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Fundamental and speculative components of the cryptocurrency pricing dynamics

Author

Listed:
  • Jiri Kukacka

    (Czech Academy of Sciences
    Charles University)

  • Ladislav Kristoufek

    (Czech Academy of Sciences
    Charles University)

Abstract

The driving forces behind cryptoassets’ price dynamics are often perceived as being dominated by speculative factors and inherent bubble-bust episodes. Fundamental components are believed to have a weak, if any, role in the price-formation process. This study examines five cryptoassets with different backgrounds, namely Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, and Dogecoin between 2016 and 2022. It utilizes the cusp catastrophe model to connect the fundamental and speculative drivers with possible price bifurcation characteristics of market collapse events. The findings show that the price and return dynamics of all the studied assets, except for Dogecoin, emerge from complex interactions between fundamental and speculative components, including episodes of price bifurcations. Bitcoin shows the strongest fundamentals, with on-chain activity and economic factors driving the fundamental part of the dynamics. Investor attention and off-chain activity drive the speculative component for all studied assets. Among the fundamental drivers, the analyzed cryptoassets present their coin-specific factors, which can be tracked to their protocol specifics and are economically sound.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiri Kukacka & Ladislav Kristoufek, 2023. "Fundamental and speculative components of the cryptocurrency pricing dynamics," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:fininn:v:9:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1186_s40854-023-00465-7
    DOI: 10.1186/s40854-023-00465-7
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cryptocurrency; Bitcoin; Cusp catastrophe model; Crash;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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