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Dark web traffic, privacy coins, and cryptocurrency trading activity

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  • Scharnowski, Stefan

Abstract

Cryptocurrencies, especially privacy coins, conceal the flow of money. Similarly, the dark web obscures the flow of internet traffic, increasing anonymity. In this paper, I provide evidence that secondary market trading activity in privacy coins is linked to dark web traffic, although their pricing remains mostly unaffected. This finding holds after considering various controls and comparing similar privacy and non-privacy coins. However, when disentangling dark web traffic by country of origin, I find that privacy coin prices correlate positively with traffic from China, while trading volume is mainly driven by users from Russia and Iran.

Suggested Citation

  • Scharnowski, Stefan, 2024. "Dark web traffic, privacy coins, and cryptocurrency trading activity," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:67:y:2024:i:pb:s154461232400905x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.105875
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aalborg, Halvor Aarhus & Molnár, Peter & de Vries, Jon Erik, 2019. "What can explain the price, volatility and trading volume of Bitcoin?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 255-265.
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    7. Alnasaa, Marwa & Gueorguiev, Nikolay & Honda, Jiro & Imamoglu, Eslem & Mauro, Paolo & Primus, Keyra & Rozhkov, Dmitriy, 2022. "Crypto-assets, corruption, and capital controls: Cross-country correlations," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Albina Gaisina & Matthias Finger, 2025. "Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs): a countermeasure to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) challenges posed by cryptocurrencies?," Digital Finance, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 201-254, June.
    2. Marmora, Paul, 2026. "Hiding in plain sight: Detecting underground sportsbooks through local Bitcoin demand," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    3. Lin, Minghui & Liu, Ye & Sheng, Vincent Ng Kim, 2025. "Analysis of the impact of macroeconomic factors on cryptocurrency returns - Based on quantile regression study," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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