Abstract:
Today's situation of global development of the cyber economy and the spread of digital technologies have contributed to the
creation of a new asset – digital cartographic currency, which is rapidly gaining popularity. Most scientists understand cryptocurrency
as digital money that is encrypted and protected by special algorithms that operate independently of the central bank.
Cryptocurrency differs from electronic money primarily by the anonymity of its use. This state-of-the-art means of payment is
gaining more and more popularity in use not only by individuals but also by legal entities around the world, which is why there is
an objective need to determine the economic category to which cryptocurrency should be attributed and accounted for. Among a
number of different cryptocurrencies, the most common is Bitcoin. Taking into account the popularization of cryptocurrency in the
world as a completely new, innovative payment instrument of the XXI century. and the active use of Bitcoin and other types of
cryptocurrencies, the development and use of this payment instrument in Ukraine and the world need further research. The article
considers the functional roles of cryptocurrencies in the digital economy, examines trends and prospects for their development.
Approaches to the interpretation of the essence of the concept of "cryptocurrency" are revealed, the main types of the most popular
cryptocurrencies today are considered, their general features are unified. It was found that the most common cryptocurrency
is Bitcoin, analyzed the dynamics of changes in the exchange rate of this currency, compared the exchange rates of the 10 most
common cryptocurrencies. It is noted that the first Ukrainian cryptocurrency was Karbowanec, an analysis of changes in the exchange rate of the domestic cryptocurrency. The legal status of cryptocurrency in some countries and in Ukraine has been studied,
and it has been found that more and more countries give cryptocurrency the status of a legal and legal means of payment,
sometimes equating it to electronic money. It is noted that cryptocurrency today has both positive features and disadvantages,
the main of which is the increased risk of fraud and fraud using digital currency.