Rules of the Digital Economy: Market Protection or a Barrier to Innovation and Growth?

The digital economy is fundamentally changing the way people shop, pay, and do business. Digital payments, online marketplaces, and platforms have become key infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises, enabling them to reach new customers, simplify administration, and strengthen their competitiveness. At the same time, however, new challenges are emerging in the state's approach to market regulation and supervision.Although efforts to effectively regulate the digital environment and curb the gray economy pursue legitimate goals of transparency and fair competition, they often run the risk of having unintended consequences on the functioning of digital platforms, payment systems, and the pace of innovation.

The key question therefore remains how to achieve these goals without imposing an unnecessary administrative burden on businesses and without undermining the innovative business models on which the digital economy is based. An integral part of a balanced approach is also the protection of consumers, for whom digital platforms and cashless payment solutions are increasingly the preferred way of using services.The discussion will focus on finding a balance between effective regulation and support for digital commerce: how to set rules that will strengthen confidence in the market, facilitate compliance, and harness the potential of digitization without hindering growth, investment, and business development.

Special attention will be paid to the role of digital platforms and payment solutions as tools that can help the state and entrepreneurs achieve common goals. At the same time, the topic of how the state can actively contribute to helping entrepreneurs better navigate the online environment and effectively adapt to rapidly evolving payment trends will be opened.