funding facilities contain financial covenants.
The following table summarizes our available liquidity (in thousands):
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,996,465 | $ | 4,544,202 | ||
| Short-term restricted cash (i) | 770,380 | 639,780 | ||||
| Long-term restricted cash | 71,812 | 71,600 | ||||
| Investments in short-term debt securities | 851,901 | 1,081,851 | ||||
| Investments in long-term debt securities | 251,127 | 573,429 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility | 775,000 | 600,000 | ||||
| Total liquidity | $ | 7,716,685 | $ | 7,510,862 |
(i) As of December 31, 2023, the Company has invested $291.4 million of restricted cash into a money market fund. See Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. Customer funds cash and cash equivalents are excluded from our liquidity as these are funds we hold on behalf of customers that are separate from our corporate funds and are not available for corporate purposes. Investments in marketable debt securities were held primarily in cash deposits, money market funds, reverse repurchase agreements, U.S. government and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate bonds. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale.
As of December 31, 2023, we held approximately 8,038 bitcoins for investment purposes ("bitcoin investment") with a fair value of $339.9 million based on observable market prices, which is included within “Other non-current assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. We believe cryptocurrency is an instrument of economic empowerment that aligns with our corporate purpose. We expect to hold these investments for the long term but will continue to reassess our bitcoin investment relative to our balance sheet. Bitcoin is considered an indefinite-lived intangible asset, and upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-08, Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets, effective January 1, 2023, our bitcoin investment is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date with changes recognized in net income through “Other expense (income), net” in the consolidated statements of operations. We did not purchase or sell any of our bitcoin investment during the year ended December 31, 2023. We recognized a gain of $207.1 from the remeasurement of our bitcoin investment during the fourth quarter of 2023.
In September 2020, we announced our intent to invest $100.0 million in supporting underserved communities, particularly, racial and ethnic minority groups who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This initiative further deepens our commitment toward economic empowerment to help broaden such communities' access to financial services. As of December 31, 2023, we have invested $44.3 million in aggregate towards this initiative, of which $12.3 million and $10.1 million were invested in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Our principal commitments consist of convertible notes, senior notes, revolving credit facility, warehouse funding facilities, operating leases, capital leases, and purchase commitments. Refer to Note 15, Indebtedness and Note 20, Commitments and Contingencies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on these commitments.
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Senior Notes and Convertible Notes
As of December 31, 2023, we held $4.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt, comprised of, $1.0 billion in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on March 1, 2025 ("2025 Convertible Notes"), $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 1, 2026 ("2026 Convertible Notes"), and $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on November 1, 2027 ("2027 Convertible Notes," collectively referred to as the “Convertible Notes”). Additionally, on May 20, 2021, we issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2026 ("2026 Senior Notes") and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2031 ("2031 Senior Notes" and, together with the 2026 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Convertible Notes, the “Notes”). The 2025 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.125% payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, the 2026 Convertible Notes bear no interest, and the 2027 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.25% payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. These Convertible Notes can be converted or repurchased prior to maturity if certain conditions are met. The 2026 Senior Notes bear interest a rate of 2.75% payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1, while the 2031 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.50% payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year. These Senior Notes can be redeemed or repurchased prior to maturity if certain conditions are met.
On January 31, 2022, we closed the acquisition of Afterpay and assumed Afterpay's outstanding convertible notes of $1.1 billion, which we redeemed in cash on March 4, 2022 at face value. Refer to Note 9, Acquisitions within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
On May 25, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate principal amount of $862.5 million of convertible senior notes ("2023 Convertible Notes"). On May 15, 2023, we paid $461.8 million in cash to settle the outstanding principal balance and interest on the 2023 Convertible Notes upon maturity.
Revolving Credit Facility
We have entered into a revolving credit agreement with certain lenders, as subsequently amended, which provides a $500.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2020 Credit Facility") maturing in May 2024. On February 23, 2022, the Company entered into a sixth amendment to the Credit Agreement to, among other things, provide for a new tranche of unsecured revolving loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $100.0 million. On June 9, 2023, the Company entered into a seventh amendment to the Credit Agreement to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the loans advanced to June 9, 2028 and provide for additional unsecured revolving loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $175 million. The Credit Agreement also contains a financial covenant that requires the Company to maintain a quarterly minimum liquidity amount (consisting of the sum of Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents plus Marketable Securities, each as defined in the Credit Agreement) of at least $250 million, tested on a quarterly basis. The Company is obligated to pay customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type including a commitment fee of 0.10% to 0.20% per annum on the undrawn portion available under the 2020 Credit Facility, depending on the Company's total net leverage ratio. To date, no funds have been drawn and no letters of credit have been issued under the 2020 Credit Facility.
Warehouse Funding Facilities
Following the acquisition of Afterpay, we assumed Afterpay's existing warehouse funding facilities ("Warehouse Facilities") with an aggregate commitment amount of $1.7 billion on a revolving basis, of which $1.6 billion was drawn as of December 31, 2023. The Warehouse Facilities have been arranged utilizing wholly-owned and consolidated entities (collectively, the "Warehouse Special Purpose Entities (SPEs)") formed for the sole purpose of financing the origination of consumer receivables to partly fund our BNPL platform. Borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities are secured against the respective consumer receivables. While the Warehouse SPEs are included in our consolidated financial statements, they are separate legal entities that maintain legal ownership of the receivables they hold. The assets of the Warehouse SPEs are not available to satisfy our claims or those of our creditors.
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Cash, Restricted Cash, and Working Capital
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, investment in marketable debt securities, and availability under our line of credit will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, including any expenditures related to strategic transactions and investment commitments that we may from time to time enter into, and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. From time to time, we have raised capital by issuing equity, equity-linked, or debt securities such as our convertible notes and senior notes; and we may do so in the future, however, such funding may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
When we were last rated, in the second half of 2023, we received a non-investment grade rating by S&P Global Ratings (BB+), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (BB+), and Moody's Corporation (Ba2). We expect that these credit rating agencies will continue to monitor our performance, including our capital structure and results of operations. Our liquidity, access to capital, and borrowing costs could be adversely impacted by declines in our credit rating.
Short-term restricted cash of $770.4 million as of December 31, 2023 primarily includes cash held by the Warehouse SPEs used in the Warehouse Facilities funding arrangements that will be used to pay the borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities or will be distributed to us. It also includes pledged cash deposits in accounts at the financial institutions that process our sellers' payment transactions and collateral pursuant to various agreements with banks relating to our products. We use restricted cash to secure letters of credit with the related financial institutions to provide collateral for cash flow timing differences in the processing of payments. We have recorded these amounts as current assets on our consolidated balance sheet given the short-term nature of these cash flow timing differences and that there is no minimum time frame during which the cash must remain restricted.
Long-term restricted cash of $71.8 million as of December 31, 2023 is primarily related to cash held as collateral as required by the FDIC for Square Financial Services. We have recorded these amounts as non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet as the requirement by the FDIC specifies a time frame of 12 months or longer during which the cash must remain restricted.
We experience significant day-to-day fluctuations in our cash and cash equivalents due to fluctuations in settlements receivable, and customers payable, and hence working capital. These fluctuations are primarily due to:
•Timing of period end. For periods that end on a weekend or a bank holiday, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable balances typically will be higher than for periods ending on a weekday, as we settle to our sellers for payment processing activity on business days; and
•Fluctuations in daily GPV. When daily GPV increases, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable amounts increase. Typically our settlements receivable and customers payable balances at period end represent one to four days of receivables and disbursements to be made in the subsequent period. Customers payable, excluding amounts attributable to Cash App stored funds, and settlements receivable balances typically move in tandem, as pay-out and pay-in largely occur on the same business day. However, customers payable balances will be greater in amount than settlements receivable balances due to the fact that a subset of funds are held due to unlinked bank accounts, risk holds, and chargebacks. Customer funds obligations, which may be impacted by the timing of period end, number of processors used and processing times, are included in customers payable and may also cause customers payable to trend differently than settlements receivable. Holidays and day-of-week may also cause significant volatility in daily GPV amounts.
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Safeguarding Obligation Liability and Safeguarding Asset Related to Bitcoin Held for Other Parties
As detailed in Note 14, Bitcoin within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we recorded a safeguarding obligation liability and a corresponding safeguarding asset related to the bitcoin held for other parties. As of December 31, 2023, the safeguarding obligation liability related to bitcoin held for other parties was $1.0 billion. We have taken steps to mitigate the potential risk of loss for the bitcoin held for other parties, including holding insurance coverage specifically for certain bitcoin incidents and using secure cold storage to store materially all of the bitcoin held for other parties. Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 ("SAB 121") also asks us to consider the legal ownership of the bitcoin held for other parties, including whether the bitcoin held for other parties would be available to satisfy general creditor claims in the event of Block’s bankruptcy. The legal rights of people with respect to crypto-assets held on their behalf by a custodian, such as us, upon the custodian’s bankruptcy have not yet been settled by courts and are highly fact dependent. Our contractual arrangements state that our customers and trading partners retain legal ownership of the bitcoin custodied by us on their behalf; they have the right to sell, pledge, or transfer the bitcoin; and they also benefit from the rewards and bear the risks associated with the ownership, including as a result of any bitcoin price fluctuations. We do not use any of the bitcoin held for other parties as collateral for our loans or any other financing arrangements, nor do we lend or pledge bitcoin held for others to any third parties. We have been monitoring and will continue to actively monitor legal and regulatory developments and may consider further steps, as appropriate, to support this contractual position so that in the event of Block’s bankruptcy, the bitcoin custodied by us should not be deemed to be part of Block's bankruptcy estate. We do not expect potential future cash flows associated with the bitcoin safeguarding obligation liability.
Cash Flow Activities
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 100,961 | $ | 175,903 | ||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | 683,201 | 1,225,696 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (240,137) | 97,580 | ||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents | 29,156 | (38,363) | ||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and customer funds | $ | 573,181 | $ | 1,460,816 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by operating activities was $101.0 million, primarily due to net loss of $21.1 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.6 billion consisting primarily of share-based compensation; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; depreciation and amortization; non-cash interest and lease expense; and goodwill impairment. This was partially offset by amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments of $984.4 million; bitcoin remeasurement of $207.1 million; a change in deferred income taxes of $85.9 million; and a net outflow related to changes in other assets and liabilities of $1.2 billion due to timing of period end, including a $350.0 million deposit held by a processor to meet requirements related to processing volumes.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by operating activities was $175.9 million, primarily due to net loss of $553.0 million, adjusted for non-cash expenses of $2.0 billion consisting primarily of share-based compensation; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; depreciation and amortization; non-cash interest; and bitcoin impairment losses. This was offset by changes in other assets and liabilities of $674.4 million due to timing of period end and a net outflow from amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments of $592.5 million.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by investing activities was $683.2 million, primarily due to the net proceeds from investments of marketable securities of $600.3 million and a net inflow related to consumer receivables of $272.9 million. These were partially offset by the purchase of property and equipment of $151.2 million; purchases of other investments of $33.9 million; and business combinations, net of cash acquired, of $5.0 million.
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For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by investing activities was $1.2 billion, primarily due to the net proceeds from investments of marketable securities, including investments from customer funds, of $1.1 billion. Additional inflows of cash were as a result of business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, of $539.5 million. These were partially offset by the purchase of property and equipment of $170.8 million, net consumer receivable originations of $169.4 million and purchases of other investments of $56.7 million.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in financing activities was $240.1 million, primarily as a result of a cash payment of $461.8 million to settle the 2023 Convertible Notes in May 2023, stock repurchases of $156.8 million, a net outflow for other financing activities of $20.0 million, and the repayment and forgiveness of PPP loans of $16.8 million. These were partially offset by net proceeds from warehouse facilities borrowings of $269.6 million and proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $130.4 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by financing activities was $97.6 million, primarily as a result of net proceeds from warehouse facilities borrowings of $1.2 billion, a change in customer funds of $349.3 million, as well as proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $81.8 million. These were offset by the payment to redeem convertible notes assumed upon the acquisition of Afterpay of $1.1 billion and the repayment and forgiveness of PPP loans of $480.7 million.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, anticipated future trends, and other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because these accounting estimates require significant judgment, our actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
We believe accounting policies and the assumptions and estimates associated with transaction losses and allowance for credit losses related to consumer receivables could potentially have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, and therefore are critical accounting policies and estimates.
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Accrued Transaction Losses
We are exposed to potential credit losses related to transactions processed by sellers that are subsequently subject to chargebacks when we are unable to collect from the sellers primarily due to insolvency, disputes between a seller and their customer, or due to fraudulent transactions. Accrued transaction losses also include estimated losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash for Business, and Cash App Card. Generally, we estimate the potential loss rates based on historical experience that is continuously adjusted for new information and incorporates, where applicable, reasonable and supportable forecasts about future expectations. We also consider other relevant market data in developing such estimates and assumptions. As of December 31, 2023, we had accrued $54.0 million related to transaction losses. Additions to the reserve are reflected in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. These amounts are classified within transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses on the consolidated statements of operations, except for the amounts associated with the peer-to-peer service offered to Cash App customers for free that are classified within sales and marketing expenses. Refer to Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 12, Other Consolidated Balance Sheet Components (Current) within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Allowance for Credit Losses Related to Consumer Receivables
We are exposed to credit losses on our consumer receivables portfolio. We estimate the expected credit losses in the outstanding portfolio of consumer receivables using both quantitative and qualitative methods that analyze portfolio performance, uses judgment regarding the quantitative components of the reserve, and considers all available information relevant to assessing collectibility. As of December 31, 2023, we had accrued $185.3 million related to allowance for credit losses. Refer to Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 6, Consumer Receivables, net within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” described in Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001628280-23-004840.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This management's discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations, key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, and liquidity and capital resources of Block, Inc. on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K").
