Towards a sociology of cryptocurrencies

an inquiry into the meanings of investment among young university students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/2178-5694.2025.1.47391

Keywords:

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, Economic Sociology, Youth, Investment

Abstract

Based on an empirical study of the relationship between young university students and the cryptocurrency market, this article seeks to contribute to the inquiry of this new theme of research in economic sociology. Firstly, the literature is analyzed in order to characterize cryptocurrencies in their technical-operational, historical, economic and sociological aspects. Then, the results of the empirical research are presented. Quantitative data show a higher proportion of cisgender, heterosexual men, from courses related to exact sciences and with a right wing political position among those who have already invested in cryptocurrencies than among those who have never done so. The qualitative data allowed the creation of three ideal types of investors, based on the meanings attributed to the investment and the relationships of trust established: cryptoevangelists, traditional investors and hype investors.

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Author Biographies

Davi Ribeiro de Camargo, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Graduated in Social Sciences from the University of São Paulo.

Caio Rodrigues Dall Cortivo, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Graduated in Social Sciences from the University of São Paulo.

Clarisse de Moura Ramos Rossi, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Undergraduate student in Social Sciences at the University of São Paulo.

Diego Miguel Mendes Silva, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Graduated in Social Sciences from the University of São Paulo.

Ellen Morais Fernandes, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Master's student in Political Science at the University of São Paulo.

Julia Rampazzo Cavalcanti, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Undergraduate student in Social Sciences at the University of São Paulo.

Isabela Maeda Otsuki, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Undergraduate student in Social Sciences at the University of São Paulo.

References

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Published

2025-06-18

How to Cite

Ribeiro de Camargo, D., Rodrigues Dall Cortivo, C., de Moura Ramos Rossi, C., Mendes Silva, D. M., Morais Fernandes, E., Rampazzo Cavalcanti, J., & Maeda Otsuki, I. (2025). Towards a sociology of cryptocurrencies: an inquiry into the meanings of investment among young university students. Conversas & Controvérsias, 12(1), e47391. https://doi.org/10.15448/2178-5694.2025.1.47391

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2025): Single Volume

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Davi Ribeiro de Camargo, Caio Rodrigues Dall Cortivo, Clarisse de Moura Ramos Rossi, Diego Miguel Mendes Silva, Ellen Morais Fernandes, Julia Rampazzo Cavalcanti, Isabela Maeda Otsuki

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.