Bubbles and crashes in cryptocurrencies: Interdependence, contagion, or asset rotation?

Using a quantile vector autoregressive model to capture return dynamics in extreme market conditions, we find that the cryptocurrency market exhibits a high level of market connectedness. Bitcoin is a net transmitter of return spillovers during busts and a net receiver during booms. Analysis of the timing of bubble and crash periods uncovers the presence of interdependence and contagion effects. Asset dynamics is driven to a great extent by the technology, in particular the consensus protocol of cryptocurrencies. There is only limited evidence for asset rotation, and it involves mostly Ripple.