Legal regulation of cryptocurrency in Ukraine

Introduction. Cryptocurrency is a relatively new financial market instrument, but due to a lack of the fundamental principles of the legal regulation and legal regulation of market of cryptocurrency, individuals and legal entities, who have at their disposal the virtual assets are effectively deprived of an effective way to protect their ownership of such assets. The following key features of cryptocurrency are outlined: lack of control and restrictions on financial transactions, anonymity, the possibility of using it as an investment tool, the speed of transactions, a high degree of security. The purpose of the paper is explores the question of definition of legal essence, the maintenance of cryptocurrency is investigated. Results. Nature and legal uncertainty does not allow it to be identified with any of the related concepts (money, securities, currency value, means of payment, currency, money surrogate, etc.). That is, cryptocurrencies are currently in Ukraine outside the scope of legal regulation. The analysis of definition of a concept of cryptocurrency in the draft law on circulation of cryptocurrencies in Ukraine is carried out; prospects for the legislative implementation of cryptocurrency in Ukraine, in addition, the author draws attention to the novelties of the legislation on financial monitoring, namely certain provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Prevention and Counteraction to Legalization (Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime, Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation”. Conclusion. The analysis of the characteristics of cryptocurrency leads to a conclusion that the cryptocurrency can be understood as electronic money. The paper presents a vision of further trends in the use of cryptocurrency in everyday life and business environment, opens up an opportunity for further research in the field of the cryptocurrency market, further development of Ukraine and integration to the world financial system.