Digital Ruble as an Innovative Instrument for State Financial Control: Theoretical Analysis

Abstract

The article considers the problem of using the digital ruble of the Bank of Russia as a tool for improving the quality of control over the movement of public finances. The aim of this study is to theoretically substantiate the advantages and disadvantages of the digital ruble as an innovative tool for state control. Based on the analysis of the works of domestic and foreign authors on the topic of the study, materials of government bodies, international organizations, as well as a comparative analysis of the forms of the Russian national currency, the existing models of digital currencies are assessed, a retail two-tier model of digital currency, on which the digital ruble platform is based, is defined for the purposes of state audit and financial control, the possibilities and risks of using the digital ruble platform of the Bank of Russia for state audit are analyzed. The advantages and risks of introducing an innovative tool of state control are substantiated: the advantages of the digital ruble are defined by the technical features of the digital ruble, such as transparency of transactions and the ability to track each ruble in real time, a high degree of protection and the inability to make changes to completed transactions; the risks are associated with the instability of the digital ruble platform in cases of using third-party data storage, cyberattacks and obtaining unauthorized access to the platform. The results of the conducted study can be used to assess the readiness of the digital ruble platform before mass implementation.