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Downside risk and the cross-section of cryptocurrency returns

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  • Zhang, Wei
  • Li, Yi
  • Xiong, Xiong
  • Wang, Pengfei

Abstract

This paper investigates whether investors can earn higher profits by holding cryptocurrencies with higher downside risk. Both portfolio-level analyses and cryptocurrency-level cross-sectional regressions suggest a positive cross-sectional relation between downside risk and future returns in the cryptocurrency market. In addition to the risk-return tradeoff theory, the limits-to-arbitrage theory also has some explanatory power for these results. Moreover, we examine the source of downside risk premium, the existence of upside risk premium, as well as the intertemporal relation between downside risk and future returns. Collectively, our findings highlight the important role of downside risk in determining cryptocurrency prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Wei & Li, Yi & Xiong, Xiong & Wang, Pengfei, 2021. "Downside risk and the cross-section of cryptocurrency returns," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:133:y:2021:i:c:s0378426621002053
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2021.106246
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    4. Milan Fičura, 2023. "Impact of size and volume on cryptocurrency momentum and reversal," FFA Working Papers 5.003, Prague University of Economics and Business, revised 05 Apr 2023.
    5. Liebi, Luca J., 2022. "Is there a value premium in cryptoasset markets?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    6. Long, Huaigang & Demir, Ender & Będowska-Sójka, Barbara & Zaremba, Adam & Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain, 2022. "Is geopolitical risk priced in the cross-section of cryptocurrency returns?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    7. Leong, Minhao & Kwok, Simon, 2023. "The pricing of jump and diffusive risks in the cross-section of cryptocurrency returns," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
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    9. Fieberg, Christian & Günther, Steffen & Poddig, Thorsten & Zaremba, Adam, 2024. "Non-standard errors in the cryptocurrency world," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    10. Feng, Wenjun & Zhang, Zhengjun, 2023. "Risk-weighted cryptocurrency indices," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    11. Tan, Xilong & Tao, Yubo, 2023. "Trend-based forecast of cryptocurrency returns," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    12. Lee, Kangsan & Jeong, Daeyoung, 2023. "Too much is too bad: The effect of media coverage on the price volatility of cryptocurrencies," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    13. Li, Yi & Urquhart, Andrew & Wang, Pengfei & Zhang, Wei, 2021. "MAX momentum in cryptocurrency markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    14. Alexander, Carol & Deng, Jun & Feng, Jianfen & Wan, Huning, 2023. "Net buying pressure and the information in bitcoin option trades," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    15. Apergis, Nicholas, 2023. "Realized higher-order moments spillovers across cryptocurrencies," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    16. Nuray Tosunoğlu & Hilal Abacı & Gizem Ateş & Neslihan Saygılı Akkaya, 2023. "Artificial neural network analysis of the day of the week anomaly in cryptocurrencies," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, December.
    17. Carol Alexander & Jun Deng & Jianfen Feng & Huning Wan, 2021. "Net Buying Pressure and the Information in Bitcoin Option Trades," Papers 2109.02776, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2022.
    18. Sadaqat, Mohsin & Butt, Hilal Anwar, 2023. "Stop-loss rules and momentum payoffs in cryptocurrencies," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    19. Chen, Rongxin & Lepori, Gabriele M. & Tai, Chung-Ching & Sung, Ming-Chien, 2022. "Can salience theory explain investor behaviour? Real-world evidence from the cryptocurrency market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    20. Yang, Jen-Wei & Chiu, Shih-Yung & Yen, Kuang-Chieh, 2023. "Does the realized distribution-based measure dominate particular moments? Evidence from cryptocurrency markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    21. Abakah, Emmanuel Joel Aikins & Wali Ullah, GM & Adekoya, Oluwasegun B. & Osei Bonsu, Christiana & Abdullah, Mohammad, 2023. "Blockchain market and eco-friendly financial assets: Dynamic price correlation, connectedness and spillovers with portfolio implications," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 218-243.
    22. Abdullah, Mohammad & Adeabah, David & Abakah, Emmanuel Joel Aikins & Lee, Chi-Chuan, 2023. "Extreme return and volatility connectedness among real estate tokens, REITs, and other assets: The role of global factors and portfolio implications," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    23. Fang, Sheng & Cao, Guangxi & Egan, Paul, 2023. "Forecasting and backtesting systemic risk in the cryptocurrency market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cryptocurrency; Downside risk; Return predictability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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