This paper explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, and big data analytics on the sustainable finance sector. These technologies are driving significant advancements in decision-making, regulatory compliance, socially responsible investing (SRI), transparency, efficiency, risk management, financial inclusion, and the identification of sustainable growth opportunities. AI enhances predictive analysis and automates ESG compliance, fostering informed investment strategies and ensuring adherence to sustainability standards. Blockchain introduces unprecedented transparency and efficiency, particularly through smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi), facilitating direct funding of sustainable projects and transparent carbon credit trading. Big data analytics empower financial institutions with predictive risk management models and insights for enhancing financial inclusion and identifying sustainable investment opportunities. Through detailed examination, this study underscores how these technologies collectively support the alignment of financial investments with sustainability goals, contributing to the development of a sustainable global economy. This confluence not only streamlines operational processes and compliance but also opens new avenues for sustainable growth and investment, underpinning the financial sector's role in achieving a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Bu çalışmanın temel amacı küresel ekonomi politika belirsizliği (GEPU) endeksinin bitcoin üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Değişkenler arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymak için Ağustos 2010 – Mart 2023 dönemine ait veriler kullanılmıştır. Küresel ekonomi politika belirsizliği (GEPU) endeksi ile bitcoin arasındaki ilişkiyi açıklamak için normal dağılmama durumunu dikkate alan RALS eşbütünleşme testleri kullanılmıştır. Değişkenlerin I(1) düzeyinde durağanlaştığı saptanmış, daha sonra RALS-ADL ve RALS-EG2 testleri uygulanmıştır. RALS-ADL ve RALS-EG2 eşbütünleşme testleri sonuçlarına göre GEPU endeksi ile bitcoin arasında eşbütünleşme ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Modelin uzun dönem katsayısına göre GEPU endeksindeki yüzde bir birimlik artış bitcoini 0.092 oranında artırdığı saptanmıştır.
Purpose We aim to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the efficiency of Gold and Bitcoin returns. In particular, our efficiency tests are based on the popular calendar anomaly, the turn-of-the-month (TOM) effect in these markets. Design/methodology/approach We define the TOM days as the final trading day of a month and initial three trading days of the immediate next month. To understand the TOM effect, we estimate the typical Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model using the Heteroskedasticity and Autocorrelation Consistent (HAC) standard errors and covariances. Findings Though in the full sample, a positive and significant TOM effect is observed only for Bitcoin, during COVID period, the TOM effect appears in Gold returns and becomes stronger for Bitcoin, implying that the considered securities become inefficient during COVID period. Practical implications Based on these results, we create a trading strategy which is found to surpass the buy-and-hold strategy for both the full sample as well as the COVID period for Bitcoin while only during the COVID period for Gold. Our results provide useful implications for investors and policymakers as the Gold and Bitcoin markets can be timed by taking positions especially based on the behavior of the TOM effect. Originality/value We examine the TOM effect in the two important securities – Gold and Bitcoin. Though, a few studies have examined this anomaly in currency, equity and cryptocurrency markets, however, they have not considered the Gold market. Additionally, no study has examined the impact of COVID-19 on the TOM effect in these markets, and hence, market efficiency. We believe that our study is the first to examine the TOM effect in these markets simultaneously.
Fatma Abdelkaoui, Ali Sidaoui, Feriel Nasser, M. Bouzidi
This research study investigates the impact of cryptocurrency on economic growth in 10 countries across Asia during past period 2013–2020. For this purpose, the sample included a range of economies with the highest number of Bitcoin usages or transactions. For this purpose, the sample included a range of economies with the highest number of Bitcoin usages or transactions, according to recent international rankings. With specific empirical means on panel data modelling, we attempted to show that economic growth, was influenced negatively by the cryptocurrency ‘Bitcoin’, and we concluded that this instrument leads to an increase in the inflation rate in a country according to the quantity theory of money and leads to a disorder in the monetary policy of a country. Our framework shows that the economic growth proxy was substantially influenced positively by economic indicators such as technology, investment and education but negatively by the high rate of participation, which caused an increase in unemployment. Our empirical results offer insights and insist on the importance of the intervention of the authorities to oversee and control the use of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin to avoid its negative effects and implement a strategy that overcomes these effects from a macroeconomic perspective. JEL Classification: E22, E24, E42, F43, E44, E52
This article primally explores the short-term fluctuation and long-term implications of the international Bitcoin price (BP) on the Chinese green bond (GB) market, within the sample period of 2014:M10–2023:M07. Bitcoin is the most important cryptocurrency and has a carbon-intensive feature, and its price suffers from great volatility and is closely related to the green finance market. Meanwhile, although China is the largest bitcoin mining state, it is pursuing a dual carbon target, which promotes its green bond market’s development. Thus, it is valuable to investigate the influence of BP on GBs in China. Based on the quantile autoregressive distributed lag approach, this paper indicates that the positive and negative impacts of BP on the GB market are significant in the long-term but not apparent in the short-term. These results emphasize the importance for market participants to obtain a better understanding of how BP affects GB under various market circumstances. Implementing specific policies, such as regulatory mechanisms for Bitcoin trade, market-oriented reform for the bond market, and information disclosure, can alleviate shocks from BP and accelerate the development of the GB market.
