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Predicting crypto-currencies using sparse non-Gaussian state space models

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  • Christian Hotz-Behofsits
  • Florian Huber
  • Thomas O. Zorner

Abstract

In this paper we forecast daily returns of crypto-currencies using a wide variety of different econometric models. To capture salient features commonly observed in financial time series like rapid changes in the conditional variance, non-normality of the measurement errors and sharply increasing trends, we develop a time-varying parameter VAR with t-distributed measurement errors and stochastic volatility. To control for overparameterization, we rely on the Bayesian literature on shrinkage priors that enables us to shrink coefficients associated with irrelevant predictors and/or perform model specification in a flexible manner. Using around one year of daily data we perform a real-time forecasting exercise and investigate whether any of the proposed models is able to outperform the naive random walk benchmark. To assess the economic relevance of the forecasting gains produced by the proposed models we moreover run a simple trading exercise.

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  • Christian Hotz-Behofsits & Florian Huber & Thomas O. Zorner, 2018. "Predicting crypto-currencies using sparse non-Gaussian state space models," Papers 1801.06373, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2018.
  • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1801.06373
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tak Kuen Siu, 2023. "Bayesian nonlinear expectation for time series modelling and its application to Bitcoin," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 505-537, January.
    3. Anoop S Kumar & Taufeeq Ajaz, 2019. "Co-movement in crypto-currency markets: evidences from wavelet analysis," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 5(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Pratha Khandelwal & Philip Nadler & Rossella Arcucci & William Knottenbelt & Yi-Ke Guo, 2021. "A Scalable Inference Method For Large Dynamic Economic Systems," Papers 2110.14346, arXiv.org.
    5. Rick Bohte & Luca Rossini, 2019. "Comparing the Forecasting of Cryptocurrencies by Bayesian Time-Varying Volatility Models," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Kubin, Ingrid & Zörner, Thomas O. & Gardini, Laura & Commendatore, Pasquale, 2019. "A credit cycle model with market sentiments," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 159-174.
    7. Hachicha, Fatma & Masmoudi, Afif & Abid, Ilyes & Obeid, Hassan, 2023. "Herding behavior in exploring the predictability of price clustering in cryptocurrency market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    8. Theodore Panagiotidis & Thanasis Stengos & Orestis Vravosinos, 2020. "A Principal Component-Guided Sparse Regression Approach for the Determination of Bitcoin Returns," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-10, February.
    9. Gupta, Rangan & Huber, Florian & Piribauer, Philipp, 2020. "Predicting international equity returns: Evidence from time-varying parameter vector autoregressive models," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    10. Koki, Constandina & Leonardos, Stefanos & Piliouras, Georgios, 2022. "Exploring the predictability of cryptocurrencies via Bayesian hidden Markov models," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    11. Catania, Leopoldo & Grassi, Stefano & Ravazzolo, Francesco, 2019. "Forecasting cryptocurrencies under model and parameter instability," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 485-501.
    12. Constandina Koki & Stefanos Leonardos & Georgios Piliouras, 2019. "A Peek into the Unobservable: Hidden States and Bayesian Inference for the Bitcoin and Ether Price Series," Papers 1909.10957, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2021.
    13. Constandina Koki & Stefanos Leonardos & Georgios Piliouras, 2020. "Do Cryptocurrency Prices Camouflage Latent Economic Effects? A Bayesian Hidden Markov Approach," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, March.
    14. Massimo Guidolin & Manuela Pedio, 2022. "Switching Coefficients or Automatic Variable Selection: An Application in Forecasting Commodity Returns," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-32, February.
    15. Phillip, Andrew & Chan, Jennifer & Peiris, Shelton, 2020. "On generalized bivariate student-t Gegenbauer long memory stochastic volatility models with leverage: Bayesian forecasting of cryptocurrencies with a focus on Bitcoin," Econometrics and Statistics, Elsevier, vol. 16(C), pages 69-90.
    16. Jin-Bom Han & Sun-Hak Kim & Myong-Hun Jang & Kum-Sun Ri, 2020. "Using Genetic Algorithm and NARX Neural Network to Forecast Daily Bitcoin Price," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 56(2), pages 337-353, August.
    17. Pattnaik, Debidutta & Hassan, M. Kabir & Dsouza, Arun & Tiwari, Aviral & Devji, Shridev, 2023. "Ex-post facto analysis of cryptocurrency literature over a decade using bibliometric technique," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    18. Leopoldo Catania & Stefano Grassi & Francesco Ravazzolo, 2018. "Forecasting Cryptocurrencies Financial Time Series," Working Papers No 5/2018, Centre for Applied Macro- and Petroleum economics (CAMP), BI Norwegian Business School.
    19. Camilla Muglia & Luca Santabarbara & Stefano Grassi, 2019. "Is Bitcoin a Relevant Predictor of Standard & Poor’s 500?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-10, May.
    20. Constandina Koki & Stefanos Leonardos & Georgios Piliouras, 2020. "Exploring the Predictability of Cryptocurrencies via Bayesian Hidden Markov Models," Papers 2011.03741, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2020.

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