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Bitcoin-energy markets interrelationships - New evidence

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  • Corbet, Shaen
  • Lucey, Brian
  • Yarovaya, Larisa

Abstract

The annual electricity consumption of cryptocurrency transactions has grown substantially in recent years, partially driven by the increasing difficulty in mining, but also driven by the large number of new market participants that have been attracted by the elevated prices of this developing financial asset. Total carbon production from mining now likely exceeds that generated by individual developed nations. This is now a prevailing and accepted feature in cryptocurrency markets, however unsustainable it may be. This paper investigates as to how Bitcoin's price volatility and the underlying dynamics of cryptocurrency mining characteristics affect underlying energy markets and utilities companies. Further analysis of potential side-effects within the market for Exchange Traded Funds are considered. The results show a sustained and significant influence of cryptocurrency energy-usage on the performance of some companies in the energy sector as separated by jurisdiction, emphasising the importance of further assessment of environmental impacts of cryptocurrency growth. Robustness testing presents evidence that dynamic correlations peaked during the sharp Bitcoin price appreciation of late-2017 as investors re-evaluated how this increased energy usage would influence the profitability of utility companies.

Suggested Citation

  • Corbet, Shaen & Lucey, Brian & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2021. "Bitcoin-energy markets interrelationships - New evidence," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:70:y:2021:i:c:s0301420720309478
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101916
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; Cryptocurrencies; Volatility; Speculative assets; Currencies; Energy usage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy

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