IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijfss/v13y2025i3p169-d1745280.html

Dynamics of Cryptocurrencies, DeFi Tokens, and Tech Stocks: Lessons from the FTX Collapse

Author

Listed:
  • Nader Naifar

    (Department of Finance, College of Business, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammed S. Makni

    (Department of Finance, College of Business, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The FTX collapse marked a significant shock to global crypto markets, prompting concerns about systemic contagion. This paper investigates the dynamic connectedness between cryptocurrencies, DeFi tokens, and tech stocks, focusing on the systemic impact of the FTX collapse. We decompose total, internal, and external connectedness across asset groups using a time-varying parameter VAR model. The results show that post-FTX, Bitcoin and Ethereum intensified their roles as core shock transmitters, while Tether consistently acted as a volatility absorber. DeFi tokens exhibited heightened intra-group spillovers and occasional external influence, reflecting structural fragility. Tech stocks remained largely insulated, with reduced cross-market linkages. Network visualizations confirm a post-crisis fragmentation, characterized by denser internal crypto-DeFi ties and weaker inter-group contagion. These findings have important policy implications for regulators, investors, and system designers, indicating the need for targeted risk monitoring and governance within decentralized finance.

Suggested Citation

  • Nader Naifar & Mohammed S. Makni, 2025. "Dynamics of Cryptocurrencies, DeFi Tokens, and Tech Stocks: Lessons from the FTX Collapse," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:13:y:2025:i:3:p:169-:d:1745280
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/3/169/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/3/169/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liu, Jian & Julaiti, Jiansuer & Gou, Shangde, 2024. "Decomposing interconnectedness: A study of cryptocurrency spillover effects in global financial markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    2. Katsiampa, Paraskevi & Yarovaya, Larisa & Zięba, Damian, 2022. "High-frequency connectedness between Bitcoin and other top-traded crypto assets during the COVID-19 crisis," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Binh Nguyen Thanh & Thai Nguyen Vu Hong & Huy Pham & Thanh Nguyen Cong & Thu Pham Thi Anh, 2023. "Are the stabilities of stablecoins connected?," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(3), pages 515-525, September.
    4. Kumar, Ashish & Iqbal, Najaf & Mitra, Subrata Kumar & Kristoufek, Ladislav & Bouri, Elie, 2022. "Connectedness among major cryptocurrencies in standard times and during the COVID-19 outbreak," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Jalan, Akanksha & Matkovskyy, Roman, 2023. "Systemic risks in the cryptocurrency market: Evidence from the FTX collapse," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    6. Galati, Luca & Webb, Alexander & Webb, Robert I., 2024. "Financial contagion in cryptocurrency exchanges: Evidence from the FTT collapse," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    7. Ugolini, Andrea & Reboredo, Juan C. & Mensi, Walid, 2023. "Connectedness between DeFi, cryptocurrency, stock, and safe-haven assets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(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. Ismail Adelopo & Xiaojun Luo, 2025. "Interconnectedness among cryptocurrencies and financial markets: a systematic literature review," Digital Finance, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 1119-1171, December.
    2. Han, SeungOh, 2025. "Dynamic risk and hedging strategies in post-COVID digital asset sectors," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Younis, Ijaz & Du, Anna Min & Gupta, Himani & Shah, Waheed Ullah, 2024. "Dynamic spillover effects and interconnectedness of DeFi assets, commodities, and Islamic stock markets during crises," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    4. Mbarek, Marouene & Msolli, Badreddine, 2025. "Tokens and cryptocurrencies: Evidence from asymmetric frequency connectedness approach," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PA).
    5. Yousaf, Imran & Cui, Jinxin & Ali, Shoaib, 2024. "Dynamic spillover between green cryptocurrencies and stocks: A portfolio implication," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    6. Yousaf, Imran & Abrar, Afsheen & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2023. "Decentralized and centralized exchanges: Which digital tokens pose a greater contagion risk?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Umesh Kumar & Biqing Huang & Jennifer Paige Burks, 2026. "The linkage of bitcoin and Ethereum with financial markets," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 50(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Dora Almeida & Andreia Dionísio & Paulo Ferreira & Isabel Vieira, 2023. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cryptocurrency Markets: A DCCA Analysis," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-17, May.
    9. Muhammad Irfan & Mubeen Abdur Rehman & Sarah Nawazish & Yu Hao, 2023. "Performance Analysis of Gold- and Fiat-Backed Cryptocurrencies: Risk-Based Choice for a Portfolio," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-15, February.
    10. De Blasis, Riccardo & Galati, Luca & Grassi, Rosanna & Rizzini, Giorgio, 2024. "Information flow in the FTX bankruptcy: A network approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 655(C).
    11. Nguyen, An Pham Ngoc & Mai, Tai Tan & Bezbradica, Marija & Crane, Martin, 2023. "Volatility and returns connectedness in cryptocurrency markets: Insights from graph-based methods," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 632(P1).
    12. Chen, Wei-Peng & Wu, Chih-Chiang & Aimable, Withz, 2025. "Cryptocurrency market spillover in times of uncertainty," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    13. Ata Assaf & Ender Demir & Oguz Ersan, 2025. "What drives the return and volatility spillover between DeFis and cryptocurrencies?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 1302-1318, April.
    14. Magner, Nicolás & Sanhueza, Aliro, 2025. "The Moby Dick effect: Contagious Bitcoin whales in the crypto market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    15. Meiyu Wu & Li Wang & Haijun Yang, 2024. "Heterogeneity in the volatility spillover of cryptocurrencies and exchanges," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 1-46, December.
    16. Jinxin Cui & Aktham Maghyereh, 2022. "Time–frequency co-movement and risk connectedness among cryptocurrencies: new evidence from the higher-order moments before and during the COVID-19 pandemic," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-56, December.
    17. Bouri, Elie & Sokhanvar, Amin & Kinateder, Harald & Çiftçioğlu, Serhan, 2025. "Tech titans and crypto giants: Mutual returns predictability and trading strategy implications," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    18. Lin, Xudong & Meng, Yiqun & Zhu, Hao, 2023. "How connected is the crypto market risk to investor sentiment?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    19. Ali, Fahad & Khurram, Muhammad Usman, 2025. "Leverage effects, volatility innovation spillovers, and inter- and intra-market asymmetric dependencies in cryptocurrencies and CFDs on equity indices: Evidence from high-frequency around-the-clock data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    20. Ali, Shoaib & Ijaz, Muhammad Shahzad & Yousaf, Imran, 2023. "Dynamic spillovers and portfolio risk management between defi and metals: Empirical evidence from the Covid-19," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:gam:jijfss:v:13:y:2025:i:3:p:169-:d:1745280. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.