Abstract
The emergence of a decentralized peer-to-peer platforms that matches lending and borrowing without collateral requirements and bank lending channels allowed to develop the new market of alternative financial instruments. In this paper, we aim to analyze the origins and nature of alternative finance, consolidate, and categorize the theoretical foundation of the alternative finance market, determine the taxonomy of its instruments, and identify and critically analyze the strategies and legislative framework for the development and functioning of the alternative finance market in the Republic of Moldova. The theoretical and practical significance of this research lies in the development of an econometric model that examines the influence of various groups of factors (regulatory, social, economic development, information technology) on the per capita volume of the alternative finance market. The obtained data enabled the identification of priority areas and specific proposals for the development of conditions and the potential of alternative finance in the Republic of Moldova.