Balance of economic interests of sellers and trading platforms as a factor of economic security of the Russian e-commerce market

Introduction. The Russian e-commerce market is undergoing a period of rapid transformation driven by the dominance of major digital trading platforms (marketplaces). The market volume reached 11.5 trillion rubles by the end of 2025; however, this dynamic growth is accompanied by a growing asymmetry of economic interests between sellers and platforms. This asymmetry gives rise to a set of threats to the economic security of small and medium-sized enterprises at both sectoral and regional levels.

Purpose. The objective is to investigate mechanisms for balancing economic interests between sellers and digital platforms within the context of economic security.

The methodological basis of the study comprised systematic analysis of academic literature, comparative analysis of regulatory acts of the Russian Federation and the European Union in the field of platform economy regulation, as well as content analysis of analytical reports from leading research organizations.

The theoretical foundation drew upon economic security concepts, platform market theory, and the institutional approach to digital economy regulation.

Results. A theoretical and methodological framework for digital commerce research has been developed, incorporating a system of technical and economic criteria for distinguishing phases of trade relations in the digital environment and an original periodization of digital economy development identifying three sequential phases. The essential nature of the transition from electronic to digital commerce has been substantiated. A pattern of transition from market self-regulation to the formation of institutional mechanisms for protecting the economic interests of platform economy participants has been identified. An original classification of economic security threats to e-commerce entities has been developed, differentiating challenges, dangers, and threats by their degree of impact on the economic interests of sellers and platforms. It has been demonstrated that the growth of marketplace commissions reaching 35–47% of revenue, discriminatory conditions for domestic entrepreneurs, and the lack of transparency in product ranking algorithms constitute a systemic threat to economic security.

Conclusions. The article argues that ensuring the economic security of e-commerce entities requires a transition from market self-regulation to institutional protection mechanisms, as reflected in the adoption of Federal Law No. 289-FZ. The practical significance lies in the potential application of the findings to the development of secondary legislation under this law and the improvement of the regulatory framework governing the platform economy.

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