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On the stability of stablecoins

Author

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  • Grobys, Klaus
  • Junttila, Juha
  • Kolari, James W.
  • Sapkota, Niranjan

Abstract

This paper investigates the volatility processes of stablecoins and their potential stochastic interdependencies with Bitcoin volatility. We employ a novel approach to choose the optimal combination for the power law exponent and the minimum value for the volatilities bending the power law. Our results indicate that Bitcoin volatility is well-behaved in a statistical sense with a finite theoretical variance. Surprisingly, the volatilities of stablecoins are statistically unstable and contemporaneously respond to Bitcoin volatility. Also, whereas the volatilities of stablecoins are not Granger-causal for Bitcoin volatility, lagged Bitcoin volatility exhibits Granger-causal effects on the volatilities of stablecoins. We conclude that Bitcoin volatility is a fundamental factor that drives the volatilities of stablecoins.

Suggested Citation

  • Grobys, Klaus & Junttila, Juha & Kolari, James W. & Sapkota, Niranjan, 2021. "On the stability of stablecoins," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 207-223.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:empfin:v:64:y:2021:i:c:p:207-223
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jempfin.2021.09.002
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    7. Matthias Hafner & Marco Henriques Pereira & Helmut Dietl & Juan Beccuti, 2023. "The four types of stablecoins: A comparative analysis," Papers 2308.07041, arXiv.org.
    8. Mahmut Bağcı & Pınar Kaya Soylu & Selçuk Kıran, 2024. "The Symmetric and Asymmetric Algorithmic Trading Strategies for the Stablecoins," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 64(5), pages 2663-2684, November.
    9. Grobys, Klaus, 2023. "Correlation versus co-fractality: Evidence from foreign-exchange-rate variances," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    10. 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.
    11. Arthur A. B. Pessa & Matjaz Perc & Haroldo V. Ribeiro, 2023. "Age and market capitalization drive large price variations of cryptocurrencies," Papers 2302.12319, arXiv.org.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; Financial technology; Power laws; Spillovers; Stablecoins; Volatility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C19 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Other
    • C49 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Other
    • C59 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Other
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G19 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Other

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