Understanding Cryptocurrencies
39 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2019 Last revised: 22 Sep 2020
Date Written: March 26, 2019
Abstract
Cryptocurrency refers to a type of digital asset that uses distributed ledger, or blockchain, technology to enable a secure transaction. Although the technology is widely misunderstood, many central banks are considering launching their own national cryptocurrency. In contrast to most data in financial economics, detailed data on the history of every transaction in the cryptocurrency complex are freely available. Furthermore, empirically-oriented research is only now beginning, presenting an extraordinary research opportunity for academia. We provide some insights into the mechanics of cryptocurrencies, describing summary statistics and focusing on potential future research avenues in financial economics.
Keywords: Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Economic Bubble, Microstructure, Exchange-Based Trading, Peer-to-Peer, Finance, Cryptographic Hashing, Consensus, Proof-of-Work, Proof-of-Stake, Volatility, Gold, S&P 500, Bitcoin Futures, Derivatives, Hedging, Cryptocurrency Valuation
JEL Classification: C01, C58, E42, E51, G10, K24, K42, L86, O31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation