Factors affecting the volatility of bitcoin prices

Abstract

To explore the impact of factors from the traditional financial market, such as economic policy uncertainty, oil prices, the NASDAQ index, and gold prices, to identify factors contributing to Bitcoin volatility. This study uses traditional OLS (ordinary least squares) regression analysis to examine how different external factors affect Bitcoin price volatility from January 2014 to March 2023. By employing a comprehensive approach to recognize the distinctive characteristics of the Bitcoin market, namely, 24-hour trading and the short duration of its existence, we’ve included a wide spectrum of data to ensure a cohesive comparison with other financial datasets. The findings of the statistical analysis indicate that EPU and the NASDAQ index promote positive fluctuations in Bitcoin volatility, whereas gold prices act as a dampener. Conversely, we do not find empirical support for the influence of energy prices, such as oil, on Bitcoin volatility. These findings indicate that we should not undervalue Bitcoin in any financial transaction scenario. It means that all stakeholders should treat the issue of Bitcoin volatility more seriously, even including governments, who should actively regulate the Bitcoin market, and investors, who should recognize the dangers of this volatility, make rational decisions based on individual circumstances, and employ flexible trading strategies.