Cryptocurrencies: issue, circulation and problems of regulation

Abstract

Objective: to consider the evolution of types and forms of money, to classify the varieties of cryptocurrency and its functions, to explain the mechanisms for issuing and circulation of cryptocurrencies, as well as to identify problems in the field of legal regulation of digital virtual currencies in the Russian Federation.Methods: the work used a dialectical combination of the principles of a systematic approach and various ontological knowledge through a range of methods of historical, empirical, comparative, logical, statistical and predictive cognition.Results: it is shown that the modern global monetary system is evolving towards decentralization; it is based on cryptocurrencies issued as part of a functional combination of public and private blockchains; cryptocurrencies require full legalization, not prohibition at the legislative level; cryptocurrencies are types of digital virtual assets accounted for on accounts (crypto wallets) identified within.Scientific novelty: for the first time, the article shows that it is erroneous to consider cryptocurrency to be just a property and to limit its operations just to cross obligations for transferred goods and rendered works (services). Cryptocurrencies are decentralized virtual money based on mathematical algorithms using open-source asymmetric cryptography techniques and consensus-based platforms. Users need both external (cryptocurrency) and internal (tokens) currencies to increase the efficiency of using traditional assets (property, goods and services) in the economy.Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used to develop a glossary, terms and definitions of cryptocurrency, mechanisms for regulating its issue and circulation in Russia, as well as making amendments to the draft law “On digital currency and amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” that are adequate to the economic nature of cryptocurrency.