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Article
Publication date: 21 March 2024

Milind Tiwari, Cayle Lupton, Ausma Bernot and Khaled Halteh

This paper aims to investigate technological innovations within the crypto space that have engendered novel financial crime risks and their potential utilization amidst…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate technological innovations within the crypto space that have engendered novel financial crime risks and their potential utilization amidst geopolitical conflicts.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical paper uses an analysis of recent geopolitical events, with a key focus on using cryptocurrencies to undertake illicit activities.

Findings

The study found that cryptocurrencies and the innovations made within the crypto domain are used for both legitimate and illicit purposes, including money laundering, terrorism financing and sanction evasion.

Originality/value

This research contributes to understanding the critical role cryptocurrencies play amidst geopolitical conflicts and emphasizes the need for regulatory considerations to prevent their misuse. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first scholarly contribution that considers the evolving mechanisms afforded by cryptocurrencies amidst geopolitical conflicts in undertaking illicit activities.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 May 2022

Messay Asgedom Gobena

The purpose of this study is to identify money laundering typologies and techniques in Ethiopia.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify money laundering typologies and techniques in Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a descriptive study that relies on primary data generated from interviewees drawn from the Ethiopian Financial Intelligence Center, Ethiopian Customs Commission, selected commercial banks and law enforcement agencies, as well as secondary data from government reports, media press, statutes and other online and offline sources.

Findings

According to this study, criminals in Ethiopia used several laundering techniques, the most common of which are money laundering using financial institutions, trade-based money laundering, cash-based money laundering, money laundering through illegal hawala, shell companies, or anonymous beneficiaries. Criminals have recently been suspected of using financial technologies and virtual currencies to launder the proceeds of their illicit activities. The laundering strategies are extremely intertwined and their distinction remains highly blurred. Moreover, the typologies are operated transnationally, despite being highly tailored to Ethiopia’s political economy.

Originality/value

This is one of the very few papers to date that provides the typologies and techniques of money laundering, specifically in the context of cash-intensive economies.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 26 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Expert briefing
Publication date: 11 April 2023

While not as scathing as a broader March report from the White House on cryptos, it adds another drumbeat to the Biden administration's hardening attitude to crypto regulation…

Details

DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB278306

ISSN: 2633-304X

Keywords

Geographic
Topical
Article
Publication date: 23 January 2024

Shreya Sangal, Gaurav Duggal and Achint Nigam

The purpose of this research paper is to review and synthesize the role of blockchain technology (BCT) in various types of illegal activities, including but not limited to fraud…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research paper is to review and synthesize the role of blockchain technology (BCT) in various types of illegal activities, including but not limited to fraud, money laundering, ransomware attacks, firearms, drug tracking, cyberattacks, identity theft and scams.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a review of studies related to illegal activities using blockchain from 2015 to 2023. Next, a thematic review of the literature was performed to see how these illegal activities were conducted using BCT.

Findings

Through this study, the authors identify the relevant themes that highlight the major illegal activities performed using BCT, its possible steps for prevention and the opportunities for future developments. Finally, the authors provide suggestions for future research using the theory, context and method framework.

Originality/value

No other research has synthesized the illegal activities using BCT through a thematic approach to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Hence, this study will act as a starting point for future research for academic and technical practitioners in this area.

Details

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, vol. 22 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-996X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 January 2023

Ujjawal Sawarn and Pradyumna Dash

This study aims to examine the uncertainty spillover among eight important asset classes (cryptocurrencies, US stocks, US bonds, US dollar, agriculture, metal, oil and gold) using…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the uncertainty spillover among eight important asset classes (cryptocurrencies, US stocks, US bonds, US dollar, agriculture, metal, oil and gold) using weekly data from 2014 to 2020. This study also examines the US macro uncertainty and US financial stress spillover on these assets.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use time–frequency connectedness method to study the uncertainty spillover among the asset classes.

Findings

This study’s findings revealed that the uncertainty spillover is time-varying and peaked during the 2016 oil supply glut and COVID-19 pandemic. US stocks are the highest transmitter of uncertainty to all other assets, followed by the US dollar and oil. US stocks (US dollar and oil) transmit uncertainty in long (short) term. Furthermore, US macro uncertainty is the net transmitter of uncertainty to the US stocks, industrial metals and oil markets. In contrast, US financial stress is the net transmitter of uncertainty to the US bonds, cryptocurrencies, the US dollar and gold markets. US financial stress (US macro uncertainty) has long (short)-term effects on asset price volatility.

Originality/value

This study complements the studies on volatility spillover among the important asset classes. This study also includes recently financialized asset classes such as cryptocurrencies, agricultural and industrial commodities. This study examines the macro uncertainty and financial stress spillover on these assets.