The fintech sector has been booming for the past decade, especially with the unprecedented expansion in cryptocurrency innovation. Many countries and their central banks are working to accommodate cryptocurrency in a regulated format into their financial system anywise. This research paper investigates the long-run and short-run relationship between Bitcoin (INR) and the macroeconomic variables of the Indian economy, such as two major stock indices (NSE and BSE), money supply M1, foreign exchange rate (INR/US dollar), and indicators of inflation rate (CPI and WPI). For this purpose, monthly data of the variables from October 2014 to December 2020 are considered. The Johansen co-integration approach depicts the long-run association between Bitcoin and the economic variables, whilst VECM and the Wald coefficient reveal no short-run causality between the variables. The Granger Causality test shows a one-way causal relationship of NSE, BSE and WPI to Bitcoin. Hence, it concluded that stock indices and inflation have a cogent effect and exert on bitcoin prices. The findings will be helpful for policy-makers and investors alike, for an outlook to strategize and explore this everchanging digital instrument.
Purpose The purpose of the study is to analyze the hedging abilities of the cryptocurrencies vis-à-vis gold against macroeconomic shocks in four emerging economies, India, China, Brazil and Russia. Design/methodology/approach Using the monthly data from January 2013 to April 2023, the paper analyses the response of Cryptocurrencies vis-à-vis gold prices to three different macroeconomic shocks, namely, the economic policy uncertainty shock, the financial uncertainty shock and the inflation shock, within a VAR framework with the help of the Generalized Impulse Response Function. Findings Both gold and cryptocurrencies have limited hedging abilities against macroeconomic shocks across countries. In India, bitcoin has become the new digital gold, while in China, it is not bitcoin but rather gold that retains its hedging abilities. Neither bitcoin nor gold, Binance Coin or Cardano, are found to be the new digital gold in Brazil and Russia. Originality/value The paper compares the top nine cryptocurrencies with the traditional asset gold in terms of their hedging potential against macroeconomic shocks in emerging countries.
Jonas Yomboi, Mohammed Majeed, Esther Asiedu, Clement Nangpiire · 6 authors
As blockchain technology continues its disruptive influence across various sectors, its environmental implications have raised concerns about long-term viability and global repercussions. This chapter explores the concept of “green blockchain” as a framework for sustainable alternatives. It delves into the transition to energy-efficient consensus mechanisms like proof of stake. The chapter also addresses the regulatory landscape, ethical considerations, and future prospects, including the integration of artificial intelligence to optimize blockchain processes. Despite the potential benefits, challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, scalability concerns, and privacy risks underscore the industry's need to navigate carefully and strike a balance between innovation and environmental responsibility. The chapter advocates for a collective effort to build a culture of sustainability within the blockchain community and highlights successful community-led initiatives and regulatory frameworks as crucial elements in mitigating the environmental impact of blockchain technology.