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021. The comparison of the fiscal 2021 results with the fiscal 2020 results that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis Results of Operations" section in the Company's fiscal 2021 Annual Report within Part II, Item 7 of Form 10-K, filed on February 24, 2022.
The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources; our plans, estimates, beliefs, and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties; and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
Overview
On December 1, 2021, we changed our name as a corporate entity from Square, Inc. to Block, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "Block"). We started Block with the Square ecosystem in February 2009 to enable businesses ("sellers") to accept card payments, an important capability that was previously inaccessible to many businesses. However, sellers need a variety of solutions to thrive, and we have expanded to provide them additional products and services and to give them access to a cohesive ecosystem of tools to help them manage and grow their businesses. Similarly, with Cash App, we have built an ecosystem of financial products and services to help individuals manage their money. We also added TIDAL and TBD as businesses to contribute to our purpose of economic empowerment. TIDAL is a global platform for musicians and their fans that uses unique content, experiences, and features to bring fans closer to artists and to provide artists with tools to succeed as entrepreneurs. TBD is an open developer platform focused on making the decentralized financial world accessible for everyone. In January 2022, we completed the acquisition of Afterpay Limited ("Afterpay"), a buy now, pay later ("BNPL") platform that facilitates commerce between retail merchants and consumers by allowing its retail merchant clients to offer their customers the ability to buy goods and services on a BNPL basis.
Square is a cohesive commerce ecosystem that helps sellers start, run, and grow their businesses, and consists of more than 30 distinct software, hardware, and financial services products that provide cohesive Commerce, Customer Relationship Management, Staff Management, and Banking capabilities. Our products are designed to be self-serve and intuitive to make initial setup and new employee training fast and easy, although we also offer full-service setup and support. Our products are integrated to create a seamless experience and enable a holistic view of sales, customers, employees, and finances. Our open developer platform enables integrations with third-party applications as well. We monetize these products through a combination of transaction, subscription, and service fees. We have grown rapidly to serve millions of sellers that represent a diverse set of industries including services, food-related businesses, and retail businesses; and sizes, ranging from sole proprietors, such as a single vendor at a farmers’ market, to multi-location enterprise businesses. Square sellers also span geographies, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Spain.
Cash App provides an ecosystem of financial products and services to help consumers manage their money. Cash App’s goal is to redefine the world’s relationship with money by making it more relatable, instantly available, and universally accessible. While Cash App started with the single ability to send and receive money, it now provides an ecosystem of financial services focused on helping consumers make their money go further — whether that's by storing, sending, receiving, spending, or investing their money with Cash App. We monetize these products through a combination of transaction and service fees. Cash App has a diverse mix of transacting actives across a range of demographics and regions in the United States, as well as a small presence in Europe.
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With the acquisition of Afterpay, we added a BNPL platform to our offerings. Our BNPL platform is being integrated into the Cash App and Square ecosystems, strengthening the connection between these ecosystems, expanding access to more sellers and customers, increasing Square’s omnichannel platform, and helping drive more commerce between our sellers and customers. Customers will be able to manage their installments and repayments directly within Cash App, potentially driving increased engagement, while the commerce discovery functionality from the Afterpay app will be integrated with Cash App to help drive lead generation for merchants and customer engagement. As discussed further in Note 21, Segment and Geographical Information within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the financial results from our BNPL platform have been allocated equally to the Cash App and Square segments. Afterpay results are included in our financial statements from January 31, 2022, the date of acquisition.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Transaction-based Revenue
We charge our sellers a transaction fee that is generally calculated based on a percentage of the total transaction amount processed. We also selectively offer custom pricing for certain larger sellers. Transaction-based revenue also includes amounts we charge our Cash App customers for peer-to-peer transactions to business accounts and payments sent from a credit card.
Subscription and Services-based Revenue
Subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of revenue we generate from Cash App, Square Loans (formerly known as Square Capital), our BNPL platform, TIDAL, and various other software as a service (“SaaS”) products that we offer through Square. Cash App subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of transaction fees from Cash App Instant Deposit, Cash App Card, and other Cash App financial services offerings. Our other SaaS products include subscription fees on our vertical software solutions (including Square for Restaurants, Square Appointments, and Square for Retail), Customer Engagement products (including Square Loyalty, Square Marketing, Square Gift Cards), staff management products (including Square Team Management and Square Payroll), and other products.
Instant Deposit is a functionality within the Cash App and our managed payment solutions that enables customers, including individuals and sellers, to instantly deposit funds into their bank accounts.
Cash App Card offers Cash App customers the ability to use their stored funds via a Visa prepaid card that is linked to the balance the customer stores in Cash App. We charge the customer a per transaction fee when they instantly deposit funds to their bank account or withdraw funds from an ATM. We also earn interchange fees when a Cash App Card is used to make a purchase. These transaction and interchange fees are treated as revenue when charged.
Square Loans originates loans to sellers that are generally repaid through withholding a percentage of the collections of the seller's receivables processed by us or a specified monthly amount. In April 2021, we began originating loans in the U.S. through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Square Financial Services. Prior to the launch of Square Financial Services, the loans were generally originated by a bank partner, from whom we purchased the loans to obtain all rights, title, and interests. We also originate loans to the customers of certain sellers which are generally repaid via ACH. For some of the loans, it is our intention to sell the rights, title, and interest to third-party investors for an upfront fee. We are retained by the third-party investors to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions. Certain loans, for which we have the intention and ability to hold through maturity, are not immediately sold to third-party investors, in which case, interest and fees earned are recognized as revenue using the effective interest method.
Cash App Borrow, the Company’s first credit product for consumers, allows customers to access short-term loans for a small fee. The loans are repaid at the end of the loan term and customers may elect to prepay all or a part of the outstanding balance. If the outstanding balance is not paid when due, late fees in the form of interest may be charged. The short-term loans are facilitated through a partnership with an industrial bank. The loans are originated by the bank partner, from whom the Company purchases the loans obtaining all rights, title, and interest. Net amounts paid to the bank are recorded as the cost of the loans purchased, and amounts collected in excess of the carrying value are recognized as revenue over the life of the loans.
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Revenue from our BNPL platform includes fees generated from consumer receivables, late fees, and certain affiliate and advertising fees. Through the use of our BNPL platform, consumers can pay for their purchases over time by splitting their purchase price generally into three or four installments, typically due in two-week increments, without paying fees (if payments are made on time). For the majority of our BNPL products, we do not charge consumers interest or fees, other than late fees, which may be charged in certain regions as an incentive to encourage consumers to pay their outstanding balances as and when they fall due. As of October 2022, we also offer the ability for consumers to pay for larger transaction sizes over a six- or twelve-month period using a monthly payment option, which includes no late fees and no compounding interest with a cap on total interest owed.
TIDAL primarily generates revenue from subscriptions to customers, and such subscriptions allow access to the song library, video library, and improved sound quality. Customers can subscribe to services directly from the TIDAL website or through the Apple store. With both offerings, we charge customers a monthly fee for those subscription services.
Hardware Revenue
Hardware revenue includes revenue from sales of magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Third-party peripherals include cash drawers, receipt printers, scales, and barcode scanners, all of which can be integrated with Square Stand, Square Register, or Square Terminal to provide a comprehensive point-of-sale solution.
Bitcoin Revenue
Our Cash App customers have the ability to purchase bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. We recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account. We purchase bitcoin from private broker dealers or from Cash App customers and apply a small margin before selling it to our customers. The sale amounts received from our customers are recorded as revenue on a gross basis and the associated bitcoin cost as cost of revenues, as we are the principal in the bitcoin sale transaction. Bitcoin revenue may fluctuate as a result of changes in customer demand or the market price of bitcoin.
Cost of Revenue
Transaction-based Costs
Transaction-based costs consist primarily of interchange and assessment fees, processing fees, and bank settlement fees paid to third-party payment processors and financial institutions.
Subscription and Services-based Costs
Subscription and services-based costs consist primarily of processing and partnership fees related to Cash App including Instant Deposit and Cash App Card, and our BNPL platform, as well as costs associated with TIDAL.
Hardware Costs
Hardware costs consist primarily of product costs associated with magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Product costs include manufacturing-related overhead and personnel-related costs, certain royalties, packaging, and fulfillment costs. Hardware is sold primarily as a means to grow our transaction-based revenue and, as a result, generating positive gross margins from hardware sales is not the primary goal of the hardware business.
Bitcoin Costs
Bitcoin costs consist of the amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin that is sold to customers. These costs fluctuate in line with bitcoin revenue.
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Amortization of Acquired Technology Assets
Amortization of acquired technology assets is primarily comprised of amortization related to the acquired technology assets from the acquisition of Afterpay.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of product development; sales and marketing; general and administrative expenses; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; bitcoin impairment losses; and amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets. For product development and general and administrative expenses, the largest single component is personnel-related expenses, including salaries, commissions and bonuses, employee benefit costs, and share-based compensation. In the case of sales and marketing expenses, a significant portion is related to the Cash App peer-to-peer transactions and Cash App Card issuance costs, in addition to paid advertising and personnel-related expenses. Operating expenses also include allocated overhead costs for facilities, human resources, and IT.
Product Development Expenses
Product development expenses currently represent the largest component of our operating expenses and consist primarily of expenses related to our engineering, data science, and design personnel; fees and supply costs related to maintenance at third-party data center facilities; hardware related development and tooling costs; and fees for software licenses, consulting, legal, and other services that are directly related to growing and maintaining our portfolio of products and services. Additionally, product development expenses include the depreciation of product-related infrastructure and tools, including data center equipment, internally developed software, and computer equipment. We continue to focus our product development efforts on adding new features and expanding our apps, and on enhancing the functionality and ease of use of our offerings. Our ability to realize returns on these investments is substantially dependent upon our ability to successfully address current and emerging requirements of sellers, buyers, and customers through the development and introduction of these new products and services.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses are aggregated into two main components. The first component consists of traditional advertising costs incurred such as direct sales expense, account management, local and product marketing, retail and e-commerce, partnerships, and communications personnel. The second component of sales and marketing expenses consists of costs incurred for services, incentives, and other costs that are not directly related to revenue generating transactions that we consider to be marketing costs to encourage the usage of Cash App. These expenses include, but are not limited to, Cash App peer-to-peer processing costs and transaction losses, card issuance costs, customer referral bonuses, and promotional giveaways that are expensed as incurred.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of expenses related to our customer support, finance, legal, risk operations, human resources, and administrative personnel. General and administrative expenses also include costs related to fees paid for professional services, including legal, tax, and accounting services.
Transaction, Loan, and Consumer Receivable Losses
Transaction losses include chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and the inability to collect on disputes between buyers and sellers over the delivery of goods or services, as well as losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash for Business, and Cash App Card. We base our reserve estimates on prior chargeback history and current period data points indicative of transaction loss. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. The establishment of appropriate reserves for transaction losses is an inherently uncertain process, and ultimate losses may vary from the current estimates. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new facts become known and events occur that may affect the settlement or recovery of losses.
Loan losses relate to Square Loans and Cash App Borrow and are recorded whenever the amortized cost of a loan exceeds its fair value. Such charges are reversed for subsequent increases in fair value, but only to the extent that such reversals do not result in the amortized cost of a loan exceeding its fair value.
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Losses on consumer receivables relate to management's estimate of expected credit losses in the outstanding portfolio of consumer receivables. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve.
Bitcoin Impairment Losses
Our investment in bitcoin is accounted for as an indefinite-lived intangible asset, and thus, is subject to impairment losses if the fair value of bitcoin decreases below the carrying value during the assessed period. Impairment losses cannot be reversed for any subsequent increase in fair value until the sale of the asset.
Amortization of Customer and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets is primarily as a result of the intangible assets from the Afterpay acquisition.
Interest Expense, net, and Other Income, net
Interest and other income and expense, net consists primarily of gains or losses arising from remeasurements of our investments in equity securities, interest expense related to our long-term debt, interest income on our investments in marketable debt securities, and foreign currency-related gains and losses.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes consists primarily of federal, state, local, and foreign tax. Our effective tax rate fluctuates from period to period due to changes in the mix of income and losses in jurisdictions with a wide range of tax rates, the effect of acquisitions, changes resulting from the amount of recorded valuation allowance, permanent differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and local tax laws, certain one-time items, and changes in tax contingencies.
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Results of Operations
Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based revenue | $ | 5,701,540 | $ | 4,793,146 | $ | 908,394 | 19 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based revenue | 4,552,773 | 2,709,731 | 1,843,042 | 68 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware revenue | 164,418 | 145,679 | 18,739 | 13 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin revenue | 7,112,856 | 10,012,647 | (2,899,791) | (29) | % | |||||||||
| Total net revenue | $ | 17,531,587 | $ | 17,661,203 | $ | (129,616) | (1) | % |
Total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022, decreased by $129.6 million, or 1%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. Bitcoin revenue decreased by $2.9 billion and represented the primary driver of the decrease in the total net revenue. Excluding bitcoin revenue, total net revenue increased by $2.8 billion, or 36%, in the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. Revenue from our BNPL platform was $811.4 million from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2022, representing 5% of our total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Transaction-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $908.4 million, or 19%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase in revenue was largely in line with the increase in Gross Payment Volume ("GPV") of 21% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. GPV increased due to overall Square GPV growth as well as growth in Cash App Business GPV, which is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts. Square GPV growth was driven by improvements in both card-present and card-not-present volumes as a result of growth from in-person and online channels, as well as growth in our international markets, and Cash App Business GPV growth was driven by increases in peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts as well as peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. See below in Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further discussion of GPV.
