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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2024
This article examines how realized variances predict cryptocurrency returns in the cross section using intraday data. We find that cryptocurrencies with higher variances exhibit lower returns in subsequent weeks. Decomposing total variances into signed jump and jump-robust variances reveals that the negative predictability is attributable to positive jump and jump-robust variances. The negative pricing effect is more pronounced for smaller cryptocurrencies with lower prices, less liquidity, more retail trading activities, and more positive sentiment. Our results suggest that cryptocurrency markets are unique because retail investors and preferences for lottery-like payoffs play important roles in the partial variance effects.
We thank Dexin Zhou, Olivier Scaillet, Fabio Trojani, Narayan Jayaraman, Sudheer Chava, and seminar participants at the University of Geneva, the University of Georgia, Baruch College, Australian Finance and Banking Conference, Midwest Finance Association annual meeting, SKKU International Conference, and Joint Conference with the Allied Korea Finance Associations for their helpful discussions, comments, and encouragement. We particularly thank George Pennacchi (the editor) and an anonymous referee for their constructive suggestions and comments.