Exploring Entropy-Based Portfolio Strategies: Empirical Analysis and Cryptocurrency Impact

Abstract

This study addresses market concentration among major corporations, highlighting the utility of relative entropy for understanding diversification strategies. It introduces entropic value at risk (EVaR) as a coherent risk measure, which is an upper bound to the conditional value at risk (CVaR), and explores its generalization, relativistic value at risk (RLVaR), rooted in Kaniadakis entropy. Through extensive empirical analysis on both developed (i.e., S&P 500 and Euro Stoxx 50) and developing markets (i.e., BIST 100 and Bovespa), the study evaluates entropy-based criteria in portfolio selection, investigates model behavior across different market types, and assesses the impact of cryptocurrency introduction on portfolio performance and diversification. The key finding indicates that entropy measures effectively identify optimal portfolios, particularly in scenarios of heightened risk and increased concentration, crucial for mitigating negative net performances during low returns or high turnover. Bitcoin is primarily used for diversification and performance enhancement in the BIST 100 index, while its allocation in other markets remains minimal or non-existent, confirming the extreme concentration observed in stock markets dominated by a few leading stocks.