A primer on bitcoin cross-border flows: Measurement and drivers

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of International Money and Finance
Year: 2025
Volume: 159
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Cerutti, Eugenio (International Monetary Fund (I...) Chen, Jiaqian (not in RePEc) Hengge, Martina (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.673 = (α=2.02 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

The rapid growth of crypto assets raises important questions about their cross-border usage. To gain a better understanding of cross-border Bitcoin flows, we use raw data covering both on-chain (on the Bitcoin blockchain) and off-chain (outside the Bitcoin blockchain) transactions globally. We provide a detailed description of available methodologies and datasets, and discuss the crucial assumptions behind the quantification of cross-border flows. We then present novel stylized facts about Bitcoin cross-border flows and study their global and domestic drivers. Bitcoin cross-border flows respond differently than capital flows to traditional drivers of capital flows, and differences appear between on-chain and off-chain Bitcoin cross-border flows. Off-chain cross-border flows seem correlated with incentives to avoid capital flow restrictions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jimfin:v:159:y:2025:i:c:s0261560625001597
Journal Field
International
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25