Effectiveness of Momentum Strategies in Cryptocurrency Markets

Abstract:

A momentum strategy, involves selecting assets for the portfolio that have recently gained above-average rates of return. The phenomenon, which has been identified in a number of global stock markets, recommends investing in securities that achieved the highest rates of return over a period of 3 to 12 months and selling short the securities with the lowest returns.

The main purpose of the article was to identify the effects of momentum strategies in the case of selected instruments of cryptocurrencies markets. The effectiveness of investments in selected cryptocurrencies was studied in period from 2018 to 2023.

The research results confirm the occurrence of the momentum effect popular on the stock exchange for the analyzed assets. Investments including both long and short positions generated positive rates of return in most cases. The effectiveness of the momentum strategy was higher for investments in cryptocurrencies classified as "winners". Short sales were characterized by lower rates of return and, in some subperiods, also negative results.