Assessment of factors driving cryptocurrency investment decision in Africa: A case of Bitcoin in Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to examine the factors that influence Nigerian investors decision to participate in the Bitcoin market. The study develops a model that integrates awareness, religious beliefs, and trust alongside the theory of reasoned action’s key explanatory factor. A random sampling technique was used to collect data from 262 individual investors in Nigeria using a questionnaire. The structural equation model method was utilized to analyze the data. The findings show that attitude, awareness, and trust have significant and positive effects on Nigerian investors’ decision to invest in the Bitcoin market, while religious beliefs and awareness had significant impacts on investors’ level of trust in Bitcoin transactions. This implies that policymakers and relevant regulatory agencies should work on increasing public understanding and confidence by collaborating with key players in the financial sector and religious institutions in Nigeria. This will help to create new market opportunities, promote financial inclusion, create jobs for Nigeria's burgeoning youth population, boost economic growth, and improve public participation in the cryptocurrency market. This study adds to the cryptocurrency literature by confirming that the decision to invest in Bitcoin is not only based on economic factors but also social and religious factors.