The need for the use of new, digital forms of organization of monetary and financial settlements with foreign partners, as well as the formation of a national system of secure payments. The article presents the result of analysis of motivations of introduction of digital currencies of central banks (positive and negative moments of the considered process). The article gives an overview of existing international payment systems, including the Russian one, and identifies advantages and disadvantages. The main tendencies of the cryptocurrency market as a possible mechanism of formation of decentralized finance are considered.