Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Economics

First Advisor

Monica Das

Abstract

This study examines whether Bitcoin, a digital decentralized currency, can become a viable alternative to fiat currencies. Bitcoin currently does not fulfill the criteria of being a currency because it does not function as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value. Bitcoin’s biggest obstacle from fulfilling these functions is the price volatility. A GARCH (1,1) model is used to analyze Bitcoin’s volatility in respect to the macroeconomic variables of countries where Bitcoin is being traded the most. Bitcoin already behaves similarly to fiat currencies in China, the U.S. and the European Union but not in Japan. There is also evidence that Bitcoin acts as a safe-haven asset in China. The volatility of Bitcoin has been steadily decreasing throughout its lifetime. If it follows the trend of its six years of existence, it will reach the volatility levels of fiat currencies in 2019-2020 and become a functioning alternative to fiat currencies.

Comments

Note: Access to this thesis is restricted to Skidmore community.

Download

Included in

Economics Commons

Share

COinS