Abstract The notion that investors shift to gold during economic market crises remains unverified for many cryptocurrency markets. This paper investigates the connectedness between the 10 most traded cryptocurrencies and gold as well as crude oil markets pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19. Through the application of various statistical techniques, including cointegration tests, vector autoregressive models, vector error correction models, autoregressive distributed lag models, and Granger causality analyses, we explore the relationship between these markets and assess the safe-haven properties of gold and crude oil for cryptocurrencies. Our findings reveal that during the COVID-19 pandemic, gold is a strong safe-haven for Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Monero while demonstrating a weaker safe-haven potential for Bitcoin Cash, EOS, Chainlink, and Cardano. In contrast, gold only exhibits a strong safe-haven characteristic before the pandemic for Litecoin and Monero. Additionally, Brent crude oil emerges as a strong safe-haven for Bitcoin during COVID-19, while West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude oils demonstrate weaker safe-haven properties for Ether, Bitcoin Cash, EOS, and Monero. Furthermore, the Granger causality analysis indicates that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the causal relationship predominantly flowed from gold and crude oil toward the cryptocurrency markets; however, during the COVID-19 period, the direction of causality shifted, with cryptocurrencies exerting influence on the gold and crude oil markets. These findings provide subtle implications for policymakers, hedge fund managers, and individual or institutional cryptocurrency investors. Our results highlight the need to adapt risk exposure strategies during financial turmoil, such as the crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the era of globalisation, the use of technology and concerns for sustainability is eminent in the supply chain management practices. The current study focuses on sustainable and green supply practices in different stages of supply chain management and how they can be facilitated by blockchain technology (BT). The study has addressed the existing gaps in the area namely, the lack of research assessing stage-wise green supply chain for environmental performance focusing on BT. The current study aims to assess the impact of BT on different stages of the green supply chain and a firm's environmental performance. The study also focuses on analyzing the impact of green supply chain stages on environmental performance. The study uses PLS-based structural equation modelling approach to investigate the hypothesised relationships between BT adoption and stage-wise green supply chain practices. The data was collected from individuals from medium-sized enterprises from the manufacturing industry in India. The findings reveal a positive association between blockchain adoption and green supply chain management practices leading to enhancement in environmental performance. Furthermore, the study indicates a positive relationship between blockchain integration and different stages of the green supply chain, underscoring its multi-faceted impact on environmental performance. The findings imply that the BT adoption can facilitate the realization of sustainable supply chain practices and performance improvement.
This empirical research study aims to investigate the asymmetric spillovers among crypto and key financial assets such as gold, equity, bonds, and the dollar-to-ruble exchange rate volatility, focusing on new developments during the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Utilizing time- and frequency-domain methodologies, this study conducts an in-depth analysis employing daily frequency data from January 01, 2018, to May 30, 2023. The study employs value at risk and conditional value at risk estimations to assess potential losses in the portfolio during the crisis. The findings reveal that Bitcoin exhibits hedging ability, enabling investors to diversify risk among the underlying financial assets. The study observes a significant increase in Bitcoin investments during the crisis, leading to heightened volatility and uncertainty. Negative news has a stronger impact compared to positive news, underscoring the importance of prudent asset allocation for risk mitigation. The implications of our findings are particularly significant for financial policymakers and trade partners of Russia. The study urges them to differentiate their short- and long-term strategies and procurement contracts. In the long run, policymakers should be cognizant of the influence of the riskiness of crypto assets during economic crises, guiding the formulation of prudent policies and investment decision-making initiatives.
Thobekile Qabhobho, Cwayita Mpuku, Izunna Anyikwa, Andrew Phiri
since the onset of the cOViD-19 pandemic, african currencies, cryptocurrencies, and commodity markets have undergone significant fluctuations, displaying fat-tail properties that lies at the outer ends of the normal probability curve.the recent Russia-Ukraine war has further disrupted these markets, generating considerable interest among academics and practitioners.Our study delves into tail-end returns and volatility connectedness between Bitcoin, crude oil, gold, and four african currencies amidst the cOViD-19 and Russia-Ukraine war.employing a quantile vector autoregressive (QVaR) approach, we analyze tail-end spillover effects between markets from 4 november 2019, to 7 september 2022.Our findings reveal heightened connectedness at the quantile ends of co-movements, with left-tail spillovers being more pronounced for returns, while right-tail spillovers dominate for volatility.Bitcoin, and to a lesser extent gold and oil, emerge as effective tail-ended hedges for the egyptian Pound and nigerian naira but not for other african currencies like the algerian Dinar and south african Rand.consequently, users of egyptian and nigerian currencies in international financial markets can seek hedging opportunities in traditional cryptocurrencies and commodities during recent Black swan events, unlike those using south african and algerian currencies.additionally, our results suggest limited diversification benefits associated with (i) currencies linked to oil-exporting or oil-importing countries, (ii) currencies linked to shariah-compliant financial systems, but do indicate diversification benefits in high-inflation environments.these findings hold relevance for investors seeking improved hedging strategies against african currency risk and for african policymakers aiming to enhance intra-continental trade, foreign direct investment, and cross-border business expansions.
