Risks of decentralized finance and their potential negative effects on capital markets: the Terra-Luna case

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the impact of the 2022 collapse of the Terra-Luna ecosystem on volatility correlations among digital assets, including U.S. Terra, Luna, Bitcoin, Ether, a Decentralized Finance index and U.S.-sourced conventional assets stocks, bonds, oil, gold and the dollar index. The primary research question addresses whether correlations increased between digital and conventional assets during the collapse. Design/methodology/approach - A dynamic conditional correlation generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model was used to examine changes in volatility correlations during the market crash. Specifically, a data set of 1,442 close prices from 30-minute interval candles of digital and conventional asset prices are considered to provide a granular view of market dynamics during the sample period from January 3rd, 2022, to May 31st, 2022, including the crash event. Findings - While the dynamic conditional correlation plots of the model indicate increased volatility, the results do not offer sufficient evidence to confirm an increase in correlations between digital and conventional assets during the Terra-Luna downfall. Furthermore, the authors confirm Bitcoin’s role as a diversifier with oil and observe the dollar index maintaining a negative correlation with Bitcoin during the crash, supporting Bitcoin’s function as a hedge against the U.S. dollar. However, the findings during the crash diverge from previous studies, reflecting shifts in correlation patterns in broader market downturns. Specifically, the authors identify the need for adaptive capital allocation strategies, as gold’s oscillation during the period suggests it may not serve as an effective hedge during black swan events. Practical implications - The findings provide insights for investors, financial institutions and regulators to improve risk management, portfolio diversification, trading strategies and the formulation of consumer protection regulations. In addition, the results underscore the challenges of mitigating risks beyond regulatory measures and emphasize the importance of exercising caution for investors. Originality/value - This study addresses the research gap in changes between conventional and digital asset volatility correlations during collapses in the digital asset space.