Research Article

Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy

Volume: 12 Number: 3 February 8, 2026
TR EN

Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy

Abstract

Aim: This study explores the interaction between clean energy, sustainability, green bonds, and six blockchain indices (e.g., CBDCAI, ICEA, Bitcoin, Ethereum) from October 2017 to June 2023 to highlight sustainability issues related to recent financial innovations. The study aims to examine the extent to which sustainable equity prices are impacted by the stochastic features of Bitcoin and CBDC news across bull, bear, and normal market phases. Method: This study utilizes the Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) method to examine the short- and long-run impacts. Results: The QARDL results reveal a significant long-term equilibrium between blockchain variables and the green industry, with varying reactions across quantiles. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and green bonds positively impact the sustainable market index over time, especially in higher quantiles, supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conclusion: The study advocates using blockchain for SDG policies and renewable energy to reduce blockchain’s environmental impact and this research extends the literature by offering a deeper insight into the financial and environmental influences shaping sustainability.

Keywords

References

  1. ALAMGIR, M., & CHENG, M. C. (2023). Do Green Bonds Play a Role in Achieving Sustainability? Sustainability, 15(13), 10177. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310177
  2. ANNAMALAISAMY, B., & VEPUR JAYARAMAN, S. (2023). Do cryptocurrencies integrate with the indices of equity, sustainability, clean energy, and crude oil? A wavelet coherency approach. International Journal of Finance & Economics. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2843
  3. ATTARZADEH, A., & BALCILAR, M. (2022). On the dynamic return and volatility connectedness of cryptocurrency, crude oil, clean energy, and stock markets: a time-varying analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(43), 65185-65196.
  4. BAUR, D. G., & OLL, J. (2019). The (un-) sustainability of bitcoin investments. Available at SSRN 3365820. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3365820
  5. CHO, J. S., KIM, T., & SHIN, Y. (2015). Quantile cointegration in the autoregressive distributed lag modelling framework. Journal of Econometrics, 188(1), 281–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom.2015.05.003
  6. DELGADO-MOHATAR, O., FELIS-ROTA, M., & FERNÁNDEZ-HERRAIZ, C. (2019). The Bitcoin mining breakdown: Is mining still profitable? Economics Letters, 184, 108492.
  7. DE OLIVEIRA, E. M., DE SOUZA CUNHA, F. A. F., PALAZZI, R. B., KLOTZLE, M. C., & MAÇAIRA, P. M. (2020). On the effects of uncertainty measures on sustainability indices: An empirical investigation in a nonlinear framework. International Review of Financial Analysis, 70, 101505.
  8. EASLEY, D., O'HARA, M., & BASU, S. (2019). From mining to markets: The evolution of bitcoin transaction fees. Journal of Financial Economics, 134(1), 91-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2019.03.004

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sustainable Development

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

November 24, 2025

Publication Date

February 8, 2026

Submission Date

June 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 8, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 12 Number: 3

APA
Karataş, E., & Özgür, Ö. (2026). Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences, 12(3), 889-904. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1719352
AMA
1.Karataş E, Özgür Ö. Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy. IGUJSS. 2026;12(3):889-904. doi:10.17336/igusbd.1719352
Chicago
Karataş, Emin, and Önder Özgür. 2026. “Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences 12 (3): 889-904. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1719352.
EndNote
Karataş E, Özgür Ö (February 1, 2026) Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences 12 3 889–904.
IEEE
[1]E. Karataş and Ö. Özgür, “Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy”, IGUJSS, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 889–904, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.17336/igusbd.1719352.
ISNAD
Karataş, Emin - Özgür, Önder. “Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences 12/3 (February 1, 2026): 889-904. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1719352.
JAMA
1.Karataş E, Özgür Ö. Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy. IGUJSS. 2026;12:889–904.
MLA
Karataş, Emin, and Önder Özgür. “Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 12, no. 3, Feb. 2026, pp. 889-04, doi:10.17336/igusbd.1719352.
Vancouver
1.Emin Karataş, Önder Özgür. Blockchain in Sustainable Finance: Evidence from Cryptocurrency, Green Bonds, and Clean Energy. IGUJSS. 2026 Feb. 1;12(3):889-904. doi:10.17336/igusbd.1719352

 Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)