Impact of Nigerian Blockchain Policy on Digital Currency Market Performance

Abstract

The recent blockchain policy pronouncement in Nigeria gave rise to examine the effect on digital currency market performance. Knowing that policy statements played a dynamic role on market performances, and for the fact that digital currency is link to market volatility, this work analyzed the impact of Nigerian blockchain policy on digital currency market performance during the short-term periods. Based on the exigencies, the research covered a period of 23 weeks using a-weekly data between May 3, 2023 and October 4, 2023. The study employed selected top-five digital currencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, BNB, and XRP of their market performances extracted from crypto database. The generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) least squares analytical tool was applied to ascertain how Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, BNB, and XRP digital currencies market performance responded to Nigerian blockchain policy in the short-term. The findings showed that Nigerian blockchain policy impacted negatively on Bitcoin, XRP, and BNB market performance in the short-term. However, Nigerian blockchain policy impacted positively on Tether, and Ethereum market performance in the short-term. The research further revealed Ethereum, and BNB digital currencies constituted significant variables of study. Finally, Nigerian blockchain policymakers were recommended to revised and address the diverse impacts on digital currencies with tailored regulations to enhance investors protection, and support the positive trends for a balance-support of the digital currency market.