Is it possible to establish the link between drug busts and the cryptocurrency market? Yes, we can

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 1

Authors: Almaqableh, Laith; Wallace, Damien; Pereira, Vijay; Ramiah, Vikash; Wood, Geoffrey; Veron, Jose Francisco; Moosa, Imad; Watson, Alastair

Abstract: Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation ... Expand

Abstract: Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation of cryptocurrencies, which have become a major way of doing business across national boundaries. This paper investigates the link between cryptocurrency markets and drug trafficking activities. More specifically, we explore the impact of the announcement of 24 major drug busts on the systematic risk and return of the world cryptocurrency market. We deploy an event study methodology to estimate the abnormal returns associated with drug trafficking activities in the cryptocurrency market. We find that the relationship between the two is quite strong in the case of some cryptocurrencies, albeit weaker in others. However, we show that drug bust news tends to create uncertainty, and accordingly impart risk into cryptocurrency markets. This study confirms the predictions of convenience theories of crime as to the relative attractiveness of cryptocurrencies to criminals, and the extent to which not only general, but also their own future interests, sacrificed readily on the altar of accessibility. We highlight how when social and regulatory foundations are weak, criminal behaviour may overwhelm virtual spaces, margin­ alizing more orthodox businesses, no matter how altruistic the intentions of their founders. Collapse

Topics: cryptocurrency Bitcoin criminality price management Ethereum

Methods: event study longitudinal research robustness check literature study econometric modeling

The Effect of Consensus Algorithm on Ethereum Price and Volume

2023 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Ampel, Benjamin

Abstract: Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, are digital currencies operatin ... Expand

Abstract: Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, are digital currencies operating on a peer-to-peer network. Cryptocurrencies rely on consensus algorithms for transaction validation and network security. Ethereum recently replaced its proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm with a proof-of-stake (PoS) algorithm on September 15, 2022. This research aims to study the following research question: Does changing from PoW to PoS consensus increase price and transaction volume? To answer this question, we implemented synthetic control methods to compare the pre-and post-treatment trends of the price and volume of Ethereum against a synthetic counterfactual. The result of our analysis suggests that Ethereum shifting from PoW to PoS had a positive effect on its price and a non-significant negative effect on transaction volume. Price increasing relative to the synthetic counterfactual is promising for convincing other PoW blockchains that a switch to PoS may lead to increased investment opportunities while decreasing the environmental impact. Collapse

Topics: Ethereum cryptocurrency Bitcoin knowledge base decision making

Methods: computational algorithm experiment synthetic control method experimental group longitudinal research

Blockchain innovation for consent self-management in health information exchanges

2023 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Anderson, Chad; Carvalho, Arthur; Kaul, Mala; Merhout, Jeffrey W.

Abstract: With the increasing digitalization of health data, patients need to make informe ... Expand

Abstract: With the increasing digitalization of health data, patients need to make informed decisions about the online sharing of their protected health information. This necessitates a robust technical infrastructure that enables patients to self-manage consent and the trusted exchange of this information across sharing entities. Unfortu­ nately, current health information exchange systems in the U.S. are limited in both these regards. While there is recent work on digital patient consent management, there is limited work that provides effective solutions for patient self-management of consent. Further, interoperability issues in the way health information exchanges are currently architected and differences in regulations across localities exacerbate the challenges of consent man­ agement. In this research, we survey potential patients' willingness to self-manage healthcare-related consent. Having established the desire for consent self-management, we propose a solution that enables the seamless sharing of patient consent across different healthcare providers and health information exchanges. Specifically, we use a rigorous design science approach to create a blockchain-based, self-managed patient consent system and we evaluate the design through an instantiated prototype. The results of our study should be useful to researchers in healthcare information management as well as to practitioners designing consent management systems. Our research contributes to design science research with an innovative, rigorously evaluated, design principles-based artifact that addresses a critical problem of sharing protected health information. Collapse

Topics: blockchain mobile application information exchange privacy Ethereum

Methods: survey design artifact design science design process design principle

Theories: evidence-based design

Investigating Users' Continuous Adoption of Cryptocurrency

2023 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Abooleet, Saeed; Fang, Xiaowen

Abstract: ... Expand

Abstract: Collapse

Topics: cryptocurrency asset specificity Bitcoin decision making social media

Methods: statistical hypothesis test structural equation modeling survey partial least squares path modeling

