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Understanding the creation of trust in cryptocurrencies: the case of Bitcoin

Author

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  • Venkata Marella

    (Aalto University)

  • Bikesh Upreti

    (Aalto University)

  • Jani Merikivi

    (Grenoble Ecole de Management – Univ Grenoble Alpes ComUE, Grenoble)

  • Virpi Kristiina Tuunainen

    (Aalto University)

Abstract

Contemporary cryptocurrencies lack legal, monetary, and institutional backing that traditional financial services employ. Instead, cryptocurrencies provide trust through technology. Despite the plethora of research in both trust and cryptocurrencies, the underlying attributes of the technologies that drive trust in cryptocurrencies are not well understood. To uncover these attributes, we analyze the corpus of 1.97 million discussion posts related to Bitcoin, the oldest and most widely used cryptocurrency. Based on earlier research, we identified functionality, reliability, and helpfulness as the focal constructs with which to evaluate users’ trust in technology. In our analysis, we discovered 11 different attributes related to three technology constructs that are significant in creating and maintaining users’ trust in Bitcoin. The findings are discussed in detail in the article.

Suggested Citation

  • Venkata Marella & Bikesh Upreti & Jani Merikivi & Virpi Kristiina Tuunainen, 2020. "Understanding the creation of trust in cryptocurrencies: the case of Bitcoin," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(2), pages 259-271, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:30:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s12525-019-00392-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s12525-019-00392-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ostern, Nadine, 2018. "Do You Trust a Trust-Free Technology? Toward a Trust Framework Model for Blockchain Technology," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 110885, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
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    Cited by:

    1. Chengying He & Yong Li & Tianqi Wang & Salman Ali Shah, 2024. "Is cryptocurrency a hedging tool during economic policy uncertainty? An empirical investigation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Julia Brasse & Hanna Rebecca Broder & Maximilian Förster & Mathias Klier & Irina Sigler, 2023. "Explainable artificial intelligence in information systems: A review of the status quo and future research directions," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-30, December.
    3. Raffaele Fabio Ciriello & Alexandra Cecilie Gjøl Torbensen & Magnus Rotvit Perlt Hansen & Christoph Müller-Bloch, 2023. "Blockchain-based digital rights management systems: Design principles for the music industry," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Horst Treiblmaier, 2022. "Do cryptocurrencies really have (no) intrinsic value?," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(3), pages 1749-1758, September.
    5. Frédéric Tronnier & David Harborth & Patrick Biker, 2023. "Applying the extended attitude formation theory to central bank digital currencies," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Moritz T. Bruckner & Dennis M. Steininger & Jason Bennett Thatcher & Daniel J. Veit, 2023. "The effect of lockup and persuasion on online investment decisions: An experimental study in ICOs," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-25, December.
    7. Roger W.H. Bons & Johan Versendaal & Liudmila Zavolokina & Weidong Larry Shi, 2020. "Potential and limits of Blockchain technology for networked businesses," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(2), pages 189-194, June.
    8. Nora Nahr & Marikka Heikkilä, 2022. "Uncovering the identity of Electronic Markets research through text mining techniques," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(3), pages 1257-1277, September.
    9. Kavya Clanganthuruthil Sajeev & Mohd Afjal, 2022. "Contagion effect of cryptocurrency on the securities market: a study of Bitcoin volatility using diagonal BEKK and DCC GARCH models," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(6), pages 1-21, June.
    10. Nguyen, An Pham Ngoc & Mai, Tai Tan & Bezbradica, Marija & Crane, Martin, 2023. "Volatility and returns connectedness in cryptocurrency markets: Insights from graph-based methods," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 632(P1).
    11. Amrutha Muralidhar & Muralidhar Lakkanna, 2024. "Regulating Cryptocurrency and Decentralized Finance for an Inclusive Economy," Papers 2407.01532, arXiv.org.
    12. Scott Thiebes & Sebastian Lins & Ali Sunyaev, 2021. "Trustworthy artificial intelligence," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(2), pages 447-464, June.

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