Details

Studies in Economics and Finance, vol. 40 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1086-7376

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 January 2024

Opeoluwa Adeniyi Adeosun, Suhaib Anagreh, Mosab I. Tabash and Xuan Vinh Vo

This paper aims to examine the return and volatility transmission among economic policy uncertainty (EPU), geopolitical risk (GPR), their interaction (EPGR) and five tradable…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the return and volatility transmission among economic policy uncertainty (EPU), geopolitical risk (GPR), their interaction (EPGR) and five tradable precious metals: gold, silver, platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) frequency-based connectedness approach to a data set spanning from January 1997 to February 2023, the study analyzes return and volatility connectedness separately, providing insights into how the data, in return and volatility forms, differ across time and frequency.

Findings

The results of the return connectedness show that gold, palladium and silver are affected more by EPU in the short term, while all precious metals are influenced by GPR in the short term. EPGR exhibits strong contributions to the system due to its elevated levels of policy uncertainty and extreme global risks. Palladium shows the highest reaction to EPGR, while silver shows the lowest. Return spillovers are generally time-varying and spike during critical global events. The volatility connectedness is long-term driven, suggesting that uncertainty and risk factors influence market participants’ long-term expectations. Notable peaks in total connectedness occurred during the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, with the latter being the highest.

Originality/value

Using the recently updated news-based uncertainty indicators, the study examines the time and frequency connectedness between key uncertainty measures and precious metals in their returns and volatility forms using the TVP-VAR frequency-based connectedness approach.

Details

Studies in Economics and Finance, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1086-7376

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 August 2023

Onur Polat

This study aims to scrutinize time-varying return and volatility interlinkages among major cryptocurrencies, NFT tokens and DeFi assets between 1 July 2018 and 19 February 2023…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to scrutinize time-varying return and volatility interlinkages among major cryptocurrencies, NFT tokens and DeFi assets between 1 July 2018 and 19 February 2023 and determine optimal portfolio allocations and hedging effectiveness under different portfolio construction techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

This work examines time-varying return and volatility interlinkages among major cryptocurrencies, NFT tokens, and DeFi assets between 1 July 2018 and 19 February 2023. To this end, the time-varying parameter-vector autoregression (TVP-VAR)-based connectedness methodology of Antonakakis et al. (2020) This approach is an extended version of the Diebold–Yilmaz (DY) method (Diebold and Yılmaz, 2014) and has advantages over the original DY. First, unlike the DY, it is free of the selection of a particular window size. Second, it has robustness for the outliers. Furthermore, following Broadstock et al. (2022), the author estimates time-varying optimal portfolio weights and hedging effectiveness under different portfolio construction scenarios.

Findings

This study's results indicate the following results: (1) The overall connectedness indices prominently capture well-known financial/geopolitical distress incidents; (2) the leading cryptocurrencies (ETH, BTC and BNB) are the largest transmitter of return shocks, while LINK and BTC are the largest transmitters/recipients of volatility shocks; (3) cryptocurrencies, NFTs and DeFi form distinct cluster groups in terms of return and volatility connectedness; (4) the connectedness networks estimated around the 2022 cryptocurrency crash and the FTX's filing for the bankruptcy are characterized by the strongest return and volatility interlinkages; (5) optimal portfolio strategies computed by different portfolio construction techniques display similar motifs and have sustained growth paths except for some short-lived drop backs.

Research limitations/implications

This study's findings imply several policy suggestions for investors, stakeholders and policymakers. First, the study's time-based dynamic interlinkages can help market participants in their optimal portfolio decisions. In particular, the persistent net receiving roles of the DeFi assets and the NFTs throughout the episode, especially around the financial/geopolitical turmoil, underpin their safe haven potentials (Umar et al., 2022a, b). Finally, since the total connectedness indices (TCIs) are prone to significantly increase around financial/geopolitical burst times, these tools can be valuable for policy makers to monitor risk.

Originality/value

The contribution of knowledge is at least threefold. First, the author focuses on the dynamic time interlinkages among major cryptocurrencies, NFTs and DeFi assets in July 2018 and February 2023 considering the prominent recent financial/geopolitical incidents. Second, the author estimates network topologies of dynamic connectedness around financial/geopolitical bursts and compared them in terms of interlinkages. Finally, the author calculates the time-varying optimal portfolio allocations and hedging effectiveness under different portfolio construction techniques.

