Understanding how transfers are handled is key to reading your portfolio performance correctly. In this article, we’ll explain how the Calculate Transfers in P/L (Profit&Loss) setting works in CoinStats, how to turn it on or off, and how it affects your portfolio’s Profit & Loss (P/L).
You’ll learn:
What CoinStats considers a transfer
How including or excluding transfers changes your P/L
Why your unrealized P/L might look lower than expected — or show as zero
How to choose the setting that best fits your needs
This will help you make sure your P/L reflects exactly what you want to track.
Where to Find This Setting
You can manage this setting from your portfolio preferences.
Web
Portfolio tracker → Settings → Enable/Disable Calculate Transfers in P/L
Mobile app
Portfolio → Three dots below the chart → Portfolio Settings → Enable/Disable Calculate Transfers in P/L
What Are Transfers in CoinStats
In CoinStats, transfers are any transaction types that are not trades. These include:
Deposits (incoming assets)
Withdrawals (outgoing assets)
Transfers between your own wallets
Only buy and sell transactions are always treated as trades by the P/L engine. Transfers usually represent moving assets rather than trading them, which is why CoinStats allows you to decide whether they should impact your P/L.
How Transfers Affect P/L
Transfers impact your P/L depending on whether Calculate Transfers in P/L is enabled or disabled.
Including Transfers in P/L
When this setting is enabled:
Incoming transfers are treated as buys
They add to your cost basis
They contribute to unrealized P/L
Outgoing transfers are treated as sells
They reduce your holdings
They may create realized P/L
As a result:
All assets you hold are included in P/L calculations
Transfers affect realized, unrealized, and all-time P/L
This option is helpful if your transfers represent real acquisitions or when consolidating assets from multiple platforms.
Excluding Transfers from P/L (Most Common)
When this setting is disabled:
Only buy and sell transactions affect P/L
Transfers:
Do not affect cost basis
Do not generate realized P/L
Do not contribute to unrealized P/L
You still own the assets — they’re simply excluded from P/L calculations. This is the most commonly used option, since moving assets between wallets does not create profit or loss.
Common Scenario: Unrealized P/L Is Lower or Zero
This is the most frequent source of confusion.
Example (Transfers Excluded)
Received 10 BTC via transfer
Bought 5 BTC at $
50,000
Even though you hold 15 BTC total:
Unrealized P/L is calculated only on the 5 BTC you purchased
The 10 BTC received via transfer are excluded from P/L
👉 This is the most common reason unrealized P/L appears lower than expected or zero.
Key Differences
Feature | Transfers Included | Transfers Excluded |
Incoming transfers | Treated as buys | Ignored |
Outgoing transfers | Treated as sells | Ignored |
Cost basis | Includes transfers | Only buys |
Unrealized P/L | All holdings | Purchased assets only |
Realized P/L | Includes transfers | Only actual sales |
Troubleshooting & Common Questions
Why did my P/L change after switching this setting?
Changing this setting:
Recalculates all historical P/L
Updates cost basis logic
Affects unrealized, realized, and all-time P/L
This is expected behavior.
Why do I have assets but no unrealized P/L?
Most likely:
Transfers are excluded
Assets were received via transfer
No buy transactions exist
Unrealized P/L can only be calculated from purchase prices.
Why did transferring assets out create realized P/L?
With transfers included, outgoing transfers are treated as sells
With transfers excluded, outgoing transfers are ignored
Can I exclude specific transfers only?
Yes. Individual transactions can be manually excluded from P/L calculations, even if transfers are included globally.
Important Notes
Changing the Setting Recalculates Everything
Switching this setting will recalculate all P/L values
Past performance metrics may change
This affects portfolio totals and individual asset P/L
Cost Basis for Transferred Assets
When transfers are included:
CoinStats must assign a cost basis to transferred assets
This may be:
Market price at the time of transfer
A custom value set by the user
Incorrect or missing transfer prices can impact P/L accuracy.
Tax Considerations
Transfers between your own wallets usually do not create taxable events
Excluding transfers is often more accurate for tax reporting
Always consult a tax professional for jurisdiction-specific advice
Which Option Should You Choose?
Most users choose to exclude transfers because:
Transfers do not generate profit or loss
P/L reflects actual trading performance
Results are easier to interpret
You may prefer to include transfers if:
You want P/L calculated on all assets regardless of source
Transfers represent real acquisitions
You’re consolidating assets across platforms
To Summarize:
Transfers can be included or excluded from P/L calculations
Including transfers treats them like trades
Excluding transfers limits P/L to buy/sell activity
Unrealized P/L may appear low or zero when transfers are excluded
Changing this setting recalculates all historical P/L
For more details on P/L calculations, see Profit & Loss — A Complete User Guide.
If you have any questions or need help choosing the right setting, feel free to reach out to our support team via the in-app or on-site chat — we’re always happy to help.
What's Next?