Finding effective carbon reduction pathways is an important breakthrough in combating climate warming. In recent years, green financial policies have been recognized as important institutional initiatives globally. In China, the impact of green financial policies on carbon emission reduction and their paths remains to be explored. On the basis of panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2018, this paper examines the carbon emission reduction effect of China’s green finance reform and innovation pilot policy (GFRIPP) from the perspective of financial decentralization. China’s GFRIPP has a significant carbon emission reduction effect. Unlike the provinces that did not implement the GFRIPP, the provinces that implemented the GFRIPP experienced a 0.053 reduction in their carbon emission intensity growth rate, and financial decentralization weakened the carbon emission reduction effect of the policy. The impact of GFRIPP on carbon emissions also has significant regional heterogeneity. The carbon emission reduction effect of GFRIPP in the central and western regions is more significant than in the eastern region and is more vulnerable to the weakening impact of financial decentralization. On the basis of the above conclusions, the role of green finance in promoting carbon emission reduction should be given more attention, the communication between central and local policies should be strengthened, a scientific green financial system should be formulated and implemented, and carbon neutrality must be achieved.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading cryptocurrencies have undergone significant price fluctuations, prompting widespread interest in the interdependence and spillover effects among cryptocurrency markets, as well as in identifying the key cryptocurrencies that drive market movements. This study contributes to the existing literature by utilising innovative vector wavelet coherence (VWC) and wavelet local multiple correlation (WLMC) frameworks to investigate the time-frequency co-movements among four cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Binance). By exploring the co-movements across multiple time scales over a period from 01/01/2020 to 10/04/2023 through continuous and discrete wavelet coherency analysis, we identify four key empirical findings. Firstly, the returns connectedness is stronger than the volatility connectedness. Secondly, high-frequency co-movements are more erratic and correspond to positive and negative unexpected news, while low-frequency co-movements vary with changes in US monetary policy. Thirdly, Tether and Binance exhibit the weakest returns and volatility connectedness with other cryptocurrencies. Lastly, Ethereum and Tether (not Bitcoin) are the primary cryptocurrencies that account for returns and volatility movements in the market. We discuss the implications of these findings for various stakeholders in cryptocurrency markets.
Oktay Özkan, Salah Abosedra, Arshian Sharif, Andrew Adewale Alola
Abstract The objective of this paper is to assess the dynamic volatility connectedness between fossil energy, clean energy, and major assets i.e., Bonds, Bitcoin, Dollar index, Gold, and Standard and Poor's 500 from September 17, 2014 to October 11, 2022. The main motivation of the study relates to examining the dynamic volatility connectedness mentioned during periods of important events such as the recent coronavirus pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine conflict which has shown the vulnerability of economic and financial assets, energy commodities, and clean energy. The novel Dynamic Conditional Correlation-Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (DCC-GARCH) approach is employed for the investigation of the sample period mentioned. Empirical analysis reveals that both the total and net volatility connectedness between assets is time-varying. The highest connectedness among the assets is observed with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and it increases with some important international events, such as the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the referendum of Brexit, China–US trade war, and Brexit day. On average, the result shows that 32.8% of the volatility in one asset spills over to all other assets. The DCC-GARCH results also indicate that crude oil, bonds, and Bitcoin act as almost pure volatility transmitters, whereas the Dollar index, gold, and S&P500 act as volatility receivers. On the other hand, clean energy is found neutral to external shocks until the first quarter of 2020 and after that time, it starts to behave as a volatility transmitter. Based on the obtained results, we offer some specific policy implications that are beneficial to the US economy and other countries. Graphical Abstract Dynamic volatility connectedness between fossil energy, clean energy, and major assets (Bonds, Bitcoin, Dollar index, Gold, and Standard and Poor's 500)
Abstract We analyze the connectedness between major cryptocurrencies and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) for different quantiles employing a time-varying parameter vector autoregression approach. We find that lower and upper quantile spillovers are higher than those at the median, meaning that connectedness augments at extremes. For normal, bearish, and bullish markets, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin consistently remain net transmitters, while NFTs receive innovations. However, spillover topology at both extremes becomes simpler—from cryptocurrencies to NFTs. We find no markets useful for mitigating BTC risks, whereas BTC is capable of reducing the risk of other digital assets, which is a valuable insight for market players and investors.
