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The aim of the article is to study the theoretical and legal possibilities of using cryptocurrency in purchase and sale contracts, to determine the specificities of such a phenomenon as cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) from the perspective of jurisprudence, and to draw attention of legal scholars primarily to possible further scientific researches on the introduction of this phenomenon in the modern civilian legislation of Ukraine. The subject of the study is the specificities of using cryptocurrency in contracts of purchase and sale. Methodology. The research is based on an analysis of legal acts on the legal regulation of cryptocurrency in Ukraine. By means of the comparative legal method of investigation of certain provisions of Ukrainian legislation, the possibilities and limits of the use of cryptocurrency in contractual relations, in particular, contracts of purchase and sale are determined. The results of the study revealed that the cryptocurrency regime in Ukraine and in many countries is in a legal vacuum. Such a conclusion is based on the lack of clear legal clarification and consolidation of the concept and types of cryptocurrency in the relevant rules of the tax, banking, civil, and commercial law. In case of eliminating this gap, it is advisable to review the state policy on Bitcoin and its analogues. Practical implications. It is necessary and appropriate to introduce a corresponding license for cryptocurrency activities that can minimize the laundering of proceeds from crime or terrorism financing. It is suggested that eventually the relations concerning the digital currency will be regulated in Ukraine, but most likely, it will copy the experience of another state, which may have negative consequences. Relevance/originality. Analysis of a possible use of cryptocurrency in contracts of purchase and sale can become the basis for the development of the most promising directions of domestic civil law in contractual relations.

As soon as the usage of cryptocurrency in the last few years has been gaining popularity all over the world, and this global trend has affected Ukraine, the purpose of the paper is to examine the essence of cryptocurrency, to identify the issues of its legal regulation in Ukraine, as well as using the analysis of world experience in this sphere, to identify ways of the improvement for relevant domestic legislation. The authors have indicated that the cryptocurrency market (or “virtual” money) operates successfully and provides an opportunity to analyse dynamics of the cost, supply, and demand of about 90-100 different cryptocurrency. Problem’s setting. The authors of the paper have emphasized that despite increasing popularity of cryptocurrency in Ukraine and throughout the world, there is no single clear definition of this concept. Therefore, the authors of this article state that cryptocurrency is a digital decentralized currency, a unit of which is a coin cryptographically protected against tampering since it is encrypted information that cannot be copied, while all information about transactions is stored in the blockchain system. Methodology. The study primarily uses comparative methods for the purposes of examination of the approaches taken under different jurisdictions towards cryptocurrency. Additionally, analysis of the body of theoretical literature on the matter was conducted. Results of the study allowed drawing several conclusions on the prospects of further development of the legal framework for cryptocurrencies in Ukraine since nowadays the country is neutral in the issue of using and regulating cryptocurrency and consequently it is losing precious time, because: first, potentially loses money, which could enter the state budget from individuals, who receive income from transactions on cryptocurrency markets; and secondly, the state runs a risk of citizens’ rights violation because of no real instruments for their protection. Practical implications of these are proposals to adopt certain amendments to the current legislation in this sphere, including setting up control over brokerage of cryptocurrency, licensing of the industry, and legal definition of the cryptocurrency for the purposes of taxation, etc. Value/originality. The paper represents one of the first comprehensive studies of the current state and prospects of development of the legal framework for the cryptocurrency in Ukraine. Its conclusions provide both proposals for the development of legislation in this sphere and may serve as a basis for the future studies of this topic.

The aim of this article is to study the theoretical, methodological, and legal possibilities of application of certain types of legal responsibility to the relations, which are connected with cryptocurrency (bitcoin). Some types of liability in the field of cryptocurrency relations make the subject of the study. Methodology. The research is based on a comparison of legal regulation of the sphere of cryptocurrency in Ukraine and in foreign countries. Advantages and disadvantages of different modes of cryptocurrency turnover are determined: from direct prohibition to granting the status of the official payment system. It is made on the basis of the analysis of peculiarities of the circulation of virtual money in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, China, the Russian Federation, Bolivia, Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam, the USA, Japan, Spain, and some other countries. On the basis of the comparative legal study of certain provisions of the civil, administrative, tort, and criminal legislation of Ukraine, the possibilities and limits of the application of certain types of legal responsibility to violations in the field of cryptocurrency are determined. The results of the comparative legal study have shown that, unlike most foreign countries, in Ukraine, there is no legislative consolidation of the legal status of the virtual currency. In this regard, today in the national legislation, there are no direct rules that would predict the occurrence of administrative, criminal or civil liability for the offenses in the field of cryptocurrency relations. Practical impact. Since guarantees of compulsory restoration or protection of violated law play an important role in the legal regulation of any social relations, the proper legislative regulation of public relations in the sphere of crypto currency circulation is an urgent problem today, including with the help of establishing liability for the offenses in this field. Correlation/Authenticity. Comparative and legal research of legal regulation of the sphere of crypto currency gives us a better understanding of the most promising directions of development of administrative, criminal, and civil liability in this field.