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The NFT Hype: What Draws Attention to Non-Fungible Tokens?

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Pinto-Gutiérrez

    (Faculty of Business and Economics, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile)

  • Sandra Gaitán

    (Center for Research in Economics and Finance (CIEF), School of Economics and Finance, Universidad EAFIT, Medellin 050022, Colombia)

  • Diego Jaramillo

    (Center for Research in Economics and Finance (CIEF), School of Economics and Finance, Universidad EAFIT, Medellin 050022, Colombia)

  • Simón Velasquez

    (Center for Research in Economics and Finance (CIEF), School of Economics and Finance, Universidad EAFIT, Medellin 050022, Colombia)

Abstract

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can be used to represent ownership of digital art or any other unique digital item where ownership is recorded in smart contracts on a blockchain. NFTs have recently received enormous attention from both cryptocurrency investors and the media. We examine why NFTs have gotten so much attention. Using vector autoregressive models, we show that Bitcoin returns significantly predict next week’s NFT growth in popularity, measured by Google search queries. Moreover, wavelet coherence analysis suggests that Bitcoin and Ether returns are significant drivers of next week’s attention to NFTs. These results indicate that the remarkable increases in prices of major cryptocurrencies can explain the hype around NFTs.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Pinto-Gutiérrez & Sandra Gaitán & Diego Jaramillo & Simón Velasquez, 2022. "The NFT Hype: What Draws Attention to Non-Fungible Tokens?," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:10:y:2022:i:3:p:335-:d:730878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Urquhart, Andrew, 2018. "What causes the attention of Bitcoin?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 40-44.
    2. Al Guindy, Mohamed, 2021. "Cryptocurrency price volatility and investor attention," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 556-570.
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    Cited by:

    1. Simona Andreea Apostu & Mirela Panait & Làszló Vasa & Constanta Mihaescu & Zbyslaw Dobrowolski, 2022. "NFTs and Cryptocurrencies—The Metamorphosis of the Economy under the Sign of Blockchain: A Time Series Approach," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(17), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Qiao, Xingzhi & Zhu, Huiming & Tang, Yiding & Peng, Cheng, 2023. "Time-frequency extreme risk spillover network of cryptocurrency coins, DeFi tokens and NFTs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    3. José Luis Miralles-Quirós & María Mar Miralles-Quirós, 2022. "Mathematics, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-2, June.
    4. Boido, Claudio & Aliano, Mauro, 2023. "Digital art and non-fungible-token: Bubble or revolution?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    5. Barbara Guidi & Andrea Michienzi, 2023. "From NFT 1.0 to NFT 2.0: A Review of the Evolution of Non-Fungible Tokens," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, May.
    6. Fathin Faizah Said & Raja Solan Somasuntharam & Mohd Ridzwan Yaakub & Tamat Sarmidi, 2023. "Impact of Google searches and social media on digital assets’ volatility," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Dhoha Mellouli & Imen Zoglami, 2024. "The Dynamics of Connectivity between Traditional Cryptocurrencies and NFTs: Validation of the Connectivity Model by Quantiles and Frequencies," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(1), pages 131-154.
    8. Chowdhury, Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous & Abdullah, Mohammad & Alam, Masud & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Shi, Baofeng, 2023. "NFTs, DeFi, and other assets efficiency and volatility dynamics: An asymmetric multifractality analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    9. Wang, Yizhi, 2022. "Volatility spillovers across NFTs news attention and financial markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    10. Rehman, Mobeen Ur & Katsiampa, Paraskevi & Zeitun, Rami & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2023. "Conditional dependence structure and risk spillovers between Bitcoin and fiat currencies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    11. Ayesha Kalhoro & Asif Ali Wagan & Abdullah Ayub Khan & Jim-Min Lin & Chin Soon Ku & Lip Yee Por & Jing Yang, 2023. "Rewarding Developers by Storing Applications on Non-Fungible Tokens," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-12, May.
    12. Umar, Zaghum & Usman, Muhammad & Choi, Sun-Yong & Rice, John, 2023. "Diversification benefits of NFTs for conventional asset investors: Evidence from CoVaR with higher moments and optimal hedge ratios," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    13. Zhang, Luyao & Sun, Yutong & Quan, Yutong & Cao, Jiaxun & Tong, Xin, 2023. "On the Mechanics of NFT Valuation: AI Ethics and Social Media," OSF Preprints qwpdx_v1, Center for Open Science.
    14. Muhammad Naveed & Shoaib Ali & Aviral Kumar Tiwari, 2025. "Tracing the ties that bind: navigating the static and dynamic connectedness between NFTs and equity markets in ASEAN based on QVAR-approach," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 1-29, December.
    15. Nakavachara, Voraprapa & Saengchote, Kanis, 2022. "Does unit of account affect willingness to pay? Evidence from metaverse LAND transactions✰," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    16. Dany EKA SAPUTRA & Nicoleta ISAC & Waqar BADSHAH & Cosmin DOBRIN, 2023. "Analysis of Potential Threats of NFTS (Non-Fungible Tokens) for National Security and Economic Resilience. A Case Study of Indonesia," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 24(5), pages 696-716, December.
    17. Choi, Jaeseo, 2024. "A Study on the Applicability of NFT in the Entertainment Industry: Application of the Means-end Chain analysis and Laddering," 24th ITS Biennial Conference, Seoul 2024. New bottles for new wine: digital transformation demands new policies and strategies 302456, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    18. Yunfei Xing & Justin Z. Zhang & Yuming He & Yueqi Li, 2025. "Toward an ecosystem of non-fungible tokens from mapping public opinions on social media," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 1-24, December.
    19. Zhang, Luyao & Sun, Yutong & Quan, Yutong & Cao, Jiaxun & Tong, Xin, 2023. "On the Mechanics of NFT Valuation: AI Ethics and Social Media," OSF Preprints qwpdx, Center for Open Science.

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