On the intraday return curves of Bitcoin: Predictability and trading opportunities

Motivated by the potential inferences from intraday price data in the controversial Bitcoin market, we apply functional data analysis techniques to study cumulative intraday return (CIDR) curves. First, we indicate that Bitcoin CIDR curves are stationary, non-normal, uncorrelated, but exhibit conditional heteroscedastic, although we find that the projection scores of CIDR curves could be serially correlated during some certain periods. Second, we show the possibility of predicting the CIDR curves of Bitcoins based on the projection scores and then assess the forecasting performance. Finally, we utilize the functional forecasting methods to explore the intraday trading opportunities of Bitcoins and the results provide evidence of profitable trading opportunities based on intraday trading strategies, which confronts the efficient market hypothesis. •Apply functional data analysis techniques to Bitcoin intraday prices.•Study cumulative intraday return (CIDR) curves and assess predictability.•Bitcoin CIDR curves are stationary, non-normal and show conditional heteroscedastic.•CIDR curves of Bitcoins are predictable based on projection scores.•Show profitable trading opportunities, confronting the efficient market hypothesis.