Determinants of Cryptocurrency Exchange Adoption: A Conceptual Model

Cryptocurrencies have become a global phenomenon, and the number of registered users of cryptocurrency exchange platforms has grown worldwide. However, only a small number of the registered users are active users that engage in actual transactions. In this study, the authors used a multi-theory approach to identify the key factors of the adoption of cryptocurrency exchanges and to develop a conceptual model that would have a potentially high explanatory power. The proposed model emphasizes the role of psychological innovation resistance, functional innovation resistance, technology readiness and trust, perceived risk and risk propensity, subjective norms, and critical mass of users. The authors discuss the model along with the research propositions it implies and the theoretical and practical implications of the study.