The Theoretical Foundations of the Investigation of Crimes Committed in the Field of Electronic Means of Payment

The article examines the theoretical and criminal procedural aspects of the investigation of crimes committed in the field of electronic means of payment. The relevance of the topic is due to the steady growth of cybercrime: according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, in 2024 40% of all registered crimes were committed using information and telecommunication technologies, which has a direct impact on the nature and structure of modern crime. Special attention is paid to the problems of using digital evidence at the stage of preliminary investigation, the issues of their seizure, fixation, storage and research. The positions of modern scientists regarding digital forensics, the role of neural networks and artificial intelligence in the work of investigators and interrogators, as well as the specifics of investigating crimes using cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies are analyzed. The paper proposes specific amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation aimed at legalizing electronic evidence, introducing a new type of operational investigative measure – real-time digital data research, as well as fixing the rules for working with electronic documents and digital media. It is concluded that there is a need for further digital transformation of the criminal process, while ensuring procedural guarantees, protecting the rights of participants, and standardizing research methods for digital sources.