CRYPTOCURRENCIES AS A SOCIO-ECONOMIC PHENOMENON

Abstract

Investment excitement and industrial scale of digital coins “production” cause concern of experts and researchers in the field of economics, ecology, energy, regulation and others. The purpose of the paper is to structure and improve the quality of the discourse around cryptocurrencies. The paper notes the heterogeneity of the phenomenon under consideration, presents a classification of cryptocurrency projects, considering their architectural and technical features, identifies the main interest groups in the industry, highlights structural alternatives for regulating crypto industry, identifies some socio-economic effects that arise with the development of crypto industry. The results obtained and the directions for further research can be useful in developing economic theory and forming approaches to regulate the circulation of cryptocurrencies and activities in crypto-currency industry