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“Shiny” crypto assets: A systemic look at gold-backed cryptocurrencies during the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Jalan, Akanksha
  • Matkovskyy, Roman
  • Yarovaya, Larisa

Abstract

In this paper, we empirically analyse the performance of five gold-backed stablecoins during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare them to gold, Bitcoin and Tether. In the digital assets' ecosystem, gold-backed cryptocurrencies have the potential to address regulatory and policy concerns by decreasing volatility of cryptocurrency prices and facilitating broader cryptocurrency adoption. We find that during the COVID-19 pandemic, gold-backed cryptocurrencies were susceptible to volatility transmitted from gold markets. Our results indicate that for the selected gold-backed cryptocurrencies, their volatility, and as a consequence, risks associated with volatility, remained comparable to the Bitcoin. In addition, gold-backed cryptocurrencies did not show safe-haven potential comparable to their underlying precious metal, gold.

Suggested Citation

  • Jalan, Akanksha & Matkovskyy, Roman & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2021. "“Shiny” crypto assets: A systemic look at gold-backed cryptocurrencies during the COVID-19 pandemic," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:78:y:2021:i:c:s1057521921002787
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2021.101958
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    2. Sruthy Madhavan & S. Sreejith, 2022. "A Comparative Analysis on the Role and Market Linkages of Gold Backed Assets During COVID-19 Pandemic," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 69(3), pages 417-433, August.
    3. Jalan, Akanksha & Matkovskyy, Roman & Potì, Valerio, 2022. "Shall the winning last? A study of recent bubbles and persistence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    4. Katsiampa, Paraskevi & Yarovaya, Larisa & Zięba, Damian, 2022. "High-frequency connectedness between Bitcoin and other top-traded crypto assets during the COVID-19 crisis," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Cheng, Jiyang & Tiwari, Sunil & Khaled, Djebbouri & Mahendru, Mandeep & Shahzad, Umer, 2024. "Forecasting Bitcoin prices using artificial intelligence: Combination of ML, SARIMA, and Facebook Prophet models," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    6. Ren, Boru & Lucey, Brian, 2022. "A clean, green haven?—Examining the relationship between clean energy, clean and dirty cryptocurrencies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    7. Cevik, Emrah Ismail & Gunay, Samet & Zafar, Muhammad Wasif & Destek, Mehmet Akif & Bugan, Mehmet Fatih & Tuna, Fatih, 2022. "The impact of digital finance on the natural resource market: Evidence from DeFi, oil, and gold," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Zarifhonarvar, Ali, 2022. "The Effect of Covid Pandemic on Cryptocurrency Markets; A Literature Review," EconStor Preprints 266369, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Bentes, Sónia R., 2022. "On the stylized facts of precious metals’ volatility: A comparative analysis of pre- and during COVID-19 crisis," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 600(C).
    10. Aloui, Donia & Zouaoui, Riadh & Rachdi, Houssem & Guesmi, Khaled & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2024. "The impact of ECB’s Quantitative Easing on cryptocurrency markets during times of crisis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    11. Bruce Mizrach, 2022. "Stablecoins: Survivorship, Transactions Costs and Exchange Microstructure," Papers 2201.01392, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2023.

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