The article studies investment activity of the population on Russian stock market in 2015–2022. The research used data and analytical information of the Federal Service of State Statistics, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Exchange, NAFI Analytical Center. The authors ground the importance of attracting individuals to the stock market in conditions of economic sanctions introduced against Russia. They come to the conclusion that the growth in the number of private investors and the amount of funds on individual investment accounts are influenced by concessional taxation, higher real incomes of the population, improving financial literacy and trust to the stock market, as well as simplifying registration and trade on stock market and rising profitability of investing into shares and bonds. The adverse impact on the number of brokers’ clients and the amount of funds on individual investment accounts is rendered by deposit rates in banks, dropping confidence to stock market and deterioration in conditions for saving building. The authors provide recommendations on developing the stock market in Russia, which include extension of concessional taxation on transactions with securities by individuals, better accessibility of digital tools and services, for instance by the ‘Marketplace’ project, higher level of finance literacy of the population, especially in rural and remote regions.

Digital technologies have drastically changed finance service market. A new step in Russian finance market development is connected with the project ‘Marketplace’. The article studies stages of this project development, identifies factors promoting its speedy development, among which the increase in demand for finance services, inflow of individuals’ funds to finance market and others. The authors describe advantages, drawbacks and risks that finance marketplaces represent for finance organizations and finance service consumers. On the basis of information of search requests a conclusion can be drawn that popularity of the tool is growing rather fast. Barriers impeding the development of finance marketplaces are shown. According to the forecast, in the coming years we can expect exponential growth in the number of finance marketplace participants in case of the stable political and economic situation. A set of measures aimed at supporting the development of platforms for individual entrepreneurs and legal entities should be devised.

The article deals with problems facing Russian stock exchange in conditions of sanctions imposed by western states on organizations and individuals of the Russian Federation. They are harmful and affect key financial institutions of Russia, thus they are bound to impact the stock market experiencing turbulence since late February 2022. In order to cut the adverse influence of such measures both the government and the regulator (the Central Bank of the Russian Federation) have to response by tough decisions aimed at stabilizing the situation in finance sphere, among which we should mention a sharp rise in the key interest rate, closing stock trading on the Moscow exchange, restrictions on foreign currency transactions and interventions on stock market. The article highlights problems that caused serious fluctuations of currency rate on commodity and foreign exchange markets brought about by unstable political situation in the world. The authors evaluated prospects of further movements of market and possible countermeasures, which should be taken both by the Russian government and the regulator to smooth negative after-effects in country economy.