Cryptocurrency Interdependencies and COVID-19: The Diebold-Yilmaz and the Frequency Connectedness Approaches

Abstract

It is well-known that financial connectedness tends to surge during financial/geopolitical turmoils. To this end, this study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cryptocurrency connectedness by employing the Diebold-Yilmaz and the frequency connectedness approaches. Total spillover indexes estimated by both methodologies create proper signs to the 2017/2018 cryptocurrency bubble and gradually escalate around March 2020, which coincides with the WHO's official announcement of the COVID-19. The study contributes to the literature by gauging the COVID-19 connectedness among eight major cryptocurrencies on different frequency bands and 200-day moving windows by employing two novel methodologies.