Inspecting the efficiency of cryptocurrency markets: New evidence

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the market efficiency of cryptocurrencies, specifically at a weak level. The study focuses on six prominent cryptocurrencies selected based on their significant market capitalization: Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB-USD), Ripple (XRP-USD), and Cardano USD (ADA-USD). The analysis utilizes unit root, Ljung–Box, variance ratio, runs, and the Brock–Dechert–Scheinkman (BDS) tests to assess different aspects of market efficiency. The data spans from September 2017 to April 2023, encompassing a wide time frame to capture potential shifts in market behavior. The results of all the tests, except the BDS test, indicate that the tested cryptocurrencies' markets are inefficient. However, the BDS test yielded different results, suggesting that BTC and ETH exhibit market efficiency compared to the other cryptocurrencies. This discrepancy indicates that the BDS test may be capturing different aspects of the time series behavior. The practical implication is that investors and market participants should exercise caution and consider the varying levels of efficiency when making decisions regarding these cryptocurrencies. Also, investors should consider a range of factors, including technical and fundamental analyses, when making investment decisions in a dynamic and evolving market.