Smart contract as a civil law way of disposing of digital rights: problems of theoretical substantiation and practical application

Abstract

Complex socio-economic processes are simultaneously taking place in Russian society: the economy is adapting to external economic challenges and, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, many aspects of social life are being transferred online. As a result, there is a transformation of all types of entrepreneurial activity, oriented both to the end consumer and to another legal entity (B2B transactions). The digitalization of commerce objectively requires an effective legal response to the procedures for concluding and executing contracts. A feature of the Russian legal system for regulating digital assets can be considered the impossibility of concluding direct transactions, bypassing a specialized information platform.
 The article discusses the features of smart contracts as a civil law way of disposing of digital rights. The activity of an information platform operator or a market maker as an intermediary is analyzed. Their positive and negative impact on the digital asset market is shown.
 The conclusion is substantiated that the disposal of digital rights through the use of a smart contract cannot be identified with all other classical contractual structures. Smart contracts, including those that are made using blockchain and Ethereum technology, are legally different from the electronic form of a civil law contract. Despite the obvious advantages of a smart contract as a way to manage digital assets, in the absence of legal regulation, significant business risks arise that require a prompt and effective legislative solution