IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/pacfin/v90y2025ics0927538x25000332.html

The effect of culture on global NFT investor attention

Author

Listed:
  • Lin, Zih-Ying

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between national culture and global non-fungible token (NFT) investor attention. We consider 80 countries and use Google search volumes on NFT with different regions as proxy for global NFT investor attention. The results show that individualism positively affects global NFT investor attention. This relation is still significant when we consider the COVID-19 pandemic period. We suggest that investors with a higher risk-taking preference and overconfidence may pay more attention to the NFT market. Lastly, we discuss the effects of different NFT segments and find that culture influences global NFT investor attention, especially for the art segment.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Zih-Ying, 2025. "The effect of culture on global NFT investor attention," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:90:y:2025:i:c:s0927538x25000332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2025.102696
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927538X25000332
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.pacfin.2025.102696?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tan, Gary & Cheong, Chee Seng & Zurbruegg, Ralf, 2019. "National culture and individual trading behavior," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 357-370.
    2. Umar, Zaghum & Abrar, Afsheen & Zaremba, Adam & Teplova, Tamara & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "The Return and Volatility Connectedness of NFT Segments and Media Coverage: Fresh Evidence Based on News About the COVID-19 Pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    3. Yousaf, Imran & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2022. "Static and dynamic connectedness between NFTs, Defi and other assets: Portfolio implication," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Christian Pinto-Gutiérrez & Sandra Gaitán & Diego Jaramillo & Simón Velasquez, 2022. "The NFT Hype: What Draws Attention to Non-Fungible Tokens?," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Hoang, Huy Viet & Nguyen, Cuong & Nguyen, Duc Khuong, 2022. "Corporate immunity, national culture and stock returns: Startups amid the COVID-19 pandemic," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Smales, L.A., 2022. "Investor attention in cryptocurrency markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Dale Griffin & Omrane Guedhami & Chuck C Y Kwok & Kai Li & Liang Shao, 2017. "National culture: The missing country-level determinant of corporate governance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(6), pages 740-762, August.
    8. Vidal-Tomás, David, 2022. "The new crypto niche: NFTs, play-to-earn, and metaverse tokens," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    9. Andy C.W. Chui & Sheridan Titman & K.C. John Wei, 2010. "Individualism and Momentum around the World," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(1), pages 361-392, February.
    10. Djankov, Simeon & McLiesh, Caralee & Shleifer, Andrei, 2007. "Private credit in 129 countries," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 299-329, May.
    11. Horky, Florian & Rachel, Carolina & Fidrmuc, Jarko, 2022. "Price determinants of non-fungible tokens in the digital art market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    12. Lin, Zih-Ying, 2021. "Investor attention and cryptocurrency performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    13. Chui, Andy C.W. & Kwok, Chuck C.Y. & (Stephen) Zhou, Gaoguang, 2016. "National culture and the cost of debt," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 1-19.
    14. Yong-Ho Cheon & Kuan-Hui Lee, 2018. "Maxing Out Globally: Individualism, Investor Attention, and the Cross Section of Expected Stock Returns," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(12), pages 5807-5831, December.
    15. Stulz, Rene M. & Williamson, Rohan, 2003. "Culture, openness, and finance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(3), pages 313-349, December.
    16. Mark Grinblatt & Matti Keloharju, 2001. "How Distance, Language, and Culture Influence Stockholdings and Trades," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 56(3), pages 1053-1073, June.
    17. Aggarwal, Raj & Kearney, Colm & Lucey, Brian, 2012. "Gravity and culture in foreign portfolio investment," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 525-538.
    18. Wang, Hua & Xu, Liao & Sharma, Susan Sunila, 2021. "Does investor attention increase stock market volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    19. Shaen Corbet & John W. Goodell & Samet Gunay & Kerem Kaskaloglu, 2023. "Are DeFi tokens a separate asset class from conventional cryptocurrencies?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 322(2), pages 609-630, March.
    20. Boido, Claudio & Aliano, Mauro, 2023. "Digital art and non-fungible-token: Bubble or revolution?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    21. Foley, Sean & Frijns, Bart & Garel, Alexandre & Roh, Tai-Yong, 2022. "Who buys Bitcoin? The cultural determinants of Bitcoin activity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    22. Mustafa, Ghulam & Rizov, Marian & Kernohan, David, 2017. "Growth, human development, and trade: The Asian experience," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 93-101.
    23. Siegel, Jordan I. & Licht, Amir N. & Schwartz, Shalom H., 2011. "Egalitarianism and international investment," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(3), pages 621-642.
    24. Beckmann, Daniela & Menkhoff, Lukas & Suto, Megumi, 2008. "Does culture influence asset managers' views and behavior?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 67(3-4), pages 624-643, September.
    25. Matthieu Nadini & Laura Alessandretti & Flavio Di Giacinto & Mauro Martino & Luca Maria Aiello & Andrea Baronchelli, 2021. "Mapping the NFT revolution: market trends, trade networks and visual features," Papers 2106.00647, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2021.
    26. Donadelli, Michael & Kizys, Renatas & Riedel, Max, 2017. "Dangerous infectious diseases: Bad news for Main Street, good news for Wall Street?," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 84-103.
    27. Tung Lam Dang & Robert Faff & Hoang Luong & Lily Nguyen, 2019. "Individualistic cultures and crash risk," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 25(3), pages 622-654, June.
