The expert assessed the impact of the law on the platform economy on marketplaces

The law on the platform economy, which will enter into force on October 1, 2026, will make the operation of marketplaces more transparent and predictable, as well as create uniform rules for all market participants. This opinion was expressed to Izvestia on July 8 by Yuri Gizatullin, an expert in the field of platforms and digital business transformation.

According to him, the new law will become an important stage in the development of the industry, as it will shift the market from a regime of constant changes and manual control to a system with clear rules.

"The main effect of the law is that the market is moving out of the gray zone in which it has largely lived since the beginning of its existence. This is always a plus for business," said Gizatullin.

The expert said that there would be no mass withdrawal of sellers from marketplaces after the law came into force. On the contrary, companies that operate legally, comply with certification requirements, and build a sustainable business economy will be in a better position. They will no longer have to compete with sellers using gray schemes, dumping and other unfair practices.

According to Gizatullin, the new rules will become a kind of filter for casual market participants, whose business was built solely on the ease of access to marketplaces and the absence of strict requirements.

The expert also believes that the law will open up additional opportunities for Russian manufacturers. In particular, enterprises in the light industry, furniture industry, food industry and other areas will be able to strengthen their positions thanks to a more transparent competitive environment.

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However, he noted that it is not worth counting on the instant disappearance of counterfeit products. The law only creates the necessary control mechanisms, whereas the final result will depend on how effectively the platforms themselves organize the verification of sellers, documents and the processing of complaints.

According to the expert, marketplaces will have to increase costs for the development of IT infrastructure, moderation, legal support and verification of sellers. However, he does not expect a significant increase in prices for buyers, since high competition between sites will not allow the additional costs to be fully shifted to consumers.

Separately, Gizatullin highlighted the norm according to which unreasonable blocking of sellers should be eliminated within 48 hours. According to him, this measure will be effective only if the platforms reconsider their approach to automated moderation.

"Today, too many decisions are made by algorithms, and then it is almost impossible for the seller to quickly prove his case. The law pushes the market to create fairer processes. Most likely, platforms will invest in the development of artificial intelligence rather than hire new moderators en masse," the expert emphasized.

In his opinion, the law on the platform economy will be a signal for the further maturation of the marketplace market, make it more honest and predictable, and create additional opportunities for the development of regional manufacturers and local brands.

Dmitry Pyanov, First Deputy President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank, said at the session "Banks and Marketplaces: Fair Competition on Digital Platforms" at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 5 that competition between banks and marketplaces goes beyond financial products, discount programs and loyalty programs. According to him, comparing traditional banks and marketplaces, it can be noted that the latter are "further down the hierarchy of trading in human happiness."