Is Bitcoin Really Untethered?

2020/06/15 by JOHN M. GRIFFIN, John M. Griffin, AMIN SHAMS +1 · 17 citations
Computer Science · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Blockchain Technology Applications and Security #Financial Markets and Investment Strategies #Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis

paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/jofi.12903

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper investigates whether Tether, a digital currency pegged to the U.S. dollar, influenced Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices during the 2017 boom. Using algorithms to analyze blockchain data, we find that purchases with Tether are timed following market downturns and result in sizable increases in Bitcoin prices. The flow is attributable to one entity, clusters below round prices, induces asymmetric autocorrelations in Bitcoin, and suggests insufficient Tether reserves before month‐ends. Rather than demand from cash investors, these patterns are most consistent with the supply‐based hypothesis of unbacked digital money inflating cryptocurrency prices.

Citations

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