Subscription and services-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $1.8 billion, or 68%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was driven by:
•revenue generated from our BNPL platform of $811.4 million;
•an increase in Cash App subscription and services-based revenue primarily due to growth in Cash App Card usage, Cash App Instant Deposit volumes, as well as fees we charge customers who opt to use the faster bitcoin withdrawal options to move their bitcoin out of Cash App; and
•seller banking products growth, including the increased origination volumes of Square Loans, as well as software subscriptions.
Hardware revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $18.7 million, or 13%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily a result of an overall increase in sales of hardware across many of our product offerings including Square Terminal, Square Register, and Square Reader for contactless and chip.
Bitcoin revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $2.9 billion, or 29%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. As bitcoin revenue is the total sale amount of bitcoin sold to customers, the amount of bitcoin revenue recognized will fluctuate depending on customer demand, as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. This decrease in the year ended December 31, 2022 was driven by the decline in the market price of bitcoin compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. While bitcoin contributed 41% and 57% of the total revenue in 2022 and 2021, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 3% and 5% of the total gross profit in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
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Cost of Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based costs | $ | 3,364,028 | $ | 2,719,502 | $ | 644,526 | 24 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based costs | 861,745 | 483,056 | 378,689 | 78 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware costs | 286,995 | 221,185 | 65,810 | 30 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin costs | 6,956,733 | 9,794,992 | (2,838,259) | (29) | % | |||||||||
| Amortization of acquired technology assets | 70,194 | 22,645 | 47,549 | 210 | % | |||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | $ | 11,539,695 | $ | 13,241,380 | $ | (1,701,685) | (13) | % |
Total cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $1.7 billion, or 13%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. Bitcoin costs of revenue, which decreased by $2.8 billion, was the primary driver of the decrease in total cost of revenue. The decrease in total cost of revenue was offset by increased transaction-based costs related to an increase in GPV and increased costs as a result of our BNPL platform, which we acquired in the first quarter of 2022. Excluding bitcoin costs of revenue, total cost of revenue increased by approximately $1.1 billion, or 32%, in the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Transaction-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $644.5 million, or 24%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, exceeding GPV growth of 21%, due to an increase in credit card transactions that have a higher cost per transaction as compared to debit card transactions.
Subscription and services-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $378.7 million, or 78%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was driven by:
•Costs of revenues associated with our BNPL platform of $223.2 million from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2022; and
•growth in Cash App Card usage, paper money deposit activity, and related processing costs and fees.
Hardware costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $65.8 million, or 30%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was due to the increased sales of hardware, as well as increased costs due to supply chain disruptions.
Bitcoin costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $2.8 billion, or 29%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 due to the decline in bitcoin revenue. Bitcoin costs are comprised of the total amount we pay to purchase bitcoin, which fluctuates in line with bitcoin revenue.
Amortization of acquired technology assets for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $47.5 million, or 210% compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily driven by amortization related to the acquired technology assets from the acquisition of Afterpay of $43.5 million.
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Operating Expenses (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||
| Product development | $2,135,612 | $1,383,841 | $ | 751,771 | 54 | % | ||||
| % of total net revenue | 12 | % | 8 | % | ||||||
| % of total gross profit | 36 | % | 31 | % | ||||||
| Sales and marketing | $2,057,951 | $1,617,189 | $ | 440,762 | 27 | % | ||||
| % of total net revenue | 12 | % | 9 | % | ||||||
| % of total gross profit | 34 | % | 37 | % | ||||||
| General and administrative | $1,686,849 | $982,817 | $ | 704,032 | 72 | % | ||||
| % of total net revenue | 10 | % | 6 | % | ||||||
| % of total gross profit | 28 | % | 22 | % | ||||||
| Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses | $550,683 | $187,991 | $ | 362,692 | 193 | % | ||||
| % of total net revenue | 3 | % | 1 | % | ||||||
| % of total gross profit | 9 | % | 4 | % | ||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | $46,571 | $71,126 | $ | (24,555) | (35) | % | ||||
| % of total net revenue | — | % | — | % | ||||||
| % of total gross profit | 1 | % | 2 | % | ||||||
| Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets | $138,758 | $15,747 | $ | 123,011 | 781 | % | ||||
| % of total net revenue | 1 | % | — | % | ||||||
| % of total gross profit | 2 | % | — | % | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | $6,616,424 | $4,258,711 | $ | 2,357,713 | 55 | % |
Product development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased by $751.8 million, or 54%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, due primarily to the following:
•an increase of $560.3 million in personnel-related costs primarily due to an increase in headcount among our engineering, data science, and design teams, as we continue to improve and diversify our products. The increase was additionally driven by employees added from the acquisition of Afterpay in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in product development personnel-related costs includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $255.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022; and
•an increase of $179.4 million in software and data center costs, consulting, and certain Cash App crypto networks operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2022 as a result of increased capacity needs and expansion of our cloud-based services.
Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased by $440.8 million, or 27%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to the following:
•an increase of $168.4 million in sales and marketing personnel-related costs to enable growth initiatives, including an increase in share-based compensation expense of $48.2 million;
•an increase of $101.0 million in Cash App peer-to-peer processing costs, related peer-to-peer transaction losses, and card issuance costs as a result of increased volumes of activity with our Cash App peer-to-peer service and card issuance; and
•an increase in sales and marketing expenses due to the acquisition of Afterpay in the first quarter of 2022.
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General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased by $704.0 million, or 72%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to the following:
•an increase of $482.6 million in general and administrative personnel-related costs, mainly as a result of additions to our customer support, human resources, finance, and legal personnel as we continue to add resources and skills to support our long-term growth. The increase was also a result of employees added from the acquisition of Afterpay in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in personnel-related costs includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $157.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022;
•acquisition related integration and other expenses related to Afterpay of $67.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as a $66.3 million one-time charge related to the acceleration of various share-based arrangements associated with the Afterpay acquisition during the three months ended March 31, 2022, which was in addition to ongoing share-based compensation expense for Afterpay employees; and
•an increase in software, subscription costs and other professional fees, and other administrative expenses.
Transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased by $362.7 million, or 193%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to the following:
•an increase in the allowance for credit losses related to consumer receivables of $197.6 million from the date of the acquisition of Afterpay through December 31, 2022;
•an increase in transaction losses compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 of $87.0 million, primarily due to growth in Square GPV; and
•an increase in loan losses compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 of $78.1 million, primarily due to increased loan volumes.
We recorded impairment charges on our investment in bitcoin of $46.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the observed market price of bitcoin decreasing below the carrying value of our investment during the period. As of December 31, 2022, the cumulative impairment charges to date were $117.7 million and the fair value of our investment in bitcoin was $132.7 million based on observable market prices, which was $30.4 million in excess of the carrying value of $102.3 million after cumulative impairment charges. Under the current accounting guidance, any unrealized gains on our investment in bitcoin will only be recognized in the financial statements when realized upon the sale of such bitcoin investment.
Amortization of customer and other acquired intangible assets increased $123.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to increased amortization expense of $121.8 million as a result of the intangible assets from the Afterpay acquisition. Refer to Note 11, Acquired Intangible Assets within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
Interest Expense, net, and Other Expense (Income), net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | $ | 36,228 | $ | 33,124 | $ | 3,104 | 9 | % | ||||||
| Other income, net | (95,443) | (29,474) | (65,969) | NM (i) |
(i) Not meaningful ("NM")
Interest expense, net, for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $3.1 million, or 9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to interest expense related to our 2026 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes, which were issued in May 2021. Refer to Note 15, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
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Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily comprised of unrealized gains of $96.1 million arising from the revaluation of certain equity investments. Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily comprised of a $44.4 million mark to market net gain of our equity investment in DoorDash, arising from the revaluation of this investment. We completed the sale of our investment in DoorDash in June 2021, and as a result this investment did not impact our results in subsequent periods.
Segment Results
The Company has two reportable segments, Square and Cash App. The results of Afterpay have been equally allocated to the Square and Cash App segments as management has determined that our BNPL platform will contribute equally to both the Square and Cash App platforms. Refer to Note 21, Segment and Geographical Information within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
Square Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 6,699,830 | $ | 5,193,348 | $ | 1,506,482 | 29 | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 3,698,852 | 2,876,677 | 822,175 | 29 | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 3,000,978 | $ | 2,316,671 | $ | 684,307 | 30 | % |
Segment Net Revenue
Net revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $1.5 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to:
•growth in Square GPV and continued improvements in both card-present volumes and growth in higher-priced card-not-present transactions;
•an increase in subscription and services-based revenue, which was primarily due to the growth in seller banking products, including the increased origination volumes of Square Loans, as well as software subscriptions; and
•revenue generated from our BNPL platform following the acquisition of Afterpay.
Segment Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $822.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase in Square GPV, as well as an increase in credit card transactions that have a higher cost per transaction than debit card transactions.
Cash App Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands, except for percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Segment net revenue | $ | 10,626,111 | $ | 12,315,499 | $ | (1,689,388) | (14) | % | ||||||
| Segment cost of revenue | 7,675,144 | 10,244,652 | (2,569,508) | (25) | % | |||||||||
| Segment gross profit | $ | 2,950,967 | $ | 2,070,847 | $ | 880,120 | 43 | % |
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Segment Net Revenue
Net revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $1.7 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The primary driver was a decrease in bitcoin revenue, partially offset by growth in Cash App Instant Deposit, Cash App Card, and peer-to-peer transactions received by Cash App Business accounts. The decrease in bitcoin revenue was driven by a decline in the market price of bitcoin as compared to prior year. While bitcoin revenue contributed 67% and 81% of Cash App net revenue in 2022 and 2021, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 5% and 11% of Cash App gross profit in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Excluding bitcoin revenue, Cash App net revenue increased $1.2 billion, or 53%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to growth in the number of active Cash App accounts, an increase in transaction fees related to Cash App Card and Instant Deposit, and revenue generated from our BNPL platform following the acquisition of Afterpay.
Segment Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $2.6 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2021. The primary driver for the decrease was a decline in bitcoin revenue as well as the associated costs of such bitcoin revenue, as discussed above. Excluding bitcoin cost of revenue, Cash App cost of revenue increased $268.8 million, or 60%, due to the growth in Cash App Card, Cash App Instant Deposit, and Cash for Business.
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Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We collect and analyze operating and financial data to evaluate the health of our business, allocate our resources, and assess our performance. In addition to total net revenue, net income (loss), and other results under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the following table sets forth key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures we use to evaluate our business. We believe these metrics and measures are useful to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our business, and to facilitate comparisons of our performance to that of other payment solution providers.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
| Gross Payment Volume (GPV) (in millions) | $ | 203,536 | $ | 167,720 | $ | 112,295 | $ | 106,239 | $ | 84,654 | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) | $ | 990,964 | $ | 1,013,657 | $ | 474,071 | $ | 416,853 | $ | 256,523 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.46 | $ | 0.72 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.28 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.40 |
Gross Payment Volume ("GPV")
GPV includes Square GPV and Cash App Business GPV. Square GPV is defined as the total dollar amount of all card payments processed by sellers using Square, net of refunds, and ACH transfers. Cash App Business GPV is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts, Cash App Pay transactions, and peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. GPV does not include transactions from our BNPL platform because GPV is related only to transaction-based revenue and not to subscription and services-based revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share ("Adjusted EPS")
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that represent our net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share, adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below. We have included these non-GAAP financial measures in this Form 10-K because they are key measures used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions, including those relating to operating expenses and the allocation of internal resources. Accordingly, we believe these measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. In addition, they provide useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business, as they remove the effect of certain non-cash items and certain variable charges that do not vary with our operations.
•We believe it is useful to exclude certain non-cash charges, such as amortization of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses, from our non-GAAP financial measures because the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations.
•In connection with the issuance of our convertible senior notes (as described in Note 15, Indebtedness within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements), prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity's Own Equity ("ASU 2020-06") on January 1, 2021, we were required to recognize non-cash interest expense related to amortization of debt discount and issuance costs. Subsequent to adoption, we only recognize non-cash interest expense related to amortization of debt issuance costs on convertible notes and unsecured notes. We believe that excluding this expense from our non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because such incremental non-cash interest expense does not represent a current or future cash outflow for the Company and is therefore not indicative of our continuing operations or meaningful when comparing current results to past results. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted Adjusted EPS we add back cash interest expense on convertible notes, as if converted at the beginning of the period, if the impact is dilutive.
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•We exclude the following from non-GAAP financial measures because we do not believe that these items are reflective of our ongoing business operations: gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment; gain or loss on revaluation of equity investments; bitcoin impairment losses on our investment in bitcoin, as applicable; and prior to the adoption of ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021, gain or loss on debt extinguishment related to the conversion of convertible notes, as applicable.
•To aid in comparability of our results across periods and with peer companies that may not have similar expenses, we also exclude certain acquisition related and integration costs associated with business combinations, and various other costs that are not normal operating expenses. Acquisition related costs include amounts paid to redeem acquirees’ unvested share-based compensation awards, and legal, accounting, valuation, and due diligence costs. Integration costs include advisory and other professional services or consulting fees necessary to integrate acquired businesses. Other costs that are not reflective of our core business operating expenses may include contingent losses, certain litigation and regulatory charges. We also add back the impact of the acquired deferred revenue and deferred cost adjustment, which was written down to fair value in purchase accounting.
