Digital money: Origin, status, prospects

Subject. The study deals with the use of digital money in the global and domestic practice. Objectives. The purpose is to examine the features of existing forms of digital money and determine directions for their further development. Methods. The study draws on general scientific methods, like description, classification, and universal rational-logical methods of cognition, including analysis, synthesis, and induction. Results. The paper provides a comparative description of existing forms of digital money: cryptocurrency, game money, central bank digital currency (CBDC), shows stages of emergence and development of cryptocurrency, assesses its significance in the modern financial market, and identifies strengths and weaknesses. It investigates the practice of using game money and ways of generating real income, reviews examples of CBDC development in foreign countries, highlights the specifics of digital ruble as a new form of the national currency of Russia. I considered stages of the program for digital ruble introduction in the country, its inherent advantages and disadvantages for citizens, businesses, and the State, performed a SWOT analysis of the use of digital money and its impact on the financial system. Conclusions. The findings may be useful for professionals in the field of monetary transactions, as well as for researchers interested in the digital money market, its trends and development prospects.