THE INTRODUCTION OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN THE ECONOMY AND FINANCIAL SECTOR

The article analyzes the introduction of blockchain technology into the economy and financial sector, considering its potential as a tool for transforming international transactions, reducing costs and increasing security. The author focuses on the evolution of the blockchain: from the idea of digital currency in the 1980s to its role in the context of global digitalization, reinforced by the global financial crisis of 2008. The purpose of the study is to identify key areas of technology integration, its prospects and risks, as well as to assess the impact on financial transactions, value chains and government regulation. The work uses a set of methods of economic analysis: deduction (to study the theoretical foundations), comparison (of traditional and blockchain systems), analysis of practical cases and synthesis of results. The study covers the experience of leading banks (Sberbank, Barclays), initiatives of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (the Masterchain platform, testing of blockchain transactions), as well as international trends (fintech, smart contracts). It is shown that blockchain provides transparency, reduces operating costs and accelerates payments (up to 1,500 transactions/sec), but faces problems: irreversibility of transactions, lack of IT specialists, legal risks. Particular attention is paid to the role of blockchain in creating distributed registries, automating contracts and auditing, as well as its impact on supply chains, where the technology minimizes the «trust tax» through cryptographic data verification. It is emphasized that decentralization and consensus mechanisms (PoW, PoS) form a new environment for direct interaction of market participants, excluding intermediaries. However, it remains dependent on regulatory frameworks (KYC, AML) and the need to adapt traditional financial instruments. In conclusion, the author notes that blockchain, combining transparency and immutability of data, is capable of revolutionizing the economy, but requires further development of infrastructure, legislation and training.