Criptovalute e contratti internazionali: problemi di qualificazione e legge applicabile

The global economy and, in particular, the financial sector have been affected by an epochal transformation for several years now due to the introduction of new technologies. Within these innovations, cryptocurrencies — based on blockchain — take on a very important role due to their impact on the monetary system. There is quite a lot of debate surrounding both the advantages and risks deriving from their use. The purpose of this paper is to examine an underexplored topic: parties resorting to the use of cryptocurrency over traditional currency as a payment method in international contracts. This paper will place its focus on domestic perspectives, closely linked to EU legislation, particularly that dealing with the Rome I Regulation on contractual obligations, the recent MiCA Regulation, and the European Central Bank’s ongoing project regarding the issuance of the Digital Euro.