The last decade has been characterized by phenomenal scientific and technological changes, a dynamic digital transformation of business, networking of the economy and society. The methodological format of digital economy research is becoming relevant, taking into account, on the one hand, global trends of networking, intellectualization, individualization and digitalization, and on the other hand, the modern landscape of augmented and mixed reality within the virtual economy. Its scientific and practical issues are highlighted herewith within the concept of irreversibility of digital transformation grounding on generalization of modern theoretical developments. We expose here preconditions, factors and peculiarities of the digital economy formation. We place greater focus on business virtualization, blockchain, cryptocurrencies. We are trying to illustrate an imperative of computing in the digital economy in relation to the interface evolution. It is given herein assessment of further digitalization of industries, types and spheres of their activity, expectable trend of development of the digital economy towards virtual reality in the making and dynamic scaling of smart enterprises, cities and communities. We define reasonable grounds to the fact, that universities play a key role in the development of the intellectual capital, interacting with state and business within the system of open science, education and innovations. Scientific and practical value of the research centres on model validation of digital university development with digitalization of management system, educational and scientific activity, human capital development, infrastructure and creation of digital ecosystem based on Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University.