Abstract: In the mechanism of crowdfunding as a new form of collaborative financing, the online platform is particularly important, being more than just a simple intermediary. The role of the platform is indisputable as to the point in which it is a sine qua non condition for qualifying an operation as crowdfunding. Therefore, we find it essential to research the aspects regarding the functioning of the crowdfunding platform, in order to explain its mechanism and to deduce a series of rules of conduct. Apart from the legal and economical standpoint, we will analyze some vulnerabilities of the system associated with online crowdfunding transactions, in an attempt to determine whether the promised user protection and security is indeed a real one.
Keywords: platform, collaborative financing, crowdfunding, system vulnerability, online transaction