Two questions, two measures
Unrealized P&L asks how the entered value of remaining holdings compares with their entered cost. Realized P&L asks what happened when units were disposed of. Neither number alone describes cash flows, deposits, withdrawals or the performance of an entire account.
For a simple long holding, unrealized P&L equals units remaining × (manual price − average cost). For a simplified sale, realized gross P&L equals units sold × (sale price − assigned unit cost). Fees and the method used to assign cost can change the result. These are arithmetic definitions for this example, not tax rules.
Evidence: CryptoTrades manual portfolio tracker · CryptoTrades P&L calculator
Follow one hypothetical partial sale
Assume ten fictional units were bought at $20 each, with no fees. At a manual price of $25, their value is $250 and unrealized P&L is $50. Sell four units at $25: gross proceeds are $100 and the assigned cost is $80, so the simplified realized gain is $20.
Six units remain. At the same $25 mark, their value is $150, cost is $120 and unrealized gain is $30. The $20 realized gain plus $30 unrealized gain reconciles to $50 before costs; sale proceeds of $100 are not themselves profit.
| Measure | Before sale | After sale |
|---|---|---|
| Units held | 10 | 6 |
| Remaining cost | $200 | $120 |
| Unrealized gain | $50 | $30 |
| Realized gross gain | $0 | $20 |
Record remaining holdings without inventing a ledger
In the tracker, enter six units, average cost $20 and current price $25 to reproduce the remaining $30 unrealized result. Keep the sale record separately. Editing units or removing a row does not create a realized-gain entry, and the tracker cannot recover the previous transaction history.
Use the P&L calculator separately with entry $20, exit $25, four units, long and zero fee to check the $20 gross sale result. Change the fee field only when the assumed percentage applies to both legs; the tool does not allocate historical fees across lots.
Evidence: CryptoTrades manual portfolio tracker · CryptoTrades P&L calculator
Do not turn a mark into spendable proceeds
If the remaining price falls to $18, unrealized P&L becomes −$12 while the earlier simplified realized gain remains $20. Their combined $8 result is an accounting reconciliation under these assumptions, not a guaranteed amount available on withdrawal.
Actual execution, transfers, rewards, multiple purchases and fees require additional records. The tracker’s user-entered average cost is not a jurisdiction-specific cost-basis election. Preserve original statements and obtain appropriate tax guidance for reporting rather than copying this example into a return.
Sources & method
- CryptoTrades manual portfolio tracker
Implementation checked locally: manual values, browser storage, additive JSON import; no realized-gain ledger. Checked 2026-10-29.
- CryptoTrades P&L calculator
Formula checked against the current calculator implementation; illustrative inputs are not market observations. Checked 2026-10-29.
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