Theories: transaction cost economics

Beyond a Fistful of Tumblers: Toward a Taxonomy of Ethereum-based Mixers

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Barbereau, Tom; Ermolaev, Egor; Brennecke, Martin; Hartwich, Eduard; Sedlmeir, Johannes

Abstract: The role played by decentralised services in the obfuscation of crypto-asset tr ... Expand

Abstract: The role played by decentralised services in the obfuscation of crypto-asset transactions performed on transparent blockchains has increasingly captured the attention of regulators. This is exemplified by the headlines about the U.S. Treasury's sanctions on the Ethereum-based mixer Tornado Cash. Yet, despite the existing controversies on the use of mixers, the different functionalities of these information systems with an inherent dark side remain to be explored by the literature. So far, contributions primarily encompass technical works and studies that focus on the Bitcoin ecosystem. This paper puts forward a multi-layer taxonomy of the smart-contract-based -and, therefore, functionally richer -family of mixers on Ethereum. Our proposed taxonomy is grounded on (1) a review of existing literature, (2) an analysis of mixers' project documentation, (3) their corresponding smart contracts, and (4) expert interviews. Our evaluation included the application of the taxonomy to two mixers -RAILGUN and zkBob. The taxonomy represents a valuable tool for law enforcement, regulators, and other stakeholders to explore critical properties affecting compliance and use of Ethereum-based mixers. Collapse

Topics: Ethereum smart contract cryptoasset blockchain user experience

Methods: qualitative interview theoretical contribution mixed method

A temporal graph framework for intelligence extraction in social media networks

2023 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Chung, Wingyan; Lai, Vincent S.

Abstract: Social media networks (SMNs) are increasingly used in professional management of ... Expand

Abstract: Social media networks (SMNs) are increasingly used in professional management of knowledge workers and related assets. However, the factors affecting behavioral trends and activity levels in these networks are not well understood. Although social and cognitive theories can help to explain human behavior in traditional social networks, their application to SMNs has not been validated. Traditional social network modeling techniques may not accurately predict real-world SMN activities. This research developed a temporal graph framework for in­ telligence extraction in SMNs. Theory-based, data-driven models (Conformity Model (COM), Recency-Primacy Model (REM), Trend Interaction Model (TIM), Periodic Interaction Model (PIM)) were developed based on the framework to capture various aspects of user behavior: conformity effect, recency, primacy, periodicity, and dynamic trend. The models capture the activity history and dynamically combine pricing information to enhance predictive accuracy. Using data of 83,536 GitHub software repositories on cryptocurrency, this article reports the results of experiments that compare the models’ performance in predicting SMN activities over time. Experi­ mental results show that the model (REM) that captures recency/primacy effects of human cognitive processing outperformed other models in 9 (out of 18) measures pertaining to engagement, contribution, influence, and popularity. Primacy plays a dominant role in predicting engagement, contribution, and popularity, whereas recency plays a key role in predicting influence. Short-term trend (modeled with TIM) was found to yield significantly better performance on predicting user contribution. The models also outperformed an integrated machine learning (IML) model by most measures. Overall, the effects modeled by REM and TIM were found to be more significant than the effects modeled by COM, PIM, and IML. The research contributes to enhancing un­ derstanding of SMN behavior, developing new models to simulate and predict SMN activities, and designing new artifacts for information systems practitioners to manage knowledge assets and to extract SMN intelligence. Collapse

Topics: cryptocurrency social network systems development situation awareness user behavior

Methods: experiment machine learning longitudinal research computational algorithm time series analysis

Theories: psychological theory social contagion theory social interactionist theory social impact theory social sciences theory

Impact of Bot Involvement in an Incentivized Blockchain-Based Online Social Media Platform

2023 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Delkhosh, Fatemeh; Gopal, Ram D.; Patterson, Raymond A.; Yaraghi, Niam

Abstract: Incentivized blockchain-based online social media (BOSM), where creators and cur ... Expand

