THE ESSENCE OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE FINANCIAL SPHERE

Abstract

The constant demand of society to improve the speed and security of business processes is the driving force behind the emergence of new technologies and solutions, one of which is the blockchain. The article provides a theoretical substantiation of the essence of blockchain technology as an economic category. The object and subjects of the blockchain are defined, its inherent functions and principles are formed. The article also proposes an approach to the classification of blockchain types, all this allows a comprehensive approach to the study of the process of using blockchain technology in the financial sphere. The paper describes and reveals the blockchain process step by step. The process is described in a universal way, suitable for working with any projects based on a distributed database. The article provides examples of the use of blockchain technology in various areas of financial activity. In the banking sector, blockchain can improve the security and speed of domestic and international payments, and such payments will also be practically free for the parties. In insurance, the introduction of blockchain technology will help companies instantly exchange customer data, and the use of smart contracts will speed up the work with insurance policies. Thanks to the blockchain in accounting, information about transactions, contracts, etc. will be recorded in the general register in real time, so the verification of compliance with legal norms will occur automatically. This will significantly increase the operational efficiency of organizations. The use of blockchain in audit will make this process more transparent, and the time of its implementation will be significantly reduced due to reliable and up-to-date accounting records between counterparties. In the securities market, the blockchain will digitize securities, which will increase their liquidity, as well as help to better comply with the law, and will allow flexible transfer and accounting of ownership of such assets. In working with smart contracts, thanks to the code running on the blockchain, the contract can be executed automatically. At the end of the article, the conclusions are formed and the forecast of the development of the blockchain market for the coming years is given.