数字货币的私法意义——从东京地方裁判所2014年(ワ)第33320号判决谈起

数字货币的法律属性如何界定，涉及到民法、破产法乃至金融交易法等诸多法理问题。比特币作为一种基于密码学原理存在于计算机网络虚拟空间中的电子支付系统，不属于物理意义上的有体物，并非传统民法上的物。数字货币成为所有权的客体，只要能够满足所有者对其控制与支配，所有权权能具有占有、使用、收益与处分全部内容，所有权权属与变动能够以明确的方式予以公示即可。日本与中国私法体系同宗同源，对数字货币的认识大致相同，中国法院在司法实践中的一些作法超前于日本。不过，日本近年来的立法持较为积极主动的态度，中国则全面禁止数字货币交易与ICO。数字货币的私法意义应该结合物权法、合同法等相关规定，在未来之立法中，根据现实中出现的问题有针对性地将其纳入到现行法律框架之中。

Significance of Digital Currency in Private Law—A Study of Civil Judgment (2014-33320) of Tokyo District Court

How to define the legal attributes of digital currency involves many legal issues such as civil law, bankruptcy law and even financial transaction law. Bitcoin, as an electronic payment system based on the principle of cryptography, exists in the virtual space of computer network. It is obviously not a physical object in the traditional civil law. Digital currency becomes an object of ownership. As long as it can satisfy the owner's control and governance, ownership can have all the contents of possession, use, income and disposal. Ownership and its change can be publicized in a clear way. Japan and China's private law system are roughly the same, and the understanding of digital currency is roughly the same. Some of the practices of Chinese courts in judicial practice are ahead of Japan. However, Japan's legislation in recent years has a more proactive attitude. China has completely banned digital currency transactions and ICO. In future legislation, serious consideration should be given to whether digital currency related issues are included in the current legal system.