Cryptocurrencies have arrived, but are we ready? Unveiling cryptocurrency adoption recipes through an SEM-fsQCA approach

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate consumers’ cryptocurrency adoption through the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and complexity theory. Design/methodology/approach By using a purposive sampling method, a configurational model was developed and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted to gather responses from a Malaysian sample. A total of 223 responses were obtained. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were adopted to analyze the data. Findings The PLS-SEM indicated that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and affinity for technology interaction were positive cryptocurrency adoption predictors, whereas regulation was a negative predictor. Based on the fsQCA, cryptocurrency adoption could be explained by six configurational paths, which comprised combinations of the proposed causal conditions: the UTAUT factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating condition and social influence), environmental factor (regulation) and individual factors (financial knowledge and affinity for technology interaction). Research limitations/implications This study offers contributions to the theoretical body of knowledge by articulating the relevance of extended UTAUT and extending the established UTAUT model by integrating external environment and personal factors, also showing the linear and nonlinear interplays of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, regulation, financial knowledge and affinity for technology interaction. Practical implications The findings facilitated practitioners’ (cryptocurrency brokers, governments and businesses) fostering of cryptocurrency adoption through the joint consideration of different factors. The factors spanned technological attributes and individual characteristics to regulation. Practitioners should acknowledge that different combinations of the aforementioned antecedents can be equally effective to increase cryptocurrency adoption. The findings suggested that these causal conditions should be considered holistically and that there is no best predictor. Social implications In social terms, the research is expected to contribute to the dissemination of cryptocurrencies and help governments and central banks to develop, regulate and supervise digital currencies, as well as in the implementation of a digital currency ecosystem aligned with sustainable development goals. Economically, the results might foster a high cryptocurrency adoption rate and stimulate crypto-token-based business models and investment opportunities that present new means of revenue generation at individual, organizational and national levels. Originality/value This study offers unique perspectives for the body of knowledge and practice in the cryptocurrency domain, using both symmetric and asymmetric methodologies, by delineating the configurational logic involving technological capabilities, social influences, regulation and individual characteristics in facilitating more efficacious dissemination of cryptocurrencies.

What do we know about cryptocurrency investment? An empirical study of its adoption among Indian retail investors

“…From an economic perspective, the finding may help in the growing popularity of novel cryptocurrency token-based models and investment prospects that provide profit generation approaches on both a personal and business level. More specifically, the spread of cryptocurrencies will facilitate achieving the Sustainable Development Goals suggested in a recent United Nations report (Sham et al , 2023). On the social front, the study’s impact arises from its implications for a substantial part of society (Jordão et al , 2022).…”

“…According to Jordão (2022), the rationale behind this research lies in the extent to which its findings can positively impact a substantial portion of society. Therefore, this research addresses this gap and sees the suggestions of prior researchers (such as Al-Hattami et al, 2022;Sham et al, 2023;Taleb et al, 2023); the current research makes multiple contributions. First, this article provides significant theoretical contributions by integration of the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory (relative advantage [RA], trialability [TA], compatibility [CB], ease of use; complexity [CP], observability [OB] and consumer behavioral [CB] theory; perceived value [PV] and perceived risks [PR]), which prior studies on cryptocurrency adoption (CA) do not examine (Parnami and Mathur, 2022).…”

Cryptocurrencies as a means of payment in online shopping

“…Subjective norms may influence consumers' intentions to use cryptocurrencies (Cristofaro et al, 2022;Jariyapan et al, 2022). According to Sham et al (2023), social influence positively predicts cryptocurrency adoption. For example, online social interaction among users and user-generated content increases trust and the intention to use cryptocurrencies for electronic payments (Mendoza-Tello et al, 2018).…”

ICT acceptance, language use and information culture as tools for enhancing information literacy within smallholder maize farmers in Uganda

“…While the benefits of using ICTs are vivid, acceptance maybe influenced by the perception an individual has about the complexity and usefulness of the said technology moderated by contextual variables like social influence (Ali et al, 2020;Gani et al, 2022;Li and Wang, 2022;Nyagango et al, 2023;Silva et al, 2023). Because of the diverse communities in developing countries, fostering ICT and information usage should be customized to the social contexts of the farmers, which previous researches have underplayed (Sham et al, 2023). Based on the discussion above, we propose as follows:…”