Crypto Exchanges & Regulation – Top exchanges in India by Coincub criteria
| Total population | 1,463,900,000 |
| GDP (in USD Millions) | 4,130,000 |
| Total # of universities | 5,349 |
| Leading blockchain universities | 200 |
| Jobs in blockchain | 1,341 |
| Bitcoin mining | 0.20% |
| CBDC stage | Pilot |
| Crypto received (in USD$) | - |
| Crypto sent | - |
| Bitcoin ATMs | - |
| Bitcoin nodes | 55 |
| Companies with bitcoin in treasury | - |
| Population % owning crypto | 11% |
| Crypto exchanges based in country | 29 |
| Bitcoin Interest | 53 |
| ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) | 62 |
| ICOs energy | 4 |
| Fraud crypto score | 1 |
| Crypto financial services | 18/50 | |
| Web3 population adoption | 6/20 | |
| Web3 environmental impact | 4/20 | |
| Crypto trading | 11/20 | |
| Web3 talent | 12/30 | |
| Web3 proliferation | 11/30 |
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The Indian government has had an ambivalent outlook toward cryptocurrency, to say the least. Over the past few years, indecisiveness towards regulating crypto has not helped the country, despite the overwhelming demand for crypto services from the population. Exchanges abound, but since 2022 India has had a very cohesive tax policy: 30% on gains and 1% TDS on nearly every crypto transfer under section 194S, and in 2025 the government again refused to cut that TDS. India’s position on the ranking could easily go either way on the back of further developments.
Coming up to date, India still has yet to make any firm and decisive running in the assessment, legislation, and adoption of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Its position has been to wait and see. Although many would see this as a sign of not having a clue what to do. However, the government did recently impose a stiff transaction tax on the trading of Bitcoin which saw it upset many within the crypto industry in India. In 2025 CBDT reviewed the impact of 30% + 1% but kept the structure, even while asking exchanges for data on offshore flight.
India is already running the e₹ pilot (retail and wholesale) and in Oct 2025 RBI rolled out offline e₹ payments, so CBDC is past the ‘keen to develop’ stage.
Cryptocurrency trading is legal and acceptable but still unauthorized and unregulated. However, all Indian platforms must deduct 1% TDS and report, so in practice trading is monitored even without a full virtual-assets law. Originally, India’s banks were banned from allowing customers to trade in cryptocurrency, but things have obviously changed. Huge regulatory changes are on the table, like the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021. This, strangely, was scheduled to be tabled in the Budget session of Parliament in March but was deferred at the last minute so it’s watch this space time again. Well-structured cryptocurrency regulations that cover exchanges, blockchain technology, and crypto investment are still being debated and, some would say, overdue.
India is actively looking at ways of regulating crypto as a digital asset class rather than a currency. A move towards the regulation of crypto, rather than banning banks from offering crypto services, would be a sizable step forward. Despite institutional uncertainty, crypto has many advocates amongst the population.
Blockchain technology is also very much on the agenda – and maybe even a digital rupee.
Tax is a subject never far away from bitcoin and other digital currencies. For some time India had no taxation policy on trading or mining bitcoin. Since FY 2022–23, income from transfer of virtual digital assets is taxed at 30% (no loss set-off) and a 1% TDS is deducted on consideration over the threshold; this still applies in 2025. At the very least you’ll have to record all of your crypto dealings in anticipation of whatever income tax you may or may not be eligible for.
India’s parliament has recently stiffened its tax position on Bitcoin and crypto trading with the imposition of a 30% tax on services which includes the income derived from crypto transfers or trading – putting such crypto assets on a par with share dealing.
Along with the capital gains charge, the finance ministry also announced a 1% tax deductible at source on all digital-asset transfers above a certain size and this TDS was confirmed again in the 2025 Income Tax Bill review. Something which brought outcry among the crypto industry participants who saw it as a step that will curtail the growth of India’s cryptocurrency ambitions. Nb This tax imposition is what caused India’s position to slide down the Coincub.com crypto rankings in Q2/Q3 2022.
While there is a lack of a clear taxation strategy regarding crypto, it looks like that won’t last long.
If you are a long-term resident of India, you are probably deemed a permanent resident for tax purposes. If you are not a permanent resident and your holdings are outside of India you’ll fall under the required tax laws of your adopted country.
There is a spirited debate in India about the taxation of virtual assets. It may be that mining for bitcoin will be classified as ‘Income from other sources’ and be taxed as such. Whether it is worth it after all the electricity costs is up to you and the depth of your pockets – but as yet the tax position has yet to be decided.
Most retirement and pension funds worldwide deem cryptocurrencies to be