1. Introduction
This research examines the mediating role of blockchain technology's perceived ease of use and usefulness in cryptocurrency purchase intentions among Turkish investors. The study addresses the gap in understanding how technical blockchain features translate into consumer adoption decisions in emerging markets.
463 Participants
Sample size from diverse Turkish regions
4 Key Factors
Customer service, costs, efficiency, security
2 Mediators
Perceived ease of use and usefulness
2. Theoretical Framework
2.1 Blockchain Technology Fundamentals
Blockchain represents a decentralized ledger system documenting transactions between multiple entities with cryptographic signatures. The technology enables secure digital asset transfers without central authority intervention.
Key characteristics include immutability, transparency, and distributed consensus mechanisms that ensure transaction integrity across network participants.
2.2 Cryptocurrency Adoption Factors
The study builds on technology acceptance models to examine how quality customer service, reduced costs, operational efficiency, and security perceptions influence cryptocurrency adoption through blockchain technology perceptions.
3. Research Methodology
3.1 Data Collection
Data were collected from 463 participants interested in cryptocurrencies across different regions of Turkey, ensuring geographical representation and diverse demographic characteristics.
3.2 Analytical Approach
The research employed SPSS Process Macro programs for mediation analysis, examining how perceived ease of use and usefulness mediate the relationship between service factors and purchase intention.
4. Results and Analysis
4.1 Mediation Analysis Results
The analysis demonstrates that perceived ease of use and usefulness significantly mediate the effects of customer service quality, reduced costs, efficiency, and security on cryptocurrency purchase intention.
All mediation paths showed statistical significance (p < 0.05), confirming the central hypothesis that blockchain technology perceptions translate practical benefits into adoption decisions.
4.2 Statistical Significance
The mediation effects were robust across different demographic segments, with bootstrap confidence intervals excluding zero for all indirect effects, supporting the theoretical model's validity.
5. Technical Framework
The blockchain architecture can be mathematically represented through cryptographic hash functions:
$H(m) = y$ where $H$ is the cryptographic hash function, $m$ is the transaction data, and $y$ is the fixed-size output
The blockchain consensus mechanism ensures transaction validation through proof-of-work algorithms:
$\text{Find } x \text{ such that } H(block + x) \leq target$
This computational puzzle ensures network security and prevents double-spending attacks, forming the foundation for cryptocurrency trust mechanisms.
6. Experimental Results
The study employed structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships. The conceptual framework diagram illustrates:
- Independent Variables: Customer service, reduced costs, efficiency, security
- Mediating Variables: Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness
- Dependent Variable: Cryptocurrency purchase intention
The path coefficients revealed that perceived usefulness ($\beta = 0.42$, p < 0.01) had stronger mediation effects than perceived ease of use ($\beta = 0.31$, p < 0.05) in translating security perceptions to purchase intention.
The model fit indices demonstrated acceptable levels (CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.06), supporting the theoretical framework's adequacy.
7. Code Implementation
While the original study didn't include programming code, the mediation analysis logic can be represented through pseudocode:
// Pseudocode for Mediation Analysis
procedure MEDIATION_ANALYSIS
inputs: IV (independent variables), M (mediators), DV (dependent variable)
// Step 1: Test effect of IV on M (path a)
for each mediator in M do
regression_result = LINEAR_REGRESSION(IV → mediator)
if regression_result.p_value < 0.05 then
significant_mediators.add(mediator)
end if
end for
// Step 2: Test effect of M on DV controlling for IV (path b)
for each mediator in significant_mediators do
regression_result = LINEAR_REGRESSION(IV + mediator → DV)
mediation_effect = path_a * path_b
if mediation_effect.significant then
report "Significant mediation found"
end if
end for
end procedure
This analytical approach aligns with the SPSS Process Macro methodology used in the original research, implementing bootstrapping for robust mediation testing.
8. Future Applications
The findings have significant implications for cryptocurrency platforms and financial technology developers:
- User Interface Design: Streamlining blockchain interactions to enhance perceived ease of use
- Educational Tools: Developing resources that demonstrate blockchain usefulness for novice investors
- Regulatory Frameworks: Informing policy decisions that balance innovation with consumer protection
- Cross-Border Applications: Extending the model to international cryptocurrency adoption patterns
Future research should explore cultural variations in blockchain perception and examine how technological advancements like smart contracts influence adoption dynamics.
9. References
- Efendioğlu, I. H., Akel, G., Değirmenci, B., et al. (2023). The Mediating Effect of Blockchain Technology on the Cryptocurrency Purchase Intention. Social Sciences Research Journal, 12(13), 1536-1559.
- Iansiti, M., & Lakhani, K. R. (2017). The Truth About Blockchain. Harvard Business Review, 95(1), 118-127.
- Garg, P., Gupta, B., Chauhan, A. K., et al. (2021). Measuring the perceived benefits of implementing blockchain technology in the banking sector. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 163, 120407.
- Reid, F., & Harrigan, M. (2013). An Analysis of Anonymity in the Bitcoin System. In Security and Privacy in Social Networks (pp. 197-223). Springer, New York, NY.
- Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. Bitcoin Whitepaper.
10. Expert Analysis
Industry Analyst Perspective
一针见血 (Cutting to the Chase)
This research delivers a crucial insight that many blockchain evangelists miss: technology doesn't sell itself. The Turkish market study reveals that blockchain's theoretical advantages only translate to purchase intention when filtered through user perceptions of usefulness and ease of use. While the cryptocurrency space obsesses over technical specifications, this study shows that consumer adoption hinges on much simpler psychological factors.
逻辑链条 (Logical Chain)
The mediation model establishes a clear causal pathway: Service factors → Technology perceptions → Purchase intention. This chain is particularly relevant in emerging markets like Turkey, where economic volatility (as documented by the World Bank's 2023 financial stability reports) drives consumers toward alternative assets. The research demonstrates that blockchain's security features only matter if users perceive them as accessible and beneficial—a finding that aligns with the Technology Acceptance Model's core principles but applies them to a novel context.
亮点与槽点 (Highlights and Critiques)
亮点 (Highlights): The study's methodological rigor using SPSS Process Macro provides robust statistical evidence for mediation effects. The focus on Turkey's emerging market offers fresh insights beyond Western contexts. The practical implications for platform design are immediately actionable.
槽点 (Critiques): The cross-sectional design limits causal claims—does perceived usefulness drive adoption, or does early adoption create perceived usefulness? The sample, while substantial, may not fully represent Turkey's diverse socioeconomic landscape. The study also misses an opportunity to compare blockchain perceptions across different cryptocurrency types (Bitcoin vs. Ethereum vs. stablecoins), which would have added valuable nuance.
行动启示 (Actionable Insights)
For cryptocurrency platforms: Stop leading with technical specs and start demonstrating practical benefits. Simplify user interfaces to enhance perceived ease of use. Develop educational content that makes blockchain's advantages tangible for average investors. For regulators: Recognize that consumer protection in cryptocurrency requires focusing on user experience, not just technical security. For investors: Understand that adoption drivers are psychological as much as technological—the most technically advanced blockchain projects won't necessarily see the highest adoption if they fail the usability test.
This research, when contrasted with the seminal Bitcoin whitepaper by Nakamoto (2008) that focused purely on technical innovation, highlights the maturation of the cryptocurrency space from technological curiosity to consumer product. The findings suggest that the next phase of blockchain adoption will be won not by the most technically sophisticated projects, but by those that best bridge the gap between cryptographic complexity and user-friendly design.