In addition to the items above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure also excludes depreciation and amortization, other cash interest income and expense, and other income and expense.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2022, we have included the tax impact of the non-GAAP adjustments in determining Adjusted EPS. We determine the adjusted provision (benefit) for income taxes by calculating the estimated annual effective tax rate based on adjusted pre-tax income and applying it to Adjusted Net Income before income taxes. The prior period Adjusted EPS presentation has also been revised to conform with our new calculation and presentation.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, should be considered as supplemental in nature, and are not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the following:
•share-based compensation expense has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy;
•the intangible assets being amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and the non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or other capital commitments; and
•non-GAAP measures do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs.
In addition to the limitations above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure does not reflect the effect of depreciation and amortization expense and related cash capital requirements, income taxes that may represent a reduction in cash available to us, and the effect of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, which is included in other income and expense.
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate the non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, you should consider the non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss) and our other financial results presented in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | (540,747) | $ | 166,284 | $ | 213,105 | $ | 375,446 | $ | (38,453) | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (12,258) | (7,458) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (553,005) | 158,826 | 213,105 | 375,446 | (38,453) | |||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,069,289 | 608,042 | 397,500 | 297,863 | 216,881 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 340,523 | 134,756 | 84,212 | 75,598 | 60,961 | |||||||||||||
| Acquisition related, integration, and other costs | 157,264 | 35,474 | 7,482 | 9,739 | 4,708 | |||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 36,228 | 33,124 | 56,943 | 21,516 | 17,982 | |||||||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | (95,443) | (29,474) | (291,725) | 273 | (18,469) | |||||||||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | 46,571 | 71,126 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | (12,312) | (1,364) | 2,862 | 2,767 | 2,326 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment | 1,619 | 2,633 | 2,570 | 1,008 | (224) | |||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of asset group | — | — | — | (373,445) | — | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue adjustment | 382 | 744 | 1,497 | 7,457 | 12,853 | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred costs adjustment | (152) | (230) | (375) | (1,369) | (2,042) | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 990,964 | $ | 1,013,657 | $ | 474,071 | $ | 416,853 | $ | 256,523 |
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | (540,747) | $ | 166,284 | $ | 213,105 | $ | 375,446 | $ | (38,453) | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (12,258) | (7,458) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (553,005) | $ | 158,826 | $ | 213,105 | $ | 375,446 | $ | (38,453) | ||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 1,069,289 | 608,042 | 397,500 | 297,863 | 216,881 | |||||||||||||
| Acquisition related, integration, and other costs | 157,264 | 35,474 | 7,482 | 9,739 | 4,708 | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 208,952 | 40,522 | 19,239 | 15,000 | 13,103 | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs | 15,162 | 9,822 | 67,979 | 39,139 | 32,855 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on revaluation of equity investments | (73,457) | (35,493) | (295,297) | 12,326 | (20,342) | |||||||||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | 46,571 | 71,126 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt | — | — | 6,651 | — | 5,028 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment | 1,619 | 2,633 | 2,570 | 1,008 | (224) | |||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of asset group | — | — | — | (373,445) | — | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue adjustment | 382 | 744 | 1,497 | 7,457 | 12,853 | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred cost adjustment | (152) | (230) | (375) | (1,369) | (2,042) | |||||||||||||
| Tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments | (264,523) | (222,104) | (102,383) | (85,372) | (34,371) | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - basic | $ | 608,102 | $ | 669,362 | $ | 317,968 | $ | 297,792 | $ | 189,996 | ||||||||
| Cash interest expense on convertible notes | 5,014 | 6,099 | 6,078 | 5,108 | 1,292 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - diluted | $ | 613,116 | $ | 675,461 | $ | 324,046 | $ | 302,900 | $ | 191,288 | ||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 578,949 | 458,432 | 443,126 | 424,999 | 405,731 | |||||||||||||
| Diluted | 615,034 | 525,725 | 507,229 | 486,381 | 478,895 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.46 | $ | 0.72 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.28 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.40 |
Diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is computed by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of all potential shares of common stock. In periods when we reported an Adjusted Net Loss, diluted Adjusted Net Income Per Share is the same as basic Adjusted Net Income Per Share because the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments to our provision (benefit) for income taxes (in thousands, except effective tax rate):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes, as reported | $ | (12,312) | $ | (1,364) | $ | 2,862 | $ | 2,767 | $ | 2,326 | ||||||||
| Tax effect of non-GAAP net income adjustments | 264,523 | 222,104 | 102,383 | 85,372 | 34,371 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted provision for income taxes, non-GAAP | $ | 252,211 | $ | 220,740 | $ | 105,245 | $ | 88,139 | $ | 36,697 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP effective tax rate | 29% | 25% | 25% | 23% | 16% |
We determined the adjusted provision for income taxes by calculating the estimated annual effective tax rate based on adjusted pre-tax income and applying it to Adjusted Net Income before income taxes.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $7.5 billion in available funds, including an undrawn amount of $600.0 million available under our revolving credit facility. Additionally, we had $389.4 million available under our warehouse funding facilities. We intend to continue focusing on our long-term business initiatives and believe that our available funds are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all covenants associated with our revolving credit facility and senior notes. None of our warehouse funding facilities contain financial covenants.
The following table summarizes our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, customer funds, and investments in marketable debt securities (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,544,202 | $ | 4,443,669 | ||
| Short-term restricted cash | 639,780 | 18,778 | ||||
| Long-term restricted cash | 71,600 | 71,702 | ||||
| Customer funds cash and cash equivalents | 3,180,324 | 2,440,941 | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and customer funds | 8,435,906 | 6,975,090 | ||||
| Investments in short-term debt securities | 1,081,851 | 869,283 | ||||
| Investments in long-term debt securities | 573,429 | 1,526,430 | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, customer funds, and investments in marketable debt securities | $ | 10,091,186 | $ | 9,370,803 |
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. As of December 31, 2022, we had $10.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, customer funds cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. Customer funds cash and cash equivalents are separate from the Company's corporate funds and are not used for any corporate purposes. These funds are not used for Company liquidity, but rather to meet the obligations set aside for customers. Investments in marketable debt securities were held primarily in cash deposits, money market funds, reverse repurchase agreements, U.S. government and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate bonds. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale. Excluding customer funds, our total liquidity as of December 31, 2022 was $6.9 billion.
As of December 31, 2022, we have purchased a cumulative $220.0 million in bitcoin for investment purposes. We believe cryptocurrency is an instrument of economic empowerment that aligns with our corporate purpose. We expect to hold these investments for the long term but will continue to reassess our investment in bitcoin relative to our balance sheet. As bitcoin is considered an indefinite-lived intangible asset, under the accounting policy for such assets, we are required to recognize any decreases in market prices below carrying value as an impairment charge, with any mark up in value or reversal of impairment prohibited if the market price of bitcoin subsequently increases. We recorded impairment charges of $46.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the observed market price of bitcoin decreasing below the carrying value during the period. As of December 31, 2022, the fair value of the investment in bitcoin was $132.7 million based on observable market prices, which is $30.4 million in excess of our carrying value of $102.3 million after cumulative impairment charges.
In September 2020, we announced our intent to invest $100.0 million in supporting underserved communities, particularly, racial and ethnic minority groups who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This initiative further deepens our commitment toward economic empowerment to help broaden such communities' access to financial services. As of December 31, 2022, we have invested $32.0 million in aggregate towards this initiative, of which $10.1 million and $21.5 million were invested in the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our principal commitments consist of convertible notes, senior notes, revolving credit facility, warehouse funding facilities, operating leases, and purchase commitments. Refer to Note 15, Indebtedness and Note 20, Commitments and Contingencies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on these commitments.
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Senior Notes and Convertible Notes
As of December 31, 2022, we held $4.6 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt, comprised of $460.6 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 15, 2023 ("2023 Convertible Notes"), $1.0 billion in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on March 1, 2025 ("2025 Convertible Notes"), $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 1, 2026 ("2026 Convertible Notes"), and $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on November 1, 2027 ("2027 Convertible Notes," and together with the 2023 Convertible Notes, 2025 Convertible Notes, and 2026 Convertible Notes, the “Convertible Notes”). Additionally, on May 20, 2021, we issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2026 ("2026 Senior Notes") and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2031 ("2031 Senior Notes" and, together with the 2026 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Convertible Notes, the “Notes”). The 2023 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.50% payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, the 2025 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.125% payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, the 2026 Convertible Notes bear no interest, and the 2027 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.25% payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. These Convertible Notes can be converted or repurchased prior to maturity if certain conditions are met. The 2026 Senior Notes bear interest a rate of 2.75% payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1, while the 2031 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.50% payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year. These Senior Notes can be redeemed or repurchased prior to maturity if certain conditions are met.
On January 31, 2022, we closed the acquisition of Afterpay and assumed Afterpay's outstanding convertible notes of $1.1 billion, which we redeemed in cash on March 4, 2022 at face value. Refer to Note 9, Acquisitions within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Revolving Credit Facility
We have entered into a revolving credit agreement with certain lenders, as subsequently amended, which provides a $500.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2020 Credit Facility") maturing in May 2024. On February 23, 2022, the Company entered into a sixth amendment to the Credit Agreement to, among other things, provide for a new tranche of unsecured revolving loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of up to $100.0 million (the "Tranche B Loans"). Loans under the 2020 Credit Facility, excluding the Tranche B Loans, bear interest at our option of (i) a base rate based on the highest of the prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and the adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.00%, in each case, plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% or (ii) an adjusted LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%. The margin is determined based on our total net leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement. The Tranche B Loans bear interest at the Company's option of (i) an annual rate based on the forward-looking term rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("Term SOFR") or (ii) a base rate. Tranche B Loans based on Term SOFR shall bear interest at a rate equal to Term SOFR plus a margin of between 1.25% and 1.75%, depending on the Company's total net leverage ratio. Tranche B Loans based on the base rate shall bear interest at a rate based on the highest of the prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and Term SOFR with a tenor of one-month plus 1.00%, in each case, plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75%, depending on the Company's total net leverage ratio. We are obligated to pay other customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type including an unused commitment fee of 0.15%. To date, no funds have been drawn and no letters of credit have been issued under the 2020 Credit Facility.
Warehouse Funding Facilities
Following the acquisition of Afterpay, we assumed Afterpay's existing warehouse funding facilities ("Warehouse Facilities") with an aggregate commitment amount of $1.7 billion on a revolving basis, of which $1.3 billion was drawn and $0.4 billion remained available as of December 31, 2022. The Warehouse Facilities have been arranged utilizing wholly-owned and consolidated entities formed for the sole purpose of financing the origination of consumer receivables to partly fund our BNPL platform. Borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities are secured against the respective consumer receivables.
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Cash, Restricted Cash, and Working Capital
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, investment in marketable debt securities, and availability under our line of credit will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, including any expenditures related to strategic transactions and investment commitments that we may from time to time enter into, and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. From time to time, we have raised capital by issuing equity, equity-linked, or debt securities such as our convertible notes and senior notes; and we may do so in the future, however, such funding may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
When we were last rated, in the second half of 2022, we received a non-investment grade rating by S&P Global Ratings (BB), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (BB), and Moody's Corporation (Ba2). We expect that these credit rating agencies will continue to monitor our performance, including our capital structure and results of operations. Our liquidity, access to capital, and borrowing costs could be adversely impacted by declines in our credit rating.
We have entered into various non-cancelable operating leases for certain offices with contractual lease periods expiring between 2022 and 2034. We recognized total rental expenses under operating leases of $93.6 million, $80.3 million, and $75.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, we had non-cancelable purchase obligations related to cloud computing infrastructure of $1.3 billion. We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements during the periods presented.
Short-term restricted cash of $639.8 million as of December 31, 2022 primarily includes cash held by the wholly-owned consolidated entities used in the Warehouse Facilities funding arrangements, that will be used to pay the borrowings under the Warehouse Facilities or will be distributed to us. It also includes pledged cash deposits in accounts at the financial institutions that process our sellers' payment transactions and collateral pursuant to various agreements with banks relating to our products. We use restricted cash to secure letters of credit with the related financial institutions to provide collateral for cash flow timing differences in the processing of payments. We have recorded these amounts as current assets on our consolidated balance sheet given the short-term nature of these cash flow timing differences and that there is no minimum time frame during which the cash must remain restricted.
Long-term restricted cash of $71.6 million as of December 31, 2022 is primarily related to cash held as collateral as required by the FDIC for Square Financial Services. We have recorded these amounts as non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheet as the requirement by the FDIC specifies a time frame of 12 months or longer during which the cash must remain restricted.
We experience significant day-to-day fluctuations in our cash and cash equivalents due to fluctuations in settlements receivable, and customers payable, and hence working capital. These fluctuations are primarily due to:
•Timing of period end. For periods that end on a weekend or a bank holiday, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable balances typically will be higher than for periods ending on a weekday, as we settle to our sellers for payment processing activity on business days; and
•Fluctuations in daily GPV. When daily GPV increases, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable amounts increase. Typically our settlements receivable and customers payable balances at period end represent one to four days of receivables and disbursements to be made in the subsequent period. Customers payable, excluding amounts attributable to Cash App stored funds, and settlements receivable balances typically move in tandem, as pay-out and pay-in largely occur on the same business day. However, customers payable balances will be greater in amount than settlements receivable balances due to the fact that a subset of funds are held due to unlinked bank accounts, risk holds, and chargebacks. Also customer funds obligations, which are included in customers payable, may cause customers payable to trend differently than settlements receivable. Holidays and day-of-week may also cause significant volatility in daily GPV amounts.
