Legal configuration of digital assets and their incorporation into the contemporary property regime
Keywords:
Digital assets, property law, legal certainty, digital economy, intangible goodsAbstract
Digital transformation has created new forms of patrimonial value that challenge traditional legal frameworks. Digital assets—such as cryptocurrencies, virtual platform content, digital accounts, or intangible goods in electronic environments—have gained legal relevance, raising complex questions about their classification, transferability, protection, and taxation. The lack of a unified legal recognition complicates their incorporation into property law, particularly regarding inheritance, contractual obligations, and fiscal responsibility. In this scenario, it is essential to rethink classical concepts of property to integrate legal norms that ensure legal certainty, fairness among parties, and effective protection of such assets in digital environments. As economies become increasingly digitalized, coherent regulatory responses are urgently needed to address the challenges posed by the virtualization of property.
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