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Technical analysis in cryptocurrency markets: Do transaction costs and bubbles matter?

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  • Svogun, Daniel
  • Bazán-Palomino, Walter

Abstract

The study of technical analysis in cryptocurrencies has largely ignored the implications of often high transaction costs and bubble periods on trade rule performance. We study the daily and 1-minute returns of 69 technical trade rules in the form of moving average and breakout strategies, with and without transaction costs, during price bubbles in the 2016–2021 period. For the most profitable trade rules, we find that bubble periods increase the likelihood that Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin beat buy-and-hold, but not Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. Transaction costs decrease this likelihood for Ripple and Litecoin, but increase it for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Suggested Citation

  • Svogun, Daniel & Bazán-Palomino, Walter, 2022. "Technical analysis in cryptocurrency markets: Do transaction costs and bubbles matter?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:79:y:2022:i:c:s1042443122000816
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2022.101601
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    Cited by:

    1. Kevin Rink, 2023. "The predictive ability of technical trading rules: an empirical analysis of developed and emerging equity markets," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 37(4), pages 403-456, December.
    2. Bazán-Palomino, Walter & Svogun, Daniel, 2023. "On the drivers of technical analysis profits in cryptocurrency markets: A Distributed Lag approach," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technical analysis; Cryptocurrency; Transaction costs; Asset bubbles;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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