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Can Bitcoin Replace Gold in an Investment Portfolio?

Author

Listed:
  • Irene Henriques

    () (Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Perry Sadorsky

    () (Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

Abstract

Bitcoin is an exciting new financial product that may be useful for inclusion in investment portfolios. This paper investigates the implications of replacing gold in an investment portfolio with bitcoin (“digital gold”). Our approach is to use several different multivariate GARCH models (dynamic conditional correlation (DCC), asymmetric DCC (ADCC), generalized orthogonal GARCH (GO-GARCH)) to estimate minimum variance equity portfolios. Both long and short portfolios are considered. An analysis of the economic value shows that risk-averse investors will be willing to pay a high performance fee to switch from a portfolio with gold to a portfolio with bitcoin. These results are robust to the inclusion of trading costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Irene Henriques & Perry Sadorsky, 2018. "Can Bitcoin Replace Gold in an Investment Portfolio?," Journal of Risk and Financial Management, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:11:y:2018:i:3:p:48-:d:163664
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gronwald, Marc, 2019. "Is Bitcoin a Commodity? On price jumps, demand shocks, and certainty of supply," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 86-92.
    2. Chu, Jeffrey & Zhang, Yuanyuan & Chan, Stephen, 2019. "The adaptive market hypothesis in the high frequency cryptocurrency market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 221-231.
    3. Ji, Qiang & Bouri, Elie & Roubaud, David & Kristoufek, Ladislav, 2019. "Information interdependence among energy, cryptocurrency and major commodity markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1042-1055.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; gold; GARCH; portfolio modelling; risk management;

    JEL classification:

    • C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods
    • E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G - Financial Economics

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