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Safeguarding Obligation Liability and Safeguarding Asset Related to Bitcoin Held for Other Parties
As detailed in Note 14, Bitcoin Held for Other Parties within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, upon the adoption of SAB 121, we recorded a safeguarding obligation liability and a corresponding safeguarding asset related to the bitcoin held for other parties. As of December 31, 2022, the safeguarding obligation liability related to bitcoin held for other parties was $428.2 million. We have taken steps to mitigate the potential risk of loss for the bitcoin held for other parties, including holding insurance coverage specifically for certain bitcoin incidents and using secure cold storage to store materially all of the bitcoin held for other parties. SAB 121 also asks us to consider the legal ownership of the bitcoin held for other parties, including whether the bitcoin held for other parties would be available to satisfy general creditor claims in the event of Block’s bankruptcy. The legal rights of people with respect to crypto-assets held on their behalf by a custodian, such as us, upon the custodian’s bankruptcy have not yet been settled by courts and are highly fact dependent. Our contractual arrangements state that our customers and trading partners retain legal ownership of the bitcoin custodied by us on their behalf; they have the right to sell, pledge, or transfer the bitcoin; and they also benefit from the rewards and bear the risks associated with the ownership, including as a result of any bitcoin price fluctuations. We do not use any of the bitcoin held for other parties as collateral for our loans or any other financing arrangements, nor do we lend or pledge bitcoin held for others to any third parties. We have been monitoring and will continue to actively monitor legal and regulatory developments and may consider further steps, as appropriate, to support this contractual position so that in the event of Block’s bankruptcy, the bitcoin custodied by us should not be deemed to be part of Block's bankruptcy estate. We do not expect potential future cash flows associated with the bitcoin safeguarding obligation liability.
Cash Flow Activities
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 175,903 | $ | 847,830 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 1,225,696 | (1,310,879) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 97,580 | 2,652,034 | ||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents | (38,363) | (7,066) | ||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and customer funds | $ | 1,460,816 | $ | 2,181,919 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by operating activities was $175.9 million, primarily due to net income of $553.0 million, adjusted for the add back of non-cash expenses of $1.4 billion consisting primarily of share-based compensation; transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses; depreciation and amortization; non-cash interest; and bitcoin impairment losses. This was offset by a net outflow from amortization of discounts and premiums and other non-cash adjustments of $592.5 million and changes in other assets and liabilities of $674.4 million due to timing of period end.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by operating activities was $847.8 million, primarily due to net income of $158.8 million, adjusted for the add back of non-cash expenses of $1.1 billion consisting primarily of share-based compensation, transaction and loan losses, depreciation and amortization, non-cash interest, bitcoin impairment losses and other expenses. This was offset by a net outflow from changes in other assets and liabilities of $325.2 million due to timing of period end, as well as PPP loans facilitated, less loans sold, of $56.0 million.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities primarily relate to business acquisitions, consumer receivables, capital expenditures to support our growth, and investments in marketable debt securities.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by investing activities was $1.2 billion, primarily due to the net proceeds from investments of marketable securities, including investments from customer funds, of $1.1 billion. Additional inflows of cash were as a result of business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, of $539.5 million. These were partially offset by the purchase of property and equipment of $170.8 million, net consumer receivable originations of $169.4 million, and purchases of other investments of $56.7 million.
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For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in investing activities was $1.3 billion, primarily due to the net proceeds from investments of marketable securities, including investments from customer funds, of $1.2 billion. Additional uses of cash were as a result of business acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $164.0 million, the purchase of bitcoin investments of $170.0 million, the purchase of property and equipment of $134.3 million, and purchases of other investments of $48.5 million. These were partially offset by proceeds from sales of equity investments of $420.6 million.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by financing activities was $97.6 million, primarily as a result of net proceeds from warehouse facilities borrowings of $1.2 billion, a change in customer funds of $349.3 million, as well as proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $81.8 million. These were offset by the payment to redeem convertible notes assumed upon the acquisition of Afterpay of $1.1 billion and repayments of the PPPLF advances of $480.7 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by financing activities was $2.7 billion, primarily as a result of $2.0 billion in net proceeds from the 2031 Senior Notes and 2026 Senior Notes offerings, proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $126.7 million, offset by payments for employee tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units of $323.0 million.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, anticipated future trends, and other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because these accounting policies require significant judgment, our actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
We believe accounting policies and the assumptions and estimates associated with transaction losses and business combinations could potentially have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, and therefore are critical accounting policies and estimates.
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Business Combinations
As a result of the acquisitions of TIDAL, completed in the second quarter of 2021, and Afterpay, completed on January 31, 2022, we consider accounting for business combinations under ASC 805, Business Combinations, to also be a critical accounting policy and estimate as it requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, including the valuation of intangible assets acquired, determination of fair values of liabilities assumed including pre-acquisition contingencies and valuation of contingent consideration, where applicable. Although we believe that the assumptions and estimates we have made have been reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results. The carrying value of our acquired intangible assets as of December 31, 2022 was $2.0 billion. Refer to Note 9, Acquisitions and Note 11, Acquired Intangible Assets within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Accrued Transaction Losses
We are exposed to credit losses related to transactions processed by sellers that are subsequently subject to chargebacks when we are unable to collect from the sellers primarily due to insolvency, disputes between a seller and their customer, or due to fraudulent transactions. Generally, we estimate the potential loss rates based on historical experience that is continuously adjusted for new information and incorporates, where applicable, reasonable and supportable forecasts about future expectations. We also consider other relevant market data in developing such estimates and assumptions. Accrued transaction losses also include estimated losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash for Business, and Cash App Card. As of December 31, 2022, we had accrued $64.5 million related to transaction losses. Additions to the reserve are reflected in current operating results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. These amounts are classified within transaction, loan, and consumer receivable losses on the consolidated statements of operations, except for the amounts associated with the peer-to-peer service offered to Cash App customers for free that are classified within sales and marketing expenses. Refer to Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 12, Other Consolidated Balance Sheet Components (Current) within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Allowance for Credit Losses Related to Consumer Receivables
We are exposed to credit losses on our consumer receivables portfolio. We estimate the expected credit losses in the outstanding portfolio of consumer receivables using both quantitative and qualitative methods that analyze portfolio performance, uses judgment regarding the quantitative components of the reserve, and considers all available information relevant to assessing collectibility. As of December 31, 2022, we had accrued $151.3 million related to allowance for credit losses. Refer to Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 6, Consumer Receivables, net within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” described in Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001628280-22-003825.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This management's discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations, key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, and liquidity and capital resources of Block, Inc. on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020. The comparison of the fiscal 2020 results with the fiscal 2019 results that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K can be found in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis Results of Operations" section in the Company's fiscal 2020 Annual Report on Part II, Item 7 of Form 10-K, filed on February 23, 2021.
The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity, and capital resources; our plans, estimates, beliefs, and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties; and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements.
Overview
On December 1, 2021, we changed our name from Square to Block. Block is the name for the company as a corporate entity. We started Block with the Square ecosystem in February 2009 to enable businesses (sellers) to accept card payments, an important capability that was previously inaccessible to many businesses. However, sellers need many solutions to thrive, and we have expanded to provide them additional products and services and to give them access to a cohesive ecosystem of tools to help them manage and grow their businesses. Similarly, with Cash App, we have built an ecosystem of financial services to help individuals manage their money. We also added TIDAL, and TBD as businesses to contribute to our purpose of economic empowerment. TBD, a bitcoin-focused business was established to build an open developer platform with the goal of making it easy to create non-custodial, permissionless, and decentralized financial services.
Our Square ecosystem is a cohesive commerce ecosystem that helps sellers start, run and grow their businesses, and consists of over 30 distinct software, hardware, and financial services products. We monetize the majority of these products through a combination of transaction, subscription, and service fees. Our suite of cloud-based software solutions are integrated to create a seamless experience and enable a holistic view of sales, customers, employees, and locations. With our offerings, a seller can accept payments in person via swipe, dip, or tap of a card, or online via Square Invoices, Square Virtual Terminal, or the seller’s website. We also provide hardware to facilitate commerce for sellers, which includes magstripe readers, contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Our Square ecosystem includes Square Banking launched in July 2021 for our U.S. sellers, which consists of a suite of products including Square Savings, Square Checking, and Square Loans (formerly known as Square Capital). Square Checking is offered through a partner bank, and Square Savings and Square Loans are offered through our wholly-owned subsidiary Square Financial Services, Inc. ("Square Financial Services"). The industrial loan company charter for Square Financial Services was approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") on March 1, 2021. Square Financial Services offers banking services including certain loan and deposit products. In the second quarter of 2021, we began offering Square Loans in Australia. Square Savings allows sellers to automatically set aside funds from daily sales into savings accounts that earn interest. Square Checking provides sellers with an FDIC insured account allowing them instant access to their sales and the ability to use those funds for business expenses using their Square Debit Card, withdraw from an ATM, transfer via ACH, or paying employees via Square Payroll. Square Loans offers sellers access to business loans based on the seller's payment processing history. We recognize revenue upon the sale of the loans to third-party investors or over time as the sellers pay down the outstanding amounts for the loans that we hold as available for sale or for investment. We have grown rapidly to serve millions of sellers that represent a diverse set of industries (including services, food-related business, and retail businesses) and sizes, ranging from a single vendor at a farmers’ market to multi-location businesses. Square sellers also span geographies, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Spain.
Our Cash App ecosystem provides financial tools for individuals to store, send, receive, spend and invest money. With Cash App, customers can fund their account with a bank account or debit card, send and receive peer-to-peer payments, add physical cash at participating retailers, deposit mobile checks, and receive direct deposit payments. Customers can make
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purchases with their Cash Card, a Visa prepaid card that is linked to the balance stored in Cash App. Additionally, customers can use Cash App Pay, a checkout option which allows customers to pay using their Cash App account. With Cash Boost, customers receive instant discounts when they make Cash Card purchases at designated merchants. Customers can also use their stored funds to buy and sell bitcoin and equity investments within Cash App. The Cash App ecosystem also includes a tax filing product for individuals, providing a seamless, mobile-first solution for individuals to file their taxes for free.
On January 31, 2022 (February 1, 2022 Australian Eastern Daylight Time), we completed the acquisition of Afterpay Limited (“Afterpay”), a global BNPL platform. The purchase consideration was comprised of 113,387,895 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock with an aggregate fair value of $13.9 billion based on the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the acquisition date. In addition, under the terms of acquisition agreement, the Company issued replacement equity awards for outstanding equity awards to Afterpay employees. Refer to Note 8, Acquisitions, of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
On April 30, 2021, we completed the acquisition of a majority ownership interest in TIDAL as detailed in Note 8, Acquisitions, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. TIDAL is a global music and entertainment platform that brings fans and artists together through unique music, content, and experiences. The acquisition extends our purpose of economic empowerment to musicians.
On May 20, 2021, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion of senior unsecured notes comprised of $1.0 billion of senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2026 ("2026 Senior Notes") with a 2.75% interest rate, and $1.0 billion of senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2031 ("2031 Senior Notes") with a 3.50% interest rate. The 2026 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes will mature on each of its respective dates, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. Interest on the 2026 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes will be payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year beginning on December 1, 2021. We intend to use the net proceeds from our 2026 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes offerings for general corporate purposes, which may include potential acquisitions and strategic transactions, capital expenditures, investments and working capital.
We participated in two rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"). These PPP loans are guaranteed by the U.S. government and are eligible for forgiveness if the borrowers meet certain criteria. As of December 31, 2021, we had facilitated the issuance of $1.5 billion of loans in the aggregate under the program, of which we had sold $399.1 million to an investor. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $725.9 million in the aggregate of PPP loans had been forgiven by the SBA, of which, $679.6 million was forgiven in the year ended December 31, 2021. We approved and funded the last remaining PPP applications on May 21, 2021 upon exhaustion of the funds in the program.
To fund some of our PPP loans, we entered into Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility agreements with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion. Borrowings under the facility accrue interest at a rate of 0.35% and advances are collateralized by the same value of the loans originated under the PPP. The maturity date of any PPPLF advance is the maturity date of the PPP loan pledged to secure the advance, and will be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The advances under the facility are repayable if the associated PPP loans are forgiven, repaid by the customer, or settled by the government guarantee. As of December 31, 2021, $497.5 million of PPPLF advances were outstanding.
Update on the Impact of COVID-19 on Current Trends and Outlook
In 2021, we experienced improvements in our business, despite elevated infection rates across the country due to various COVID-19 variants. These improvements were mainly as a result of varying states of continued economic recovery and re-openings in the majority of U.S. markets. We experienced growth in our Square GPV performance, as in-person activity at sellers continued to increase on a year-over-year basis. Overall, we continued to experience improvements in our business in our international markets, although regional lockdowns in select markets periodically affected in-person activity. Our Cash App business performed well due to increased consumer spending, as we continued to benefit from the strength of a broader macroeconomic recovery, regional re-openings, and government stimulus and relief programs enacted in response to COVID-19.
Although our business results remain positive, the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial results and the broader economic recovery are unknown. The emergence of new and more transmissible variants of COVID-19 has at times led to a resurgence of the virus, particularly in populations with low vaccination rates. Further, the
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impacts of inflation on our business and the broader economy, which may be exacerbated by the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, may also impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Transaction-based revenue. We charge our sellers a transaction fee that is generally calculated based on a percentage of the total transaction amount processed. We also selectively offer custom pricing for certain larger sellers. Transaction-based revenue also includes amounts we charge our Cash App customers for peer-to-peer transactions to business accounts and payments sent from a credit card.
