Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FASB ASC 820 - Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. FASB ASC 820 requires disclosures about the fair value of all financial instruments, whether or not recognized, for financial statement purposes. Disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments are based on pertinent information available to the Company on December 31, 2021. Accordingly, the estimates presented in these financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized on disposition of the financial instruments. FASB ASC 820 specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).

Level 1-	Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities available at the measurement date.
Level 2-	Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3-	Inputs are unobservable inputs which reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions on what assumptions the market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best available information.

The Company analyzes all financial instruments with features of both liabilities and equity under the FASB’s accounting standard for such instruments. Under this standard, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair market value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. 

Equity Investments at Fair Value

The Company accounted for certain equity investments at fair value using level 1, level 2 and level 3 valuations. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows at December 31, 2021 and 2020: 

	At December 31, 2021						At December 31, 2020
Description	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Equity investments consisting of common stock, at fair value	$	419,995	$	—	$	—	$	—		—	$	—

The following table summarizes activity in the Company’s equity investments, at fair value for the periods presented:

	December 31, 2021			December 31, 2020
Balance, beginning of the year	$	—		$	—
Additions		531,250			—
Sales		(359,843	)		—
Unrealized gain		248,588			—
Balance, end of the year	$	419,995		$	—

At December 31, 2021, equity investments, at fair value consisted of common equity securities of two entities, Home Bistro, Inc and Aikido Pharma, Inc. (see Note 10).

Equity investments are carried at fair value with unrealized gains or losses which is recorded as net unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Realized gains and losses are determined on a specific identification basis which is recorded as net realized gain (loss) on equity investments in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. The Company reviews equity investments, at fair value for impairment whenever circumstances and situations change such that there is an indication that the carrying amounts may not be recovered. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a net realized gain on equity investments of $6,660,483 primarily attributed to a gain from the sale of the Company’s equity investment in DatChat, Inc. of $6,657,120 and Aikido Pharma, Inc. of $3,363. DatChat, Inc. was a cost basis investment carried at $200 at December 31, 2020 (see below). The Company paid a commission on the sale of DatChat, Inc. totaling $578,880 which was netted with the proceeds.

ASC 825-10 “Financial Instruments” allows entities to voluntarily choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value (fair value option). The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable, unless a new election date occurs. If the fair value option is elected for an instrument, unrealized gains and losses for that instrument should be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The Company did not elect to apply the fair value option to any outstanding equity instruments.

Equity Investments at Cost

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, equity investments, at cost of $0 and $200, respectively, comprised mainly of non-marketable capital stock and stock warrants, are recorded at cost, as adjusted for other than temporary impairment write-downs and are evaluated for impairment periodically.