    28. Haroon, Omair & Rizvi, Syed Aun R., 2020. "COVID-19: Media coverage and financial markets behavior—A sectoral inquiry," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    29. Frijns, Bart & Hubers, Frank & Kim, Donghoon & Roh, Tai-Yong & Xu, Yahua, 2022. "National culture and corporate risk-taking around the world," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    30. Anselmi, Giulio & Petrella, Giovanni, 2023. "Non-fungible token artworks: More crypto than art?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    31. Aharon, David Y. & Demir, Ender, 2022. "NFTs and asset class spillovers: Lessons from the period around the COVID-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    32. Jin, Xuejun & Chen, Cheng & Yang, Xiaolan, 2024. "The effect of international media news on the global stock market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 50-69.
    33. Berger, Allen N. & Li, Xinming & Morris, Charles S. & Roman, Raluca A., 2021. "The Effects of Cultural Values on Bank Failures around the World," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 56(3), pages 945-993, May.
    34. Li, Kai & Griffin, Dale & Yue, Heng & Zhao, Longkai, 2013. "How does culture influence corporate risk-taking?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 1-22.
    35. Umar, Zaghum & Alwahedi, Wafa & Zaremba, Adam & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "Return and volatility connectedness of the non-fungible tokens segments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    36. Chen, Yangyang & Dou, Paul Y. & Rhee, S. Ghon & Truong, Cameron & Veeraraghavan, Madhu, 2015. "National culture and corporate cash holdings around the world," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-18.
    37. Wei Jiao, 2020. "Portfolio manager home‐country culture and mutual fund risk‐taking," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 49(3), pages 805-838, September.
    38. Wang, Yizhi, 2022. "Volatility spillovers across NFTs news attention and financial markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    39. Lin, Zih-Ying & Lu, Jia-Wen, 2024. "The impact of COVID-19 on global investor attention," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    40. Anderson, Christopher W. & Fedenia, Mark & Hirschey, Mark & Skiba, Hilla, 2011. "Cultural influences on home bias and international diversification by institutional investors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 916-934, April.
    41. Fernandez-Perez, Adrian & Gilbert, Aaron & Indriawan, Ivan & Nguyen, Nhut H., 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic and stock market response: A culture effect," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Proelss, Juliane & Sévigny, Stéphane & Schweizer, Denis, 2023. "GameFi: The perfect symbiosis of blockchain, tokens, DeFi, and NFTs?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Goodell, John W. & Kumar, Satish & Lahmar, Oumaima & Pandey, Nitesh, 2023. "A bibliometric analysis of cultural finance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Foley, Sean & Frijns, Bart & Garel, Alexandre & Roh, Tai-Yong, 2022. "Who buys Bitcoin? The cultural determinants of Bitcoin activity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Wang, Zhimin & Zhu, Xiaodi & Ding, Ruixin, 2025. "National culture’s influence on firm performance in bad times: Evidence from the COVID-19 crisis and GFC," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Zhe An & Zhe Cao & Zhian Chen & Donghui Li, 2020. "Does individualistic culture impact operational risk?," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 26(3), pages 808-838, June.
    6. Wang, Wenzhao & Duxbury, Darren, 2021. "Institutional investor sentiment and the mean-variance relationship: Global evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 415-441.
    7. Pascal Gantenbein & Axel Kind & Christophe Volonté, 2019. "Individualism and Venture Capital: A Cross-Country Study," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 741-777, October.
    8. Fernandez-Perez, Adrian & Gilbert, Aaron & Indriawan, Ivan & Nguyen, Nhut H., 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic and stock market response: A culture effect," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    9. Nistor, Simona & Fărcaș, Ioana Georgiana, 2025. "Does national culture affect macroprudential policy? An international investigation of regulatory behavior on macroprudential interventions," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    10. Bitar, Mohammad & Tarazi, Amine, 2022. "Individualism, formal institutional environments, and bank capital decisions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    11. Duan, Yuejiao & Guedhami, Omrane & Li, Xinming & Zhao, Daxuan, 2024. "Individualism and bank financial structure similarity," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    12. Li, Lu & Duan, Yang & He, Yuqian & Chan, Kam C., 2018. "Linguistic distance and mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 81-102.
    13. Cline, Brandon N. & Williamson, Claudia R., 2017. "Individualism, democracy, and contract enforcement," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 284-306.
    14. Kostas Pappas & Alice Liang Xu, 2023. "Do foreign lenders' national cultures affect loan pricing?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 2006-2036, April.
    15. Zhang, John Fan & Wang, Yang & Du, Qingjie, 2024. "The impact of cultural distance on fund transfers in the internal capital market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    16. Huong Dang, 2014. "How dimensions of national culture and institutional characteristics influence sovereign rating migration dynamics," ZenTra Working Papers in Transnational Studies 42 / 2014, ZenTra - Center for Transnational Studies.
    17. Lievenbrück, Martin & Schmid, Thomas, 2014. "Why do firms (not) hedge? — Novel evidence on cultural influence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 92-106.
    18. Wang, Yizhi, 2022. "Volatility spillovers across NFTs news attention and financial markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    19. Karolyi, G. Andrew, 2016. "The gravity of culture for finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 610-625.
    20. Tsalavoutas, Ioannis & Tsoligkas, Fanis, 2021. "Uncertainty avoidance and stock price informativeness of future earnings," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G40 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:90:y:2025:i:c:s0927538x25000332. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/pacfin .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.