DIGITAL (VIRTUAL) CURRENCY AS AN OBJECT OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN UKRAINE AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

The article examines the legal status and features of digital currency as an object of civil rights in Ukraine and the EU. The legal nature of digital currency as a whole and its variety - cryptocurrency (virtual currency), which does not have a clearly defined legal nature and is recognized either as a means of payment or as a commodity in European countries – has been studied. Digital (electronic) currency is electronic money that is used as an alternative or additional currency. Most often, their value is tied to national currencies. Such digital currencies as Estcoin, eKrona, e-hryvnia were analyzed. It was determined that virtual currency, as a special type of digital currency, does not have the status of legal tender in the vast majority of jurisdictions of European countries. The normative definitions of digital currencies in Ukraine and the EU were studied, as well as the jurisdictions in which virtual currencies were given official status as a means of payment were analyzed. Focused attention on the prospective legislation of Ukraine, dedicated to virtual assets and virtual currency. Features of digital currency as an object of civil rights and peculiarities of its legal status are formulated.