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Do connections pay off in the bitcoin market?

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  • Tsang, Kwok Ping
  • Yang, Zichao

Abstract

This paper identifies the bitcoin investor network and studies the relationship between connections and returns. Using transaction data recorded in the bitcoin blockchain from 2015 to 2020, we reach three conclusions. First, connectedness is not strongly correlated with higher returns in the first four years. However, the correlation becomes strong and significant in 2019 and 2020. Second, returns also differ among those connected addresses. By dividing the connected addresses into ten decile groups based on their centrality, we find that the top 20% most-connected addresses earn higher returns than their peers during most of our sample period. Third, eigenvector centrality is more related to higher returns than degree centrality for the top 20% most-connected addresses, implying that the quality of connections may matter more than quantity among those highly connected addresses.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsang, Kwok Ping & Yang, Zichao, 2022. "Do connections pay off in the bitcoin market?," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:empfin:v:67:y:2022:i:c:p:1-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jempfin.2022.02.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rudkin, Simon & Rudkin, Wanling & Dłotko, Paweł, 2023. "On the topology of cryptocurrency markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Maria Chiara Pocelli & Manuel L. Esquível & Nadezhda P. Krasii, 2023. "Spectral Analysis for Comparing Bitcoin to Currencies and Assets," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; Networks; Centrality; Asset returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C55 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Large Data Sets: Modeling and Analysis
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation

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