Brief description of cryptocurrencies as a financial instrument and their integration into social practices in the Russian Federation (using P. Bourdieu’s theoretical model of multidimensional capital)

Cryptocurrencies in the modern world are a relatively new social phenomenon that is at the stage of formation. Since their inception in 2008 up to the present day, this financial instrument has undergone a trajectory from widespread skepticism and general public unfamiliarity regarding its characteristics to attaining the status of a popular financial medium, extensively used in a number of states, including the Russian Federation. From a sociological perspective, this socio-economic phenomenon can be examined through multiple analytical lenses. The present study adopts the theory of social practices, which gained prominence in the second half of the 20th century largely due to the contributions of the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. The aim of this article is to systematize the currently available key modalities of using cryptocurrencies in the social field of the Russian Federation, as well as to provide a concise analysis of the participants in the crypto market employing a model grounded in Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of multidimensional capital. This approach facilitates a nuanced understanding of the interplay between economic, social, and cultural capitals in shaping the behaviors and positions of actors in the evolving cryptocurrency ecosystem.