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Bitcoin and entrepreneurship: breaking the network effect

Author

Listed:
  • Malavika Nair

    (Troy University)

  • Nicolás Cachanosky

    (Metropolitan State University of Denver)

Abstract

This paper explores the question of whether the market process is capable of bringing about a spontaneous monetary switch to a new currency in the presence of strong network effects of the incumbent currency as well as the absence of contingencies such as extreme inflation or political instability. It does so by examining current happenings around Bitcoin. It finds that two mechanisms stand out: the coordinating efforts of the profit-maximizing entrepreneur as well as the ability to use the old and the new currency simultaneously. Specifically, it finds that marginal decisions made by rational agents merely seeking to maximize net private benefit irrespective of the network effect, be it entrepreneurs or users of the new currency, are capable of setting in motion a switch to a new currency. Whether or not these mechanisms play out fully in the case of Bitcoin still remains to be seen.

Suggested Citation

  • Malavika Nair & Nicolás Cachanosky, 2017. "Bitcoin and entrepreneurship: breaking the network effect," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 30(3), pages 263-275, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revaec:v:30:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11138-016-0348-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11138-016-0348-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Harwick, Cameron & Caton, James, 2022. "What’s holding back blockchain finance? On the possibility of decentralized autonomous finance," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 420-429.
    2. Hazlett, Peter K. & Luther, William J., 2020. "Is bitcoin money? And what that means," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 144-149.
    3. Loïc Sauce, 2022. "The unintended consequences of the regulation of cryptocurrencies," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 46(1), pages 57-71.
    4. Al Mamun, Md & Uddin, Gazi Salah & Suleman, Muhammad Tahir & Kang, Sang Hoon, 2020. "Geopolitical risk, uncertainty and Bitcoin investment," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 540(C).
    5. Levulytė, Laura & Šapkauskienė, Alfreda, 2021. "Cryptocurrency in context of fiat money functions," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 44-54.
    6. Bruno Ferreira Frascaroli, 2020. "Bitcoin's innovative aspects, return volatility and uncertainty shocks," International Journal of Financial Markets and Derivatives, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(3), pages 224-245.

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