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Price Manipulation in the Bitcoin Ecosystem

Author

Listed:
  • Gandal, Neil
  • Oberman, Tali
  • Moore, Tyler
  • Hamrick, JT

Abstract

We identify and analyze the impact of suspicious trading activity on the Mt. Gox Bitcoin currency exchange between February and November 2013. We discuss two distinct periods in which approximately 600,000 bitcoins (BTC) valued at $188 million were acquired by agents who likely did not pay for them. During both periods, the USD-BTC exchange rate rose by an average of four percent on days when suspicious trades took place. On days without suspicious activity, the exchange rate remained at. Based on rigorous analysis with extensive robustness checks, we conclude that the suspicious trading activity likely caused the unprecedented spike in the USD-BTC exchange rate in late 2013, when the rate jumped from around $150 to more than $1,000 in two months.

Suggested Citation

  • Gandal, Neil & Oberman, Tali & Moore, Tyler & Hamrick, JT, 2017. "Price Manipulation in the Bitcoin Ecosystem," CEPR Discussion Papers 12061, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:12061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; Price manipulation; Cryptocurrencies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E39 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Other

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