Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Factors Influencing the Use of Cryptocurrencies in Spanish Households

Mario Arias-Oliva, Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez and Jorge Pelegrín-Borondo
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Mario Arias-Oliva: Department of Management and Marketing, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez: Social and Business Research Laboratory, University Rovira i Virgili, 43002 Tarragona, Spain
Jorge Pelegrín-Borondo: Economics and Business Department, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain

Mathematics, 2021, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: This paper assesses the variables influencing the expansion of cryptocurrency (crypto for short) use in households. To carry on the study we apply a consumer-behavior focus and so-called fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). In a previous research, that was grounded on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Partial Least Squares (PLS), we found that main factors to explain the intention to use of cryptos by individuals were performance expectancy (in fact, it was the main factor), effort expectancy and facilitating conditions. We did not found evidences about the relevance of social influence, perceived risk and financial literacy. This study revisits these results by applying fsQCA instead PLS. Empirical research on factors influencing cryto use is relatively scarce due to the novelty of blockchain techs, so the present paper expands the literature on this topic by using an original analytical tool in this context. The main contribution of this paper consists in showing empirically that fsQCA provides a complementary and enriching perspective to interpret data about the use of cryptos. We obtain again that the most relevant factor to explain the intention of using cryptocurrencies is perceived expectancy and that also effort expectancy and facilitation conditions are relevant. But also fsQCA has allowed us discovering that despite social influence, perceived risk and financial literacy were not significant in the PLS model, they impact on the intention to use cryptocurrencies when are combined with other factors. Social influence acts as an “enable factor” for the rest of explanatory variables and it is linked positively with intention to use cryptos. Also financial literacy is relevant because its lack is a sufficient condition for the non-acceptance of that blockchain tech. Likewise we have checked that perceived risk influences the intention of using cryptos. However, this influence may be positive or negative depending of the circumstances.

Keywords: cryptocurrencies; bitcoin; blockchain; fintech; unified theory of acceptance and use of technology; intention to use; fuzzy sets; fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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