Details

China Finance Review International, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 March 2024

Suzan Dsouza, Narinder Pal Singh and Johnson Ayobami Oliyide

This study analyses the impact of the Covid-19 on stock market performance of BRICS nations together. BRICS countries comprise almost 30% of the global GDP and around 50% of the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study analyses the impact of the Covid-19 on stock market performance of BRICS nations together. BRICS countries comprise almost 30% of the global GDP and around 50% of the world’s economic growth. As BRICS nations have gained the attraction as financial investment destinations, their financial markets have apparently been as potential opportunities for foreign portfolio investors. While there is extensive research on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on individual economies and global financial markets, this paper is among the first to systematically investigate the dynamic connectedness of these emerging economies during the pandemic using the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressions (TVP-VAR) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

We categorise our data into two distinct periods: the pre-Covid period spanning from January 1, 2018, to March 10, 2020, and the Covid crisis period extending from March 11, 2020, to June 4, 2021. To achieve our research objectives, we employ the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressions (TVP-VAR) approach to assess dynamic connectedness.

Findings

Our findings reveal that among the BRICS nations, Brazil and South Africa serve as net transmitters of shocks, while China and India act as net receivers of shocks during the Covid crisis. However, the total connectedness index (TCI) has exhibited a notable increase throughout this crisis period. This paper makes several notable contributions to the academic literature by offering a unique focus on BRICS economies during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing practical insights for stakeholders, emphasising the importance of risk management and investment strategy, exploring diversification implications and introducing advanced methodology for analysing interconnected financial markets.

Research limitations/implications

The results have important implications for the investors, the hedge funds, portfolio managers and the policymakers in BRICS stock markets. The investors, investment houses, portfolio managers and policymakers can develop investment strategies and policies in the light of the findings of this study to cope up the future pandemic crisis.

Originality/value

This study is one of its kind that examines the dynamic connectedness of BRICS with recently developed TVP-VAR approach across pandemic crisis.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 March 2023

Hongxia Tong, Asadullah Khaskheli and Amna Masood

Given the evolving market integration, this study aims to explore the connectedness of 12 real estate investment trusts (REITs) during the COVID-19 period.

Abstract

Purpose

Given the evolving market integration, this study aims to explore the connectedness of 12 real estate investment trusts (REITs) during the COVID-19 period.

Design/methodology/approach

The connectedness of 12 REITs was examined by considering three sample periods: full period, COVID peak period and COVID recovery period by using the quantile vector autoregressive (VAR) approach.

Findings

The findings ascertain that REIT markets are sensitive to COVID, revealing significant connectedness during each sample period. The USA and The Netherlands are the major shock transmitters; thus, these countries are relatively better options for the predictive behavior of the rest of the REIT markets. In contrast, Hong Kong and Japan are the least favorable REIT markets with higher shock-receiving potential.

Research limitations/implications

The study recommends implications for real estate industry agents and investors to evaluate and anticipate the direction of return connectedness at each phase of the pandemic, such that they can incorporate those global REITs less vulnerable to unplanned crises. Apart from these implications, the study is limited to the global REIT markets and only focused on the period of COVID-19, excluding the concept of other financial and health crises.

Originality/value

This study uses a novel approach of the quantile-based VAR to determine the connectedness among REITs. Furthermore, the present work is a pioneer study because it is targeting different time periods of the pandemic. Additionally, the outcomes of the study are valuable for investors, policymakers and portfolio managers to formulate future development strategies and consolidate REITs during the period of crisis.

Details

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8270

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 May 2023

Md. Bokhtiar Hasan, Md Mamunur Rashid, Md. Naiem Hossain, Mir Mahmudur Rahman and Md. Ruhul Amin

This research explores the spillovers and portfolio implications for green bonds and environmental, social and governance (ESG) assets in the context of the rapidly expanding…

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Abstract

Purpose

This research explores the spillovers and portfolio implications for green bonds and environmental, social and governance (ESG) assets in the context of the rapidly expanding trend in green finance investments and the need for a green recovery in the post-COVID-19 era.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes Diebold and Yilmaz’s (2014) spillover method and portfolio strategies (hedge ratio, optimal weights and hedging effectiveness) for the data starting from February 29, 2012, to March 14, 2022.

Findings

The study’s findings reveal that the lower volatility spillover is evidenced between the green bonds and ESG stocks during tranquil and turbulent periods (e.g. COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War). Furthermore, hedging costs are lower both in normal times and during economic slumps. Investing the bulk of the funds in green bonds makes it possible to achieve maximum hedging effectiveness between the S&P green bond (GB) and the S&P 500 ESG.

Practical implications

Both investors and policymakers may use these findings to make wise investment and policy choices to achieve post-COVID environmental sustainability.

Originality/value

Unlike previous research, this is the first to explore the interconnectedness among the major global and country-specific green bonds and ESG assets. The major findings of this study about the lower volatility spillovers and hedging costs between green bonds and ESG assets during the tranquil and turbulent periods may contribute to the post-COVID investment portfolio for environmental sustainability.

Details

Fulbright Review of Economics and Policy, vol. 3 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2635-0173

Keywords

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