Abstract:
Cryptocurrency trading has attracted global attention, particularly among younger
generations, yet its adoption among Sri Lankan undergraduates remains
underexplored. This study investigates the factors influencing their intention to trade
cryptocurrencies, addressing an important research gap in the local context. Guided
by prior literature on technology adoption and behavioural intention, the study
examines four determinants: willingness, subjective norms, facilitating conditions,
and risk and fear. A structured questionnaire was administered to a representative
sample of 383 undergraduates from multiple universities in Sri Lanka using a multi stage random sampling method, and the data were analyzed through descriptive
statistics, correlation, and multiple regression to test the hypotheses. The findings
indicate that willingness, subjective norms, and facilitating conditions significantly
and positively influence undergraduates’ intention to trade cryptocurrencies, while
risk and fear serve as strong deterrents. These results highlight the social,
psychological, and infrastructural factors shaping students’ decisions and contribute
to the existing knowledge on cryptocurrency adoption in developing economies by
providing methodological clarity and empirical evidence. The study further
emphasizes the practical implications for educators, policymakers, and financial
institutions in designing awareness programmes, regulatory measures, and supportive
infrastructures that promote safe and informed participation in cryptocurrency trading
among undergraduates in Sri Lanka.
