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Banning bitcoin

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  • Hendrickson, Joshua R.
  • Luther, William J.

Abstract

We employ a monetary model with endogenous search and random consumption preferences to consider the extent to which a government can ban an alternative currency, like bitcoin. We define a ban as a policy whereby government agents refuse to accept an alternative currency and mete out punishments to private agents caught using it. After identifying monetary equilibria where an alternative currency is accepted, we then derive the conditions under which a ban might deter its use. As in earlier studies, we show that a government of sufficient size can prevent an alternative currency from circulating without relying on punishments. We also show that, given its size, a government can ban an alternative currency so long as it is willing and able to mete out sufficiently severe punishments.

Suggested Citation

  • Hendrickson, Joshua R. & Luther, William J., 2017. "Banning bitcoin," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 188-195.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:141:y:2017:i:c:p:188-195
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2017.07.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Wei Zhang & Pengfei Wang & Xiao Li & Dehua Shen, 2018. "Some stylized facts of the cryptocurrency market," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(55), pages 5950-5965, November.
    3. Corbet, Shaen & Lucey, Brian & Urquhart, Andrew & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2019. "Cryptocurrencies as a financial asset: A systematic analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 182-199.
    4. Atsalakis, George S. & Atsalaki, Ioanna G. & Pasiouras, Fotios & Zopounidis, Constantin, 2019. "Bitcoin price forecasting with neuro-fuzzy techniques," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(2), pages 770-780.
    5. Philippas, Dionisis & Rjiba, Hatem & Guesmi, Khaled & Goutte, Stéphane, 2019. "Media attention and Bitcoin prices," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 37-43.
    6. Greg W. Hunter & Craig Kerr, 2019. "Virtual Money Illusion and the Fundamental Value of Non-Fiat Anonymous Digital Payment Methods," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 25(2), pages 151-164, May.
    7. Kyriazis, Nikolaos & Papadamou, Stephanos & Corbet, Shaen, 2020. "A systematic review of the bubble dynamics of cryptocurrency prices," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    8. Wei Zhang & Pengfei Wang & Xiao Li & Dehua Shen, 2018. "Multifractal Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis of the Return-Volume Relationship of Bitcoin Market," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2018, pages 1-20, July.
    9. Luca Marchiori, 2018. "Monetary theory reversed: Virtual currency issuance and miners’ remuneration," BCL working papers 115, Central Bank of Luxembourg.
    10. Zhang, Wei & Wang, Pengfei & Li, Xiao & Shen, Dehua, 2018. "The inefficiency of cryptocurrency and its cross-correlation with Dow Jones Industrial Average," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 510(C), pages 658-670.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ban; Bitcoin; Cryptocurrency; Currency; Endogenous matching; Money; Money matching; Political economy; Random matching; Transactions policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General

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