Implementation of FATF approaches to the regulation of virtual assets in the legislation of the Russian Federation: development prospects

Abstract

The emergence and dissemination of digital values, and, above all, cryptocurrencies, necessitated their legal regulation. The article analyzes the basic FATF requirements to the legal regulation of virtual assets. The article discusses legislative novelties that enshrine the legal status of utilitarian digital rights, as well as the main provisions of the draft federal law “On Digital Financial Assets”, which is currently being discussed in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Particular attention is paid to the approaches to the legal regulation of cryptocurrencies. The risks arising from the legal circulation of cryptocurrencies are identified and systematized. It is concluded that deciding on the legalization of cryptocurrency requires provision of mechanisms protecting the rights and legitimate interests of its owners as well as mechanisms preventing possible negative impact of cryptocurrency on the state’s monetary system.