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Initial coin offerings (ICOs): market cycles and relationship with bitcoin and ether

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Masiak

    (Trier University)

  • Joern H. Block

    (Trier University
    Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Tobias Masiak

    (Saarland University, ZeMA gGmbH)

  • Matthias Neuenkirch

    (Trier University)

  • Katja N. Pielen

    (Trier University)

Abstract

We apply a vector autoregression (VAR) model to investigate the market cycles of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) as well as their relationships with bitcoin and ether. Our sample covers 104 weekly observations between January 2017 and December 2018. Our results show that ICO market cycles exist and that shocks to the growth rates of ICO volumes are persistent. In addition, shocks in cryptocurrency returns have a substantial and positive effect on ICO volumes. In contrast, the volatility of cryptocurrency returns does not significantly affect ICO volumes. Our results are robust to using (i) the number of successfully completed ICO campaigns instead of ICO volumes and (ii) ICO data from a different data source. Our study has implications for financial practice, in particular for cryptocurrency investors and entrepreneurial firms conducting ICOs.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Masiak & Joern H. Block & Tobias Masiak & Matthias Neuenkirch & Katja N. Pielen, 2020. "Initial coin offerings (ICOs): market cycles and relationship with bitcoin and ether," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 1113-1130, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:55:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00176-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00176-3
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    Cited by:

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    2. Massimo G. Colombo & Benedetta Montanaro & Silvio Vismara, 2023. "What drives the valuation of entrepreneurial ventures? A map to navigate the literature and research directions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 59-84, June.
    3. Anton Miglo, 2022. "Choice between IEO and ICO: Speed vs. Liquidity vs. Risk," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Anton Miglo, 2021. "STO vs. ICO: A Theory of Token Issues under Moral Hazard and Demand Uncertainty," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-35, May.
    5. Anton Miglo, 2022. "Theories of Crowdfunding and Token Issues: A Review," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-28, May.
    6. Allen, Franklin & Fatas, Antonio & Weder di Mauro, Beatrice, 2022. "Was the ICO boom just a sideshow of the Bitcoin and Ether Momentum?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    7. Clark, Ephraim & Lahiani, Amine & Mefteh-Wali, Salma, 2023. "Cryptocurrency return predictability: What is the role of the environment?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    8. Tobias Kollmann & Lucas Kleine-Stegemann & Katharina Cruppe & Christina Then-Bergh, 2022. "Eras of Digital Entrepreneurship," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 64(1), pages 15-31, February.
    9. Thomas Lambert & Daniel Liebau & Peter Roosenboom, 2022. "Security token offerings," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 299-325, June.
    10. Bollaert, Helen & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Schwienbacher, Armin, 2021. "Fintech and access to finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    11. Lennart Ante, 2022. "The Non-Fungible Token (NFT) Market and Its Relationship with Bitcoin and Ethereum," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-9, June.
    12. Almeida, José & Gonçalves, Tiago Cruz, 2023. "A systematic literature review of investor behavior in the cryptocurrency markets," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    13. 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.

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