CRYPTOCURRENCIES: DEVELOPMENT, FEATURES AND CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

The advent of cryptocurrencies and rapid growth of crypto-networks heralded a new era in evolution of financial relations. The main goals achieved by introduction of cryptocurrencies included: a) removal of the third party (the government, banking and financial institutions) from transactions between the parties to a transfer; b) anonymity of the parties; c) transaction security. The governments of various countries of the world have a different stance as regards the use of cryptocurrencies, and in some cases, they consider this medium of exchange illegal. The transnational nature of transactions involving cryptocurrencies and the absence of physical borders for these transactions complicate legislative regulation of the circulation of cryptocurrencies in Ukraine.The use of cryptocurrencies has significant effect on the economies of Ukraine and other countries of the world due to easy dissemination and popularity of this technology and the growing capitalization of cryptocurrencies. The exchange of cryptocurrencies into fiduciary money and the possibility of gaining substantial profits on a cryptocurrency exchange due to high volatility of cryptocurrencies necessitate development, as soon as possible, of approaches to legislative regulation of both terminological apparatus related to circulation of cryptocurrencies and the exchange transaction procedures, profit taxation, etc. Considering the multisided nature of crypto-networks and the diversity of cryptocurrencies currently existing in the world (over 2000 variants as of today), classification of existing cryptocurrencies and definition of their features represents a contemporary task.This article characterizes development of blockchain technology that serves as the basis for the functioning of cryptocurrencies, defines their characteristic features, positive and innovative concepts implemented with their advent. Cryptocurrencies were classified based on various criteria (issue type, network decentralization, limitation on issue, controllability of cryptocurrency issue, etc.), and two groups of features typical either for all cryptocurrencies or for their certain variants were proposed. It was proposed to define a cryptocurrency as a variety of e-money used as an alternative additional currency and circulated within global computer networks on the basis of blockchain technology that envisages asymmetrical encryption and the use of various cryptographic protection methods.