Modeling the Dynamic Correlations among Cryptocurrencies: New Evidence from Multivariate Factor Stochastic Volatility Model

This paper intends to model the volatilities of returns of 20 different cryptocurrencies using daily data from 08/03/2018 to 09/20/2022. The multivariate factor stochastic volatility model (MFSV) within the framework of the nonlinear space-state approach is used. In this method, the cryptocurrency return volatility is decomposed into volatility rooted in latent factors and idiosyncratic volatility, and the time-varying pairwise correlation and dynamic covariance matrix are estimated in four sub-periods. The MFSV model’s results revealed that  each sub-period contains a distinct  number of latent factors, 2, 5, 4 and 2, which generally have a favorable impact on  all cryptocurrency volatilities. The time-varying positive correlations between the return volatility of all cryptocurrencies are confirmed. Indeed, the strongest pairwise correlations belong to Ethereum, Litcoin, EOS, and VET in each sub-period, respectively. The DOGE, DOGE, Filecoin, and XRP, on the other hand, showedthe weakest correlations . As the pairwise correlations of cryptocurrency volatilities get  strenger,  especially during  descending periods, it seems that the benefits  of diversifying a crypto portfolio  are getting less and less over time.