Abstract: Incentivized blockchain-based online social media (BOSM), where creators and curators of popular content are paid in cryptocurrency, have recently emerged. Traditional social media ecosystems have experienced significant bot involvement in their platforms, which has often had a negative impact on both users and platforms. BOSM can provide additional direct financial incentives as motivation for both bots' and human users' engagement. Using the panel vector autoregression and regression discontinuity in time framework, we analyze two distinct data sets from Steemit, the largest and most popular BOSM, to study the impact of bot engagement on human users and the impact of changes in financial reward on user engagement. Interestingly, our findings demonstrate that while increased engagement by bots is positively associated with engagement by human users, the association between bot engagement and human user engagement decreases as the number of votes for a post increases. We also find that shifts in economic incentives significantly influence the behavior of both human users and bots. This research provides significant insights on how social media platforms can leverage economic incentives to influence user behavior and, more importantly, leverage bots' activity to increase the engagement of their human users. Collapse

Topics: social media user behavior application programming interface participatory design blockchain

Methods: longitudinal research theory development design methodology regression discontinuity design vector autoregression

How can Blockchain technology support patent management? A systematic literature review

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Denter, Nils M.; Seeger, Fabian; Moehrle, Martin G.

Abstract: Patent management tasks involve many stakeholders from diverse disciplines and h ... Expand

Abstract: Patent management tasks involve many stakeholders from diverse disciplines and hierarchies as well as from inside and outside the organization. By drawing on the transaction cost and stakeholder theories, Blockchain technology offers new opportunities to rethink the way in which stakeholders are organized and collaborate. Although Blockchain technology receives considerable attention from both the public and academia, the question of how Blockchain technology leverages patent management in particular has so far been neglected, although it holds great promise. Consequently, this is what we choose to be our basic research question. In response to it, we conduct a systematic literature review, following a procedure in three steps. Out of an initial sample of 714 articles, we select 52 as being particularly relevant, and classify them in accordance with the dimensions of the 7D Patent Management Maturity Model. Three main foci regarding the use of Blockchain technology emerge – i. e. for the generation, the enforcement, and the exploitation of patents. This study contributes to scholarship and management by showing that Blockchain technology mitigates environmental and behavioral uncertainty, while stimulating new governance forms and business models by reorganizing or discarding stakeholders. Collapse

Topics: blockchain database system Bitcoin anonymity design thinking

Methods: literature sample literature study structured literature research topic model qualitative content analysis

Theories: transaction cost economics stakeholder theory

Spillover Effects of Airdrops: Evidence from Tokenization Platforms

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Guo, Dezhen; Wang, Lizheng; li, yongjun

Abstract: The emergence of tokenization platforms based on blockchain technology has led ... Expand

Abstract: The emergence of tokenization platforms based on blockchain technology has led to the use of free airdrop to replace traditional expensive financial incentives to enhance user engagement. However, critics argue that such incentives may devalue tokens and prompt nonrecipients to panic sell. To investigate the impact of airdrops, we conducted a quasiexperiment on Axie Infinity. Our findings indicate that airdrops significantly enhance engagement among both recipients and nonrecipients. Mechanism analysis shows that cross group spillover effects stems from expectation of another airdrop program and increased market liquidity. While recipients tend to immediately sell tokens and often sell more tokens than received, we did not find evidence of nonrecipients panic selling tokens. Furthermore, we investigated the heterogeneous effects of airdrops. Our work contributes to the ongoing debate of the effectiveness of airdrops and provide insights into the study of tokenization platforms. Collapse

Topics: user behavior cryptocurrency social influence application programming interface blockchain

Methods: experimental group difference in differences longitudinal research statistical hypothesis test regression analysis method

An Architecture Using Payment Channel Networks for Blockchain-based Wi-Fi Sharing

2023 | ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Janiesch, Christian; Fischer, Marcus; Imgrund, Florian; Hofmann, Adrian; Winkelmann, Axel

Abstract: Enabling Internet access while taking load of mobile networks, the concept of Wi ... Expand

Abstract: Enabling Internet access while taking load of mobile networks, the concept of Wi-Fi sharing holds much potential. While trust-based concepts require a trusted intermediary and cannot prevent malicious behavior, for example, conducted through fake profiles, security-based approaches lack adequate accounting mechanisms and coverage. Against this backdrop, we develop a Wi-Fi sharing architecture based on blockchain technology and payment channel networks. Our contribution is twofold: First, we present a comprehensive collection of design principles for workable Wi-Fi sharing networks. Second, we propose and evaluate a reference architecture that augments current approaches with adequate accounting mechanisms and facilitates performance, scalability, security, and participant satisfaction. Collapse

Topics: wireless LAN blockchain accounting system support internet technology

Methods: design principle literature study experiment design requirement factorial experiment

Theories: transaction cost economics