The authors enumerate and analyze key challenges that global financial and legal systems face in connection with the introduction of cryptocurrency. They present definitions of cryptocurrency used in international and Russian practice. The authors also study the court practice on crimes involving the use of bitcoins and examine the approaches to determining the legal status of cryptocurrency in foreign countries and in the Russian Federation. It is stated that at present the international regulatory practice lacks a common universal document that would regulate the use of digital (electronic) currencies. At the same time, a considerable number of foreign countries have already worked out their attitudes to virtual currency — ranging from the absolute prohibition of all operations to stimulating mining and payments in cryptocurrencies. The authors identify five key approaches to regulating the market of cryptocurrencies in international practice. They outline multiple risks connected with the partial substitution of official means of payment by cryptocurrencies. It is stated that in our country cryptocurrencies and operations involving them are now beyond the scope of law because cryptocurrencies are not recognized as an object of legal protection. However, a number of draft laws that regulate the issue and turnover of «virtual assets» are to be adopted in the near future. The authors identify key prerequisites for the use of effective regulatory approaches to operations with cryptocurrencies and the directions for the creation of a normative legal base for such operations in the Russian Federation. It is important to take measures and prevent the use of cryptocurrencies for the financing of criminal activities and terrorism. The authors use the analysis of the normative legal basis of the Russian Federation, existing theories and their own considerations to recommend an introduction of a favorable regime of cryptocurrency market regulation by implementing the best international practices whose essence (in general terms) is reflected in the clauses of this article.

The main provisions of the Strategy for the Development of the Housing Sphere of the Russian Federation until 2025, which radically changed the state's ap-proach to the mechanism of providing the Russian population with affordable housing, are analyzed. It is noted that along with the traditional mechanism of providing the population with affordable housing through the mechanism of mortgage lending, an alternative mechanism is introduced -the provision of rental housing through a commercial and non-commercial format. The analysis of the legal framework of rental relations (employment relations) in the housing sector indicates the absence of a unified approach to the use of basic concepts (rent, hire, commercial rent) in relation to the problem under consideration. The author analyzes the historical and global experience in solving the housing problem for people with low incomes who are unable to improve their living conditions with the help of a loan secured by the acquired property. Based on the analysis of statistical data, the prerequisites for the formation of a civilized rental housing market in Russia and the Irkutsk region are considered and the main development trends are identified.