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One Cryptocurrency to Explain Them All? Understanding the Importance of Bitcoin in Cryptocurrency Returns

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  • Lee Alan Smales

Abstract

We utilise principal component analysis to determine whether a (small) set of factors can explain cryptocurrency returns and whether this varies over time. We find that a substantial proportion of cryptocurrency return variation is explained by a single principal component that is highly correlated with bitcoin returns. The explanatory power of this factor is greatest for larger cryptocurrencies and increases markedly in the most recent part of the sample. Our results have implications for investors determining optimal portfolio decisions and for policy‐makers wary of systemic risk.

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  • Lee Alan Smales, 2020. "One Cryptocurrency to Explain Them All? Understanding the Importance of Bitcoin in Cryptocurrency Returns," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 39(2), pages 118-132, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:econpa:v:39:y:2020:i:2:p:118-132
    DOI: 10.1111/1759-3441.12282
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lee A. Smales, 2021. "Volatility Spillovers among Cryptocurrencies," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Victoria Dobrynskaya & Mikhail Dubrovskiy, 2022. "Cryptocurrencies Meet Equities: Risk Factors And Asset Pricing Relationships," HSE Working papers WP BRP 86/FE/2022, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    4. Vidal-Tomás, David, 2021. "The entry and exit dynamics of the cryptocurrency market," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    5. Dobrynskaya, Victoria, 2024. "Is downside risk priced in cryptocurrency market?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Ishtiaq Ahmad Bajwa & Shafiq Ur Rehman & Abid Iqbal & Zaheer Anwer & Murtaza Ashiq & Muhammad Ajmal Khan, 2022. "Past, Present and Future of FinTech Research: A Bibliometric Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    7. Lennart Ante & Ender Demir, 2024. "The ChatGPT effect on AI-themed cryptocurrencies," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 13(1), pages 29-38.
    8. Phumudzo Lloyd Seabe & Claude Rodrigue Bambe Moutsinga & Edson Pindza, 2024. "Optimizing Cryptocurrency Returns: A Quantitative Study on Factor-Based Investing," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-28, April.
    9. Riccardo Blasis & Luca Galati & Alexander Webb & Robert I. Webb, 2023. "Intelligent design: stablecoins (in)stability and collateral during market turbulence," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-23, December.
    10. Smales, L.A., 2022. "Investor attention in cryptocurrency markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Kim, S. Thomas, 2022. "Is it worth to hold bitcoin?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    12. Ashton de Silva & Mikayla Novak, 2020. "Introduction to the Special Section," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 39(2), pages 101-103, June.
    13. Sayed Mohammad Mousavi & Yazdan Shahin Rad, 2023. "Challenges and Legal Aspects of Financing Projects Through Cryptocurrencies in Iran," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 13(4), pages 127-151.

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