Subscription and services-based revenue. Revenue from Cash App, Square Loans (formerly known as Square Capital), and Instant Transfers for sellers currently comprise the majority of our subscription and services-based revenue. Cash App subscription and services-based revenue is primarily comprised of transaction fees from both Cash App Instant Deposit and Cash Card. Our other subscription and services-based products include website hosting and domain name registration services, Gift Cards, Square Appointments, Customer Engagement, Employee Management, Payroll, Square Checking, and other product offerings.
Instant Deposit is a functionality within the Cash App and our managed payment solutions that enables customers to instantly deposit funds into their bank accounts, while Cash Card offers Cash App customers the ability use their stored funds via a Visa prepaid card that is linked to the balance the customer stores in Cash App. We charge a per transaction fee which we recognize as revenue when customers instantly deposit funds to their bank account, use their Cash Card to make a purchase, or withdraw funds.
Square Loans originates loans to sellers that are generally repaid through withholding a percentage of the collections of the seller's receivables processed by us or a specified monthly amount. In April 2021, we began originating loans in the U.S. through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Square Financial Services. Prior to the launch of Square Financial Services, the loans were generally originated by a bank partner, from whom we purchased the loans to obtain all rights, title, and interests. We also originate loans to the customers of certain sellers which are generally repaid via ACH. For some of the loans, it is our intention to sell the rights, title, and interest to third-party investors for an upfront fee. We are retained by the third-party investors to service the loans and earn a servicing fee for facilitating the repayment of these loans through our payments solutions. Certain loans, for which we have the intention and ability to hold through maturity, are not immediately sold to third-party investors, in which case, interest and fees earned are recognized as revenue using the effective interest method.
TIDAL primarily generates revenue from subscriptions to its customers, and such subscriptions allow access to the song library, video library, and improved sound quality. Customers can subscribe to services directly from the TIDAL website or through the Apple store, for which the Company charges a monthly fee which is recognized ratably as revenue as the service is provided.
Hardware revenue. Hardware revenue includes revenue from sales of contactless and chip readers, Square Stand, Square Register, Square Terminal, and third-party peripherals. Third-party peripherals include cash drawers, receipt printers, and barcode scanners, all of which can be integrated with Square Stand, Square Register, or Square Terminal to provide a comprehensive point-of-sale solution.
Bitcoin revenue. Our Cash App customers have the ability to purchase bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. We recognize revenue when customers purchase bitcoin and it is transferred to the customer's account. We purchase bitcoin from private broker dealers or from Cash App customers and apply a small margin before selling it to our customers. The sale amounts received from our customers are recorded as revenue on a gross basis and the associated bitcoin cost as cost of revenues, as we are the principal in the bitcoin sale transaction. We have determined we are the principal because we control the bitcoin before delivery to the customer, we are primarily responsible for the delivery of the bitcoin to the customer, we are exposed to risks arising from fluctuations of the market price of bitcoin before delivery to the customer, and we have discretion in setting prices charged to the customer. Bitcoin revenue may fluctuate as a result of changes in customer demand or the market price of bitcoin.
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Cost of Revenue and Gross Margin
Transaction-based costs. Transaction-based costs consist primarily of interchange and assessment fees, processing fees, and bank settlement fees paid to third-party payment processors and financial institutions.
Subscription and services-based costs. Subscription and services-based costs consist primarily of costs related to Cash App including Instant Deposit and Cash Card as well as Instant Transfer for sellers.
Hardware costs. Hardware costs consist primarily of product costs associated with contactless and chip readers, Square Terminal, Square Stand, Square Register, and third-party peripherals. Product costs include manufacturing-related overhead and personnel costs, packaging, and fulfillment costs. Hardware is sold primarily as a means to grow our transaction-based revenue and, as a result, generating positive gross margins from hardware sales is not the primary goal of the hardware business.
Bitcoin costs. Bitcoin cost of revenue is comprised of the amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin, which will fluctuate in line with the price of bitcoin in the market. We purchase bitcoin to facilitate customers’ access to bitcoin.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of product development, sales and marketing, general and administrative expenses, transaction and loan losses, and bitcoin impairment losses. For product development and general and administrative expenses, the largest single component is personnel-related expenses, including salaries, commissions and bonuses, employee benefit costs, and share-based compensation. In the case of sales and marketing expenses, a significant portion is related to the Cash App peer-to-peer transactions and Cash Card issuance costs, in addition to paid advertising and personnel-related expenses. Operating expenses also include allocated overhead costs for facilities, human resources, and IT.
Product development. Product development expenses currently represent the largest component of our operating expenses and consist primarily of expenses related to our engineering, data science, and design personnel; fees and supply costs related to maintenance at third-party data center facilities; hardware related development and tooling costs; and fees for software licenses, consulting, legal, and other services that are directly related to growing and maintaining our portfolio of products and services. Additionally, product development expenses include the depreciation of product-related infrastructure and tools, including data center equipment, internally developed software, and computer equipment. We continue to focus our product development efforts on adding new features and apps, and on enhancing the functionality and ease of use of our offerings. Our ability to realize returns on these investments is substantially dependent upon our ability to successfully address current and emerging requirements of sellers, buyers, and customers through the development and introduction of these new products and services.
Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses are aggregated into two main components. The first component consists of traditional advertising costs incurred such as direct sales expense, account management, local and product marketing, retail and e-commerce, partnerships, and communications personnel. The second component of sales and marketing expense consists of costs incurred for services, incentives and other costs that are not directly related to revenue generating transactions that we consider to be marketing costs to encourage the usage of Cash App. These expenses include, but are not limited to, Cash App peer-to-peer processing costs and transaction losses, card issuance costs, customer referral bonuses, and promotional giveaways that are expensed as incurred.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of expenses related to our customer support, finance, legal, risk operations, human resources, and administrative personnel. General and administrative expenses also include costs related to fees paid for professional services, including legal, tax, and accounting services.
Transaction and loan losses. We are exposed to transaction losses due to chargebacks as a result of fraud or uncollectibility. We incur loan losses whenever the amortized cost of loans that have been retained exceeds their fair value.
Transaction losses include chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and the inability to collect on disputes between buyers and sellers over the delivery of goods or services, as well as losses on Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card, Cash for Business, and Cash Card. We base our reserve estimates on prior chargeback history and current period data points indicative of transaction loss. We reflect additions to the reserve in current operating
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results, while realized losses are offset against the reserve. The establishment of appropriate reserves for transaction losses is an inherently uncertain process, and ultimate losses may vary from the current estimates. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new facts become known and events occur that may affect the settlement or recovery of losses.
Loan losses are recorded at the lower of amortized cost or fair value determined on an individual loan basis. To determine the fair value the Company utilizes industry-standard valuation modeling, such as discounted cash flow models, taking into account the estimated timing and amounts of periodic repayments. The Company recognizes a charge whenever the amortized cost of a loan exceeds its fair value, with such charges being reversed for subsequent increases in fair value, but only to the extent that such reversals do not result in the amortized cost of a loan exceeding its fair value.
Bitcoin impairment losses. Bitcoin held as an investment is accounted for as an indefinite lived intangible asset, and thus, is subject to impairment losses if the fair value of bitcoin decreases below the carrying value during the assessed period. Impairment losses cannot be recovered for any subsequent increase in fair value until the sale of the asset.
Interest and Other Income and Expense, net
Interest and other income and expense, net consists primarily of gains or losses arising from marking to market of equity investments, interest expense related to our long-term debt, interest income on our investment in marketable debt securities, and foreign currency-related gains and losses.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes consists primarily of federal, state, local, and foreign tax. Our effective tax rate fluctuates from period to period due to changes in the mix of income and losses in jurisdictions with a wide range of tax rates, the effect of acquisitions, changes resulting from the amount of recorded valuation allowance, permanent differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and local tax laws, certain one-time items, and changes in tax contingencies.
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Results of Operations
Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based revenue | $ | 4,793,146 | $ | 3,294,978 | $ | 1,498,168 | 45 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based revenue | 2,709,731 | 1,539,403 | 1,170,328 | 76 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware revenue | 145,679 | 91,654 | 54,025 | 59 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin revenue | 10,012,647 | 4,571,543 | 5,441,104 | 119 | % | |||||||||
| Total net revenue | $ | 17,661,203 | $ | 9,497,578 | $ | 8,163,625 | 86 | % |
Total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $8.2 billion, or 86%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Bitcoin revenue increased by $5.4 billion, and represented 67% of the increase in total net revenue. Excluding bitcoin revenue, total net revenue increased by $2.7 billion, or 55%, in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Transaction-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $1.5 billion or 45%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase in revenue was in line with the increase in GPV of 49% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to and affected by the following events and factors:
•continued improvements in both card-present volumes as a result of regional re-openings and resumed in-person activity at sellers, as well as growth in card-not-present volume, which are higher-priced transactions;
•increase in consumer spending driven in part by a broader macro economic recovery, regional re-openings and growth in our Square GPV in international markets despite periodic lockdowns in certain markets, as well as U.S. government disbursements related to stimulus programs in place in 2021; and
•growth in Cash App Business GPV which includes Cash for Business and peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card. Cash for Business includes peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts using Cash App.
These factors had varying impacts on GPV growth and may continue to impact our revenues in the future.
Subscription and services-based revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $1.2 billion or 76%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily driven by both Cash App and Square subscription and services products. The increase in Cash App subscription and services-based revenue is primarily due to increased Cash Card usage and Cash App Instant Deposit volumes. Square subscription and services-based revenue increased primarily due to the increased origination volumes of Square Loans, other software subscriptions, and Instant Transfer for sellers. Subscription and services-based revenue also includes revenue generated from music streaming services following the acquisition of TIDAL in the second quarter of 2021.
Hardware revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $54.0 million or 59%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily a result of an overall increase in sales of hardware across many of our product offerings, due in particular to Square Register, Square Terminal, and third party peripherals.
Bitcoin revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $5.4 billion or 119% compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was due to the market price of bitcoin and growth in the number of active bitcoin customers. The amount of bitcoin revenue recognized will fluctuate depending on customer demand as well as changes in the market price of bitcoin. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we saw a significant growth in bitcoin revenue as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. While bitcoin contributed 57% and 48% of the total revenue in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 67% and 85% of the increase in revenues in 2021 and 2020, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 4.9% and 3.5% of the total gross profit in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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Cost of Revenue (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction-based costs | $ | 2,729,442 | $ | 1,916,644 | $ | 812,798 | 42 | % | ||||||
| Subscription and services-based costs | 495,761 | 228,649 | 267,112 | 117 | % | |||||||||
| Hardware costs | 221,185 | 144,342 | 76,843 | 53 | % | |||||||||
| Bitcoin costs | 9,794,992 | 4,474,534 | 5,320,458 | 119 | % | |||||||||
| Total cost of revenue | $ | 13,241,380 | $ | 6,764,169 | $ | 6,477,211 | 96 | % |
Total cost of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $6.5 billion, or 96%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Bitcoin costs of revenue increased by $5.3 billion, and represented 82% of the increase in the total cost of revenue. Excluding bitcoin costs of revenue, total cost of revenue increased by approximately $1.2 billion, or 51%, in the year ended year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Transaction-based costs increased by $812.8 million or 42% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in transaction-based costs was primarily attributable to an increase in GPV of 49% for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in GPV was partially offset by growth in card-present volumes, debit card transactions and an increase in average transaction size, lowering the average cost per transaction. Card-present and debit card transactions are, generally, associated with lower costs per transaction.
Subscription and services-based costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $267.1 million or 117% compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was driven primarily by growth in Cash Card, Instant Deposit activity and costs related to music streaming services following the acquisition of TIDAL in the second quarter of 2021.
Hardware costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $76.8 million or 53%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the same drivers for the increase in hardware revenue discussed above as well as increased costs in the second half of 2021 due to global chip shortages and increased shipping costs.
Bitcoin costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $5.3 billion or 119%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Bitcoin costs of revenue comprises of the total amounts we pay to purchase bitcoin, which will fluctuate in line with bitcoin revenue.
Product Development (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Product development | $ | 1,399,079 | $ | 885,681 | $ | 513,398 | 58 | % | ||||||
| Percentage of total net revenue | 8 | % | 9 | % |
Product development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $513.4 million, or 58%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, due primarily to the following:
•an increase of $376.0 million in personnel costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, related to an increase in headcount among our engineering, data science, and design teams, as we continue to improve and diversify our products. The increase in personnel-related costs includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $157.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021; and
•an increase of $127.5 million in software and data center operating costs, consulting, depreciation and operating expense allocations, and certain Cash App crypto networks operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 as a result of increased capacity needs and expansion of our cloud-based services.
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Sales and Marketing (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 1,617,189 | $ | 1,109,670 | $ | 507,519 | 46 | % | ||||||
| Percentage of total net revenue | 9 | % | 12 | % |
Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $507.5 million, or 46%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to the following:
•an increase in Cash App marketing costs of $272.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Cash App customer acquisition costs increased by $167.1 million, in addition to processing costs and related transaction losses increased by $93.7 million as a result of increased volumes of activity with our Cash App peer-to-peer service and increased card issuance costs. Cash App customer acquisition costs include advertising costs and costs associated with various incentives to customers. We consider the free services such as stock investing, Cash App Tax, and certain Cash Card and peer-to-peer services offered Cash App customers to be marketing initiatives aimed at attracting new customers and encouraging the usage of Cash App;
•an increase of $81.3 million in sales and marketing personnel costs to enable growth initiatives. The increase in personnel related costs includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $20.4 million;
•an increase of $72.5 million in advertising costs for our Square ecosystem services for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily from increased online and television marketing campaigns; and
•an increase in sales and marketing expenses due to the recent acquisition of TIDAL completed in the second quarter of 2021.
