Cryptocurrency interest in geographical regions with high unemployment rates

Abstract

Purpose- In regions with high unemployment rates, individuals often face economic uncertainty and may seek alternatives to traditional financial systems. In such circumstances, some individuals may turn to alternative investments and financial instruments, with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin being among them. The value of these cryptocurrencies is often volatile due to their speculative nature, which can lead investors to take on more significant risks. While this situation can result in substantial gains, it can also lead to significant financial losses. The primary use of cryptocurrencies is generally for investment purposes. Since cryptocurrencies are digital, they operate entirely in a virtual environment. The loss or theft of the digital password in the virtual space means the loss of the wallet. Security in cryptocurrencies is very weak. The lack of government guarantees and legal infrastructure globally poses certain threats to investors, making cryptocurrencies carry a higher risk compared to other investment instruments. This study will investigate the regional relationship between cryptocurrency interest and unemployment rates. The aim is to determine whether individuals living in geographical areas with high unemployment rates show more interest in cryptocurrencies compared to those in other geographical regions. Methodology- In line with the research objective, Google search engine data for the past 10 years has been analyzed using content analysis methodology. A query has been conducted to determine in which regions of Turkey cryptocurrency names are most frequently searched, and a comparison has been made on a provincial level across all 81 provinces. Additionally, considering the unemployment data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), regions with high and low unemployment rates have been identified. Subsequently, an investigation has been carried out to determine whether there is any correlation between regional Google searches and unemployment rates in these areas. Findings- When examining the findings from the perspective of unemployment, it has been observed that the regions where cryptocurrency names are most frequently searched align with areas having the highest unemployment rates, while the least searched areas correspond to regions with lower unemployment rates. Among the 10 provinces with the highest unemployment rates, 8 of them are included in the list of 10 provinces with the highest Bitcoin search frequency. Similarly, 8 out of 10 provinces with the lowest employment rates are also listed among the 10 provinces with the highest Bitcoin search frequency. Furthermore, among the 10 provinces with the lowest per capita gross domestic product (GDP), 7 of them are included in the list of 10 provinces with the highest Bitcoin search frequency. Conclusion- As a result of the relationship analyses conducted in the research, it has been observed that in Turkey, regions with high unemployment rates, low employment rates, and low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have a higher frequency of Bitcoin searches compared to other regions. Keywords: Cryptocurrency, unemployment, bitcoin JEL Codes: P44, E24, E44