Estimating Price and Exchange rate Hedging Elasticity of Cryptocurrency Demand in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the price and exchange rate hedging elasticity of cryptocurrency demand in Nigeria. To achieve the objective, the study employed Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ADRL) model to estimate both the short-run and long-run response of demand to changes in crypto price, consumer income and exchange rate. The Study found among others that cryptocurrency is demanded as a financial asset (either as money for exchange purpose or asset for speculative purpose). It was discovered that cryptocurrency price changes have significant impact on cryptocurrency demand but price inelastic. Meaning that a percentage changes in crypto price leads to less than proportionate change in cryptocurrency demand. It was also discovered that Nigeria real exchange rate has negative relationship with cryptocurrency demand meaning that as Naira real exchange rate to dollar is falling, the demand for cryptocurrency is rising. Other factors that are influencing cryptocurrency demand in Nigeria include consumer income, cryptocurrency popularity, and inflation rate in the country. The study concludes that while price plays an important role in cryptocurrency demand, fluctuations in cryptocurrency demand is less than the fluctuation in its price. The implication is that there are several other factors (structural issues) including real exchange rate movement that influences demands for cryptocurrency other than its price that policy makers should explore.