General and Administrative (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 983,326 | $ | 579,203 | $ | 404,123 | 70 | % | ||||||
| Percentage of total net revenue | 6 | % | 6 | % |
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $404.1 million, or 70%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to the following:
•an increase of $211.4 million in general and administrative personnel costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, mainly as a result of additions to our customer support, legal, finance and human resource personnel as we continued to add resources and skills to support our long-term growth as our business continues to scale. The increase in personnel related costs includes an increase in share-based compensation expense of $33.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021; and
•the remaining increase was primarily due to an increase in third-party legal and other professional fees, including acquisition-related expenses, software and subscription costs, and other administrative expenses.
Transaction and Loan Losses (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Transaction and loan losses | $ | 187,991 | $ | 177,670 | $ | 10,321 | 6 | % |
Transaction and loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $10.3 million, or 6%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to the following:
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•transaction losses increased by $30.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 due to growth in our Cash App business. The increase in the year ended December 31, 2021 was due to increased transaction volumes associated with Cash Card in the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was offset by lower Square risk loss provisions recorded as businesses recovered as a result of regional re-openings and broader macro economic recovery, reducing the risk of chargebacks related to uncollectibility. Overall, we recorded higher risk loss provisions for our Square business in the prior year due to the expected impact of COVID-19; and
•a decrease of $19.9 million in loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to higher incremental provisions for loan losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic recorded during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Bitcoin Impairment Losses (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | ||||||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | $ | 71,126 | $ | — | $ | 71,126 | NM |
Bitcoin impairment losses of $71.1 million were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2021 due to the market price of bitcoin decreasing below the carrying value of our bitcoin investment during the period. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of our investment in bitcoin was $371.0 million based on observable market prices, which is $222.1 million in excess of the carrying value of our investment of $149.0 million. Any unrealized gains on our bitcoin investment will only be recognized upon the sale of such bitcoin investment.
Interest Expense, Net, and Other Expense (Income), Net (in thousands, except for percentages)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | $ | 33,124 | $ | 56,943 | $ | (23,819) | (42) | % | ||||||
| Other expense (income), net | (29,474) | (291,725) | 262,251 | NM |
Interest expense, net, for the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased by $23.8 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to lower non-cash interest expense related to our convertible notes as a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2020-06 on January 1, 2021. Under ASU No. 2020-06, convertible notes will no longer be separated into a debt and equity component, thereby eliminating the discount associated with the equity component and the interest expense associated with such discount. This was offset in part by increases in cash interest expense related to the issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes and 2026 Senior Notes issued in May 2021. Refer to Note 13, Indebtedness, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Other expense (income), net is primarily driven by the amounts of gains or losses arising from the revaluation of our equity investments, amortization of investments in marketable debt securities, and foreign exchange losses. In December 2020, upon DoorDash's initial public offering, the preferred shares held by the Company converted into common shares of DoorDash. As of December 31, 2020, the Company revalued this investment and recorded a gain of $276.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded a gain on investment in a privately held entity of $19.0 million based on observable prices for similar equity instruments issued by the same entity. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a net gain related to the investment in DoorDash of $44.4 million, partially offset by $14.9 million of investment amortization. In June 2021, we completed the sale of our remaining investment in DoorDash, which will have no further impact on our results in future periods.
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Segment Results
Square Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Net revenue | $ | 5,193,348 | $ | 3,529,192 | $ | 1,664,156 | 47 | % | ||||||
| Cost of revenue | 2,876,677 | 2,021,361 | 855,316 | 42 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,316,671 | $ | 1,507,831 | $ | 808,840 | 54 | % |
Revenue
Revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $1.7 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
The increase was primarily due to the growth in GPV attributable to increased consumer spending driven in part by a broader macro economic recovery, shelter-in-place orders being lifted, regional re-openings and resumed in-person activity at sellers. Additionally, government disbursements related to stimulus programs enacted through 2021 led to an increase in both card-present volumes and higher-priced card-not-present transactions.
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue for the Square segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $855.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to growth in GPV and an increase in both card-present volumes and higher-priced card-not-present transactions, offset by a higher overall percentage of debit card transactions, which have a lower cost per transaction.
Cash App Results
The following tables provide a summary of the revenue and gross profit for our Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
| Net revenue | $ | 12,315,499 | $ | 5,968,386 | $ | 6,347,113 | 106 | % | ||||||
| Cost of revenue | 10,244,652 | 4,742,808 | 5,501,844 | 116 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,070,847 | $ | 1,225,578 | $ | 845,269 | 69 | % |
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Revenue
Revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $6.3 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary drivers were growth in bitcoin revenue, and to a lesser extent, Cash App Instant Deposit, Cash Card, and Cash for Business. Bitcoin revenue increased due to the market price of bitcoin and growth in the number of active bitcoin customers. While bitcoin contributed 57% and 48% of the total revenue in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 67% and 85% of the increase in revenues in 2021 and 2020, respectively, gross profit generated from bitcoin was only 4.9% and 3.5% of the total gross profit in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Excluding bitcoin revenue, Cash App revenue increased $906.0 million or 65% compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 due to the growth in numbers of active Cash App customers, increase in the number of business accounts, broader macroeconomic recovery, and from government stimulus and relief programs in place in 2021. These relief programs provided government aid and unemployment benefits which resulted in an increase in consumer spending and inflows into our Cash App ecosystem. Cash App revenue growth may not be sustained at the same levels in future periods and may be impacted by the enactment of further stimulus relief and benefit programs, as well as the demand and market prices for bitcoin, amongst other factors.
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue for the Cash App segment for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $5.5 billion compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. The primary drivers for the increase were growth in bitcoin revenue and the associated costs of such bitcoin revenue, as discussed above. Excluding bitcoin cost of revenue, Cash App cost of revenue increased $181.4 million or 68% due to the growth in Cash Card, Cash App Instant Deposit, and Cash for Business.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
For a discussion of the 2020 Results of Operations, including a discussion of the financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, refer to Part I, Item 7 of our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2021.
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Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We collect and analyze operating and financial data to evaluate the health of our business, allocate our resources, and assess our performance. In addition to total net revenue, net income (loss), and other results under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the following table sets forth key operating metrics and non-GAAP financial measures we use to evaluate our business. We believe these metrics and measures are useful to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our business, and to facilitate comparisons of our performance to that of other payment solution providers.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except for GPV and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Payment Volume (GPV) (in millions) | $ | 167,720 | $ | 112,295 | $ | 106,239 | $ | 84,654 | $ | 65,343 | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 1,013,657 | $ | 474,071 | $ | 416,853 | $ | 256,523 | $ | 139,009 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.94 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.55 | $ | 0.30 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.71 | $ | 0.84 | $ | 0.80 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.27 |
Gross Payment Volume (GPV)
We define GPV as the total dollar amount of all card payments processed by sellers using Square, net of refunds, and ACH transfers. Additionally, GPV includes Cash App Business GPV, which is comprised of Cash App activity related to peer-to-peer transactions received by business accounts, and peer-to-peer payments sent from a credit card.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Adjusted EPS)
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that represent our net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share, adjusted to eliminate the effect of items as described below. We have included these non-GAAP financial measures in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because they are key measures used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions, including those relating to operating expenses and the allocation of internal resources. Accordingly, we believe these measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. In addition, they provide useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business, as they remove the effect of certain non-cash items and certain variable charges.
•We believe it is useful to exclude certain non-cash charges, such as amortization of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses, from our non-GAAP financial measures because the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations.
•In connection with the issuance of our convertible senior notes (as described in Note 13, Indebtedness, of the notes of the Consolidated Financial Statements), prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2020-06 on January 1, 2021, we were required to recognize non-cash interest expense related to amortization of debt discount and issuance costs. Subsequent to adoption, we only recognize non-cash interest expense related to amortization of debt issuance costs on convertible notes and unsecured notes. We believe that excluding these expenses from our non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because such incremental non-cash interest expense does not represent a current or future cash outflow for the Company and is therefore not indicative of our continuing operations or meaningful when comparing current results to past results. Additionally, for purposes of calculating diluted Adjusted EPS we add back cash interest expense on convertible senior notes, as if converted at the beginning of the period, if the impact is dilutive.
•We exclude gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment, gain or loss on revaluation of equity investments, bitcoin impairment losses, and prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2020-06 on January 1, 2021, gain or loss on debt extinguishment related to the conversion of convertible notes, as applicable, from non-GAAP financial measures because we do not believe that these items are reflective of our ongoing business operations.
•We also exclude certain transaction and integration costs associated with business combinations, and various other costs that are not normal operating expenses. Transaction costs include amounts paid to redeem acquirees’ unvested
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share-based compensation awards, and legal, accounting, valuation and due diligence costs. Integration costs include advisory and other professional services or consulting fees necessary to integrate acquired businesses. Other costs that are not reflective of our core business operating expenses may include contingent losses, litigation and regulatory charges. We also add back the impact of the acquired deferred revenue and deferred cost adjustment, which was written down to fair value in purchase accounting.
In addition to the items above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure also excludes depreciation, other cash interest income and expense, other income and expense and provision or benefit from income taxes, as these items are not components of our core business operations.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, should be considered as supplemental in nature and are not meant as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the following:
•share-based compensation expense has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy;
•the intangible assets being amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and the non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or other capital commitments; and
•non-GAAP measures do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs.
In addition to the limitations above, Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure does not reflect the effect of depreciation expense and related cash capital requirements, income taxes that may represent a reduction in cash available to us, and the effect of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, which is included in other income and expense.
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate the non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, you should consider the non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss) and our other financial results presented in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 166,284 | $ | 213,105 | $ | 375,446 | $ | (38,453) | $ | (62,813) | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (7,458) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 158,826 | 213,105 | 375,446 | (38,453) | (62,813) | |||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 608,042 | 397,500 | 297,863 | 216,881 | 155,836 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 134,756 | 84,212 | 75,598 | 60,961 | 37,279 | |||||||||||||
| Acquisition related, integration and other costs | 35,474 | 7,482 | 9,739 | 4,708 | — | |||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 33,124 | 56,943 | 21,516 | 17,982 | 10,053 | |||||||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | (29,474) | (291,725) | 273 | (18,469) | (1,595) | |||||||||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | 71,126 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | (1,364) | 2,862 | 2,767 | 2,326 | 149 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment | 2,633 | 2,570 | 1,008 | (224) | 100 | |||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of asset group | — | — | (373,445) | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue adjustment | 744 | 1,497 | 7,457 | 12,853 | — | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred costs adjustment | (230) | (375) | (1,369) | (2,042) | — | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 1,013,657 | $ | 474,071 | $ | 416,853 | $ | 256,523 | $ | 139,009 |
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 166,284 | $ | 213,105 | $ | 375,446 | $ | (38,453) | $ | (62,813) | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (7,458) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 158,826 | $ | 213,105 | $ | 375,446 | $ | (38,453) | $ | (62,813) | ||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 608,042 | 397,500 | 297,863 | 216,881 | 155,836 | |||||||||||||
| Acquisition related, integration and other costs | 35,474 | 7,482 | 9,739 | 4,708 | — | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 40,522 | 19,239 | 15,000 | 13,103 | 7,615 | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs | 9,822 | 67,979 | 39,139 | 32,855 | 14,223 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on revaluation of equity investments | (35,493) | (295,297) | 12,326 | (20,342) | — | |||||||||||||
| Bitcoin impairment losses | 71,126 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt | — | 6,651 | — | 5,028 | — | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment | 2,633 | 2,570 | 1,008 | (224) | 100 | |||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of asset group | — | — | (373,445) | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred revenue adjustment | 744 | 1,497 | 7,457 | 12,853 | — | |||||||||||||
| Acquired deferred cost adjustment | (230) | (375) | (1,369) | (2,042) | — | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - basic | $ | 891,466 | $ | 420,351 | $ | 383,164 | $ | 224,367 | $ | 114,961 | ||||||||
| Cash interest expense on convertible senior notes | 6,099 | 6,078 | 5,108 | 1,292 | — | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income - diluted | $ | 897,565 | $ | 426,429 | $ | 388,272 | $ | 225,659 | $ | 114,961 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.94 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.55 | $ | 0.30 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.71 | $ | 0.84 | $ | 0.80 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.27 | ||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Adjusted Net Income Per Share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 458,432 | 443,126 | 424,999 | 405,731 | 379,344 | |||||||||||||
| Diluted | 525,725 | 507,229 | 486,381 | 478,895 | 426,519 |
To calculate the diluted Adjusted EPS we adjust the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the dilutive effect of all potential shares of common stock.
In periods when we recorded an Adjusted Net Loss, the diluted Adjusted EPS is the same as basic Adjusted EPS because the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive given the Adjusted Net Loss position.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We continued to experience improvements in our business as the majority of U.S. markets transitioned to varying states of economic recovery and reopenings. Although our outlook and business results continue to be positive, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in the future is unknown. We continue to evaluate our investment plans and discretionary expenditures and will make adjustments accordingly.
