The paper discusses the legal features of digital economy formation. It is shown that the digitalization should be treated as a complex phenomenon, which includes both the formation of knowledge economy and the modernization of existing institutions, including the institution of law. A number of socio-economic phenomena associated with digitalization are described. The idea of eventual degradation of a number of institutions is formulated. The possible transformation of law towards its fragmentation is discussed. The risk of loss of state control over the field of law due to the high degree of commercialization of digital technologies is formulated. It is proposed to use the practice of legal regulation of megascience facilities to form a stable regulatory system taking into account the relationship between man, science, the state, society and nature. Examples of soft law and hoftlaw in the field of legal regulation of scientific activity are presented. The idea of the need for an integrated approach to the development of digital technologies is formulated. These efforts should include the development of existing institutions, taking into account the emerging risks and challenges.