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Investment in non-fungible tokens (NFTs): the return of Ethereum secondary market NFT sales

Author

Listed:
  • Niklas Konstantin Klein

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

  • Fritz Lattermann

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

  • Dirk Schiereck

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

Abstract

The increasing attention to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) since 2021, and many reports of remarkable returns by traders of NFTs raise the question of the actual returns in the whole NFT market. We examine the returns of NFT resales using data of 2.12 million secondary market NFT trades on Ethereum’s five largest marketplaces starting in June 2017 until December 2021 at the individual transaction level and trader level and control for transaction costs by implementing a linear regression model and nonparametric tests. We find that the majority of resales are in profit and a high concentration of profits at the trader level, with the top 10% of traders accounting for the majority of profits, and we identify differences in profits for the analyzed NFT categories. Our results show that experienced investors systematically outperform inexperienced investors, indicating information inefficiency in the NFT market, while we do not find clear evidence for the underperformance of more expensive NFTs compared to less expensive ones. Additionally, we find indications of the importance of pump-and-dump schemes on the level of returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Niklas Konstantin Klein & Fritz Lattermann & Dirk Schiereck, 2023. "Investment in non-fungible tokens (NFTs): the return of Ethereum secondary market NFT sales," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(4), pages 241-254, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:assmgt:v:24:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1057_s41260-023-00316-1
    DOI: 10.1057/s41260-023-00316-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shannon, Darren & Dowling, Michael & Zhaf, Marjan & Sheehan, Barry, 2024. "Dutch auction dynamics in non-fungible token (NFT) markets," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    2. Dulani Jayasuriya & Alexandra Sims, 2023. "Not So New Kid on the Block: Accounting and Valuation Aspects of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Non-fungible tokens; NFT; Resale returns; Blockchain; Investment; Secondary market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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