Green finance is becoming more and more important as a way to fund environmentally friendly initiatives and lower carbon emissions. Green bonds have emerged as a significant financing tool in this context, and it is critical to understand how they interact with other components of the finance ecosystem, such as cryptocurrency and carbon markets, particularly during recent crises such as the COVID-19 outbreak and the Ukraine invasion. This study aims to empirically investigate the lead-lag associations between major cryptocurrency markets and green finance measured in terms of green bonds. For empirical estimation, the wavelet analysis and spectral Granger-causality test are employed to analyze the daily data, covering the period from 2018 to 2023. The results show that the correlation between the returns of the green bond market and cryptocurrencies is not stable over time, which rises from the short- to long-run horizon. However, the co-movements between these assets tend to be different and, in some cases, strong, especially during recent crises. Furthermore, the Granger causality test demonstrates the existence of a bi-directional causality between the prices of the cryptocurrencies and green bonds. These findings have significance for portfolio managers, investors, and researchers interested in investing strategies and portfolio allocation, suggesting that green markets may be used as a hedge and diversification tool for cryptocurrencies in the future.
This research aimed to investigate the relationship between climate policy uncertainty (CPU), clean energy (ENERGY), carbon emission allowance prices (CARBON), and Bitcoin returns (BTC) for the period from August 2012 to August 2022. The empirical analysis strategies utilized in this study included the Fourier Bootstrap ARDL long-term coefficient estimator, the Fourier Granger Causality, and the Fourier Toda–Yamamoto Causality methods. Following the confirmation of cointegration among the variables, we observed a positive relationship between BTC and CARBON, a positive relationship between BTC and CPU, and a negative relationship between BTC and ENERGY. In terms of causal associations, we identified one-way causality running from CARBON to BTC, BTC to CPU, and BTC to the ENERGY variable. The study underscores the potential benefits and revenue opportunities for investors seeking diversified investment strategies in light of climate change concerns. Furthermore, it suggests actionable strategies for policymakers, such as implementing carbon taxes and educational campaigns, to foster a transition towards clean energy sources within the cryptocurrency mining sector and thereby mitigate environmental impacts.
Abstract Based on the perspective of fiscal decentralization, the study focuses on 30 provinces in China and employs various econometric models including the threshold model, spatial econometric model, mediation model, and regulation model. The research findings indicate that fiscal decentralization has a double‐threshold effect on government intervention, market mechanisms, and regional carbon emission reduction. Both government intervention and market mechanisms have inhibiting effects on carbon emission, with significant coefficients of GOVI and MARM at the 1% level. The cooperation between government intervention and the market mechanism effectively limits carbon emissions. Government intervention facilitates regional carbon emission reduction through the construction of new infrastructures and energy structure transformation, yielding a significant intermediary effect. The market mechanism is positively regulated through green finance and technology innovation to promote regional carbon emission reduction. Moreover, government intervention enables the market to achieve carbon emission reduction more effectively, especially in areas with a higher degree of government intervention. Continuous improvement and upgrading of regional and national carbon markets are essential to attain the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. Furthermore, attracting more participants to these markets for emission control subjects is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of government–market coordination.
Chi Keung Marco Lau, Alaa M. Soliman, Dongna Zhang
This study examines the co-movement between geopolitical risk (GPR), energy price, and bitcoin (BTC) in BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Previous studies have focused on the impact of GPR on the volatility and risk premium of BTC investment. However, very limited studies have focused on integrating BTC as an extension of the mix of GPR on the co-movement with energy price. The analysis is based on monthly data of GPR index for BRICS countries, brent oil futures, natural gas futures and BTCs covering the period between March 2012 and Jun 2021. We employ the Bayesian graphical structural vector autoregressive model and time-varying parameter vector autoregressions-based dynamic connectedness to investigate the network-dependence structure. This research project provides useful empirical evidence for assessing the impact of both BTC and GPR on energy prices. Nonetheless, it will also be informative about the likelihood of co-movements occurring at different stages.
Ritesh Patel, Mariya Gubareva, Muhammad Zubair Chishti
Using the cross-quantile & wavelet quantile correlation methods, we investigate the connectedness between cryptocurrency environment attention index (ICEA) and green crypto, renewable energy crypto, and green conventional market. The interdependence of ICEA with the considered assets is weak, providing investors with new avenues for reducing systematic risk of their portfolios. The cross-quantile correlations intensity between ICEA and green conventional emerging markets is especially low. ICEA appears as a strong diversifier for the Cardano cryptocurrency and sustainability-conscious industries from the developed economies. The WQC indicates a low level of connectedness of the ICEA with the selected assets. The ICEA does not remain significantly connected with any of the asset. This study provides valuable implications for the investors, portfolio managers and policy markets for the portfolio diversification.