REVIEW OF THE MAIN OPERATING PRINCIPLES OF THE BITCOIN CRYPTOCURRENCY AND POSSIBLE LINES OF RESEARCH IN THIS FIELD
In this paper, we present a review of the blockchain technology, which underlies the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. We also discuss some related research directions, which are of scientific and practical interest. Alternative algorithms for transactions confirmation are considered. Potentially, they may be more effective and less resource consuming. We also touch such important problem as a lack of actual decentralization and anonymity which are stated as the main Bitcoin benefits comparing with traditional money system. The arguments in favour of this position are as follows: the presence of large mining pools, the influential core developers, the alert mechanism and some other instruments which may be misused.