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Cryptocurrencies and the low volatility anomaly

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  • Burggraf, Tobias
  • Rudolf, Markus

Abstract

This study examines the low volatility anomaly in the cryptocurrency market. Constructing long-short portfolios for a sample of 1000 cryptocurrencies for the period April 28, 2013 – November 1, 2019, we find no evidence of a significant low volatility premium. This result is in contrast to the empirical findings from the equity, bond, and commodity markets and contributes to the debate on the efficiency of cryptocurrencies. In contrast to earlier studies, we find that the cryptocurrency market is far more efficient than expected, even after controlling for different sample sizes, rebalancing periods and / or portfolio construction methodologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Burggraf, Tobias & Rudolf, Markus, 2021. "Cryptocurrencies and the low volatility anomaly," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:40:y:2021:i:c:s154461232030667x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2020.101683
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    Cited by:

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    2. Long, Huaigang & Demir, Ender & Będowska-Sójka, Barbara & Zaremba, Adam & Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain, 2022. "Is geopolitical risk priced in the cross-section of cryptocurrency returns?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    3. Kaya, Orçun & Mostowfi, Mehdi, 2022. "Low-volatility strategies for highly liquid cryptocurrencies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    4. Sadaqat, Mohsin & Butt, Hilal Anwar, 2023. "Stop-loss rules and momentum payoffs in cryptocurrencies," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    5. Jia, Yuecheng & Wu, Yangru & Yan, Shu & Liu, Yuzheng, 2023. "A seesaw effect in the cryptocurrency market: Understanding the return cross predictability of cryptocurrencies," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Fieberg, Christian & Liedtke, Gerrit & Zaremba, Adam, 2024. "Cryptocurrency anomalies and economic constraints," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Fieberg, Christian & Günther, Steffen & Poddig, Thorsten & Zaremba, Adam, 2024. "Non-standard errors in the cryptocurrency world," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    8. Tuğba Güz & İlayda İsabetli Fidan, 2022. "The Characteristics of Cryptocurrency Market Volatility: Empirical Study For Five Cryptocurrency," Alphanumeric Journal, Bahadir Fatih Yildirim, vol. 10(2), pages 69-84, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Asset pricing; Low volatility; Cryptocurrencies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation

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