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Blockchain Congestion Facilitates Currency Competition

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  • Maxi Guennewig

Abstract

Blockchain capacity constraints induce congestion when many users want to transact at the same time, challenging the usability of cryptocurrencies as money. This paper argues that blockchain capacity constraints, coupled with the need to incentivize miners (validators) to maintain blockchain security, lead to low inflation outcomes when cryptocurrencies compete for user demand. If two coins are both used as medium of exchange, a low-inflation coin must experience higher congestion than a high-inflation coin; otherwise demand for the latter is zero. Coin issuers then strategically undercut each other’s money growth rates to boost transaction demand, limiting the overall inflation rate of the economy. However, the equilibrium is necessarily inefficient given unrealized gains from trade due to congestion and the cost of maintaining blockchain security.

Suggested Citation

  • Maxi Guennewig, 2024. "Blockchain Congestion Facilitates Currency Competition," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_549, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2024_549
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    File URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp549
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Obstfeld, Maurice & Rogoff, Kenneth, 1983. "Speculative Hyperinflations in Maximizing Models: Can We Rule Them Out?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 91(4), pages 675-687, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cryptocurrencies; currency competition; blockchain; inflation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit

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