Perception towards government advisory, perceived risk and willingness to invest in cryptocurrency

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the link between investor perception regarding government advisories on cryptocurrencies, their perceived risk of cryptocurrencies and their willingness to invest in cryptocurrencies. The link is examined via Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) using 212 responses gathered from a survey questionnaire distributed to groups related to cryptocurrency investment in social media platforms over a period of around four months. It is found that the investor’s perception regarding government advisories on cryptocurrencies, which are cautionary in nature, have a significant negative impact on their perception of the risk of cryptocurrencies. Perception regarding government advisories reduces the willingness to invest in cryptocurrencies. However, it is also found that perceived risk does not have any significant influence on the willingness to invest in cryptocurrencies, indicating that although risk perception is heightened as a result of the cautionary government advise, this does not result in a significant reduction in the willingness to invest in cryptocurrencies. Hence, perceived risk does not play a significant mediating role in influencing the effect government advisories have on the willingness to invest in cryptocurrencies.