As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately $7.4 billion in available funds, including an undrawn amount of $500.0 million available under our revolving credit facility, as described in Note 13, Indebtedness, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. On February 23, 2022, we entered into an amendment to our revolving credit facility to increase the commitments under the facility to $600 million, as described in Part II, Item 9B, Other Information. We intend to continue focusing on our long-term business initiatives and believe that our available funds are sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. We are carefully monitoring and managing our cash position in light of ongoing conditions and levels of operations. As of December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all financial covenants associated with the 2020 Credit Facility and Senior Notes.
The following table summarizes our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, customer funds and investments in marketable debt securities (in thousands):
Liquidity and Capital Sources
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,443,669 | $ | 3,158,058 | ||
| Short-term restricted cash | 18,778 | 30,279 | ||||
| Long-term restricted cash | 71,702 | 13,526 | ||||
| Customer funds cash and cash equivalents | 2,440,941 | 1,591,308 | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and customer funds | 6,975,090 | 4,793,171 | ||||
| Investments in short-term debt securities | 869,283 | 695,112 | ||||
| Investments in long-term debt securities | 1,526,430 | 463,950 | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, customer funds and investments in marketable debt securities | $ | 9,370,803 | $ | 5,952,233 |
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. As of December 31, 2021, we had $9.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, customer funds cash and cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities. Customer funds cash and cash equivalents are separate from the Company's corporate funds and are not used for any corporate purposes. These funds are not used for Company liquidity, but rather to meet the obligations set aside for customers. Investments in marketable debt securities were held primarily in cash deposits, money market funds, reverse repurchase agreements, U.S. government and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate bonds. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available-for-sale. Excluding customer funds, our total liquidity as of December 31, 2021 was $6.9 billion. From time to time, we have raised capital by issuing equity, equity-linked, or debt securities such as our convertible notes and senior notes.
We purchased $50.0 million and $170.0 million in bitcoin in October 2020 and February 2021, respectively, as we believe cryptocurrency is an instrument of economic empowerment that aligns with our corporate purpose. We expect to hold these investments for the long term but will continue to reassess our investment in bitcoin relative to our balance sheet. As bitcoin is considered an indefinite lived intangible asset, under the accounting policy for such assets we will be required to recognize any decreases in market prices below carrying value as an impairment charge, with any mark up in value prohibited if the market price of bitcoin subsequently increases. We recorded impairment charges of $71.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2021 due to the observed market price of bitcoin decreasing below the carrying value during the period. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of the investment in bitcoin was $371.0 million based on observable market prices which is $222.1 million in excess of the Company's carrying value of $149.0 million.
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In September 2020, we announced our intent to invest $100 million in supporting underserved communities, particularly, racial and ethnic minority groups who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This initiative further deepens our commitment toward economic empowerment to help broaden such communities' access to financial services. As of December 31, 2021, we have invested $21.9 million in aggregate towards this initiative, of which $21.5 million and $0.4 million were invested in the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Our principal commitments consist of convertible senior notes, liquidity facility, revolving credit facility, operating leases, capital leases, and purchase commitments.
As of December 31, 2021, we held $2.6 billion in aggregate principal amount of long-term debt, comprised of $0.5 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding convertible senior notes that mature on March 1, 2022 ("2022 Convertible Notes"), $460.6 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 15, 2023 ("2023 Convertible Notes"), $1.0 billion in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on March 1, 2025 ("2025 Convertible Notes"), $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on May 1, 2026 ("2026 Convertible Notes"), and $575.0 million in aggregate amount of convertible senior notes that mature on November 1, 2027 ("2027 Convertible Notes," and together with the 2022 Convertible Notes, 2023 Convertible Notes, 2025 Convertible Notes, and 2026 Convertible Notes, the “Convertible Notes”). Additionally, on May 20, 2021, we issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2026 ("2026 Senior Notes") and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior unsecured notes that mature on June 1, 2031 ("2031 Senior Notes" and, together with the 2026 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Convertible Notes, the “Notes”). The 2022 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.375% payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, while the 2023 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.50% payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, and the 2025 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.125% payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year. The 2026 Convertible Notes bear no interest, whereas, the 2027 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 0.25% payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. These convertible notes can be converted or repurchased prior to maturity if certain conditions are met. The 2026 Senior Notes bear interest a rate of 2.75% payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1, while the 2031 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.50% payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year. These Senior Notes can be redeemed or repurchased prior to maturity if certain conditions are met.
In June 2020, we entered into the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility ("PPPLF") agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco ("First PPPLF Agreement") to secure additional credit collateralized by PPP loans. The advances under this facility are repayable if the associated PPP loans are forgiven, repaid by a customer or settled by the government guarantee. On January 29, 2021, we entered into a second PPPLF agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco ("Second PPPLF Agreement") to secure additional credit, collateralized by loans from the second round of the PPP program, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion under both PPPLF Agreements. The maturity date of any PPPLF advances is the maturity date of the PPP loan pledged to secure the advance, and will be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain events of default. Although loans originated under the PPP have a stated maturity of between two and five years from origination, some of the loans may be forgiven 24 weeks after disbursement if they meet certain specified criteria. The PPPLF advances are repayable if the associated PPP loan is forgiven, repaid by the customer, or settled by the government guarantee. As of December 31, 2021, $497.5 million of PPPLF advances were outstanding and are, generally, collateralized by the same value of PPP loans. Any differences between the amounts are generally due to the timing of PPP loan repayment or forgiveness, and repayment of PPPLF advances.
In May 2020, we entered into a revolving credit agreement with certain lenders, as subsequently amended, which provides a $500 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2020 Credit Facility") maturing in May 2023. Loans under the 2020 Credit Facility bear interest at our option of (i) a base rate based on the highest of the prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and the adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.00%, in each case, plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% or (ii) an adjusted LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%. The margin is determined based on our total net leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement. We are obligated to pay other customary fees for a credit facility of this size and type including an unused commitment fee of 0.15%. To date, no funds have been drawn and no letters of credit have been issued under the 2020 Credit Facility.
See Note 13, Indebtedness, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on these transactions.
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We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, investment in marketable debt securities, and availability under our line of credit will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs, including any expenditures related to strategic transactions and investment commitments that we may from time to time enter into, and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. From time to time, we may seek to raise additional capital through equity, equity-linked, and debt financing arrangements. We cannot provide assurance that any additional financing will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.
As of December 31, 2021, we hold a non-investment grade rating by S&P Global Ratings (BB), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (BB) and Moody's Corporation (Ba2). We expect that these credit rating agencies will continue to monitor our performance, including our capital structure and results of operations. Our liquidity, access to capital, and borrowing costs could be adversely impacted by declines in our credit rating.
We have entered into various non-cancelable operating leases for certain offices with contractual lease periods expiring between 2022 and 2034. We recognized total rental expenses under operating leases of $80.3 million, $75.2 million, and $32.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. We had non-cancelable purchase obligations to hardware suppliers for $85.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements during the periods presented.
Short-term restricted cash of $18.8 million as of December 31, 2021 reflects pledged cash deposited into savings accounts at the financial institutions that process our sellers' payments transactions and as collateral pursuant to agreements with third party originating banks for certain loan products. We use the restricted cash to secure letters of credit with these financial institutions to provide collateral for liabilities arising from cash flow timing differences in the processing of these payments. We have recorded this amount as a current asset on our consolidated balance sheets given the short-term nature of these cash flow timing differences and that there is no minimum time frame during which the cash must remain restricted. Additionally, this balance includes certain amounts held as collateral pursuant to multi-year lease agreements, discussed in the paragraph above, which we expect to become unrestricted within the next year.
Long-term restricted cash of $71.7 million as of December 31, 2021 is primarily related to a reserve deposit to satisfy the capital and liquidity requirements associated with the banking operations of SFS mandated by the FDIC, as well as cash deposited into money market funds that is used as collateral pursuant to multi-year lease agreements. We have recorded these amounts as non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets as we are required to establish and maintain the reserve deposit at all times to support the ongoing liquidity obligations of SFS, and due to certain lease terms extending beyond one year.
We experience significant day-to-day fluctuations in our cash and cash equivalents due to fluctuations in settlements receivable, and customers payable, and hence working capital. These fluctuations are primarily due to:
•Timing of period end. For periods that end on a weekend or a bank holiday, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable balances typically will be higher than for periods ending on a weekday, as we settle to our sellers for payment processing activity on business days; and
•Fluctuations in daily GPV. When daily GPV increases, our cash and cash equivalents, settlements receivable, and customers payable amounts increase. Typically our settlements receivable, and customers payable balances at period end represent one to four days of receivables and disbursements to be made in the subsequent period. Customers payable, excluding amounts attributable to Cash App stored funds, and settlements receivable balances typically move in tandem, as pay-out and pay-in largely occur on the same business day. However, customers payable balances will be greater in amount than settlements receivable balances due to the fact that a subset of funds are held due to unlinked bank accounts, risk holds, and chargebacks. Also, customer funds obligations, which are included in customers payable, may cause customers payable to trend differently than settlements receivable. Holidays and day-of-week may also cause significant volatility in daily GPV amounts.
Cash Flow Activities
In the fourth quarter of 2021, we adjusted our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows to include changes in customer funds, cash and cash equivalents associated with Customer payable as a financing activity. Previously, the changes in customer funds and customer payable were presented within operating activities our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The adjustment results in the portion of customer funds that is held in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and customer
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funds being included in the beginning and ending period totals of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and customer funds. Prior period amounts have been adjusted to this presentation. Please see Note 1 of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements for further details.
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 847,830 | $ | 173,110 | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (1,310,879) | (606,636) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 2,652,034 | 3,676,735 | ||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents | (7,066) | 12,995 | ||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and customer funds | $ | 2,181,919 | $ | 3,256,204 |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities consisted of our net income adjusted for certain non-cash items, including gain or loss on revaluation of equity investments, depreciation and amortization, non-cash interest and other expense, share-based compensation expense, transaction and loan losses, bitcoin impairment losses, deferred income taxes, non-cash lease expense, gain on sale of asset group, as well as the effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities, including working capital.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by operating activities was $847.8 million, primarily due to net income of $158.8 million, adjusted for the add back of non-cash expenses of $1.1 billion consisting primarily of share-based compensation, transaction and loan losses, depreciation and amortization, non-cash interest, bitcoin impairment losses and other expenses. This was offset by a net outflow from changes in other assets and liabilities of $325.2 million due to timing of period end as well as PPP loans facilitated, less loans sold, of $56.0 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash provided by operating activities was $173.1 million, primarily due to a net income of $213.1 million, offset by PPP loans facilitated, less loans sold, of $420.8 million, adjusted for the add back of non-cash expenses of $509.4 million consisting primarily of share-based compensation, transaction and loan losses, depreciation and amortization, and non-cash interest and other expenses. Whereas the increase in transaction and loan losses was largely caused by estimated losses attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in other non-cash expenses was primarily due to the growth and expansion of our business activities. Additionally, the cash generated from operating activities increased due to a net inflow from changes in other assets and liabilities of $79.9 million due to timing.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities primarily relate to capital expenditures to support our growth, investments in marketable debt securities, investment in privately held entity, and business acquisitions.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in investing activities was $1.3 billion, primarily due to the net investments of marketable securities including investments from customer funds of $1.2 billion. Additional uses of cash were as a result of business acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $164.0 million, the purchase of bitcoin investments of $170.0 million, the purchase of property and equipment of $134.3 million and purchases of other investments of $48.5 million. These were partially offset by proceeds from sales of equity investments of $420.6 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash provided by investing activities was $606.6 million, primarily due to the net investments of marketable securities including investments from customer funds of $337.7 million. Additional uses of cash in investing activities were a result of purchases of property and equipment of $138.4 million, business combinations, net of cash acquired of $79.2 million, and other investments of $1.3 million.
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by financing activities was $2.7 billion, primarily as a result of $2.0 billion in net proceeds from the 2031 Senior Notes and 2026 Senior Notes offerings, proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under our employee share purchase plan of $126.7 million, offset by payments for employee tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units of $323.0 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash provided by financing activities was $2.3 billion, primarily as a result of $1.1 billion in net proceeds from the 2026 Convertible Notes and 2027 Convertible Notes offering, $936.5 million in net proceeds from the 2025 Convertible Notes offering, proceeds from the First PPPLF Agreement advances of $464.1 million, proceeds from issuances of common stock from the exercise of options and purchases under the employee stock purchase plan, net of $162.0 million, offset by payments for employee tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units of $314.0 million
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, anticipated future trends, and other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because these accounting policies require significant judgment, our actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
We believe accounting policies and the assumptions and estimates associated with transaction and loan losses, especially due to uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and business combinations have the greatest potential effect on our consolidated financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates.
Transaction Losses
We are exposed to transaction losses due to chargebacks as a result of fraud or uncollectibility of transaction payments. We estimate accrued transaction losses based on available data as of the reporting date, including expectations of future chargebacks, and historical trends related to loss rates that is continuously adjusted for new information and incorporates, where applicable, reasonable and supportable forecasts about future expectations. The Company continues to revise its estimates to reflect expected chargebacks from non-delivery of goods and services as well as increased failure rates of its sellers due to the emergence of more transmissible variants of COVID-19.
Business Combinations
As a result of the acquisitions of TIDAL, completed in the second quarter of 2021, and Afterpay completed on January 31, 2022, we consider accounting for business combinations under ASC 805, Business Combinations, to also be a critical accounting policy and estimate as it requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, including the valuation of intangible assets acquired, determination of fair values of liabilities assumed including pre-acquisition contingencies and valuation of contingent consideration, where applicable. Although we believe that the assumptions and estimates we have made have been reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” described in Note 1 of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements.
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