Crowdfunding as a tool for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the digital economy

The article is devoted to a new source of financing of projects of small and medium-sized businesses - crowdfunding, recently received a positive in the norms of Russian private law as a result of the adoption of the Federal law of 02.08.2009 No 259-FZ “On attracting investments using investment platforms and amending certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation”. Assesses the use of the term ‘crowdfunding’ in the official acts of the Russian Federation: Strategy of development of small and medium enterprises in the Russian Federation for the period until 2030, the letter of the Federal tax service dated 25.11.2016 and clarification of the Commission on ethics and standards on the use of a lawyer mechanism of crowdfunding. The article analyzes the design of rules aimed at crowdfunding relations and of the rules adopted by Law No. 259. In addition, the scientific views on this legal structure are studied. In conclusion, the study examines the regional experience of non-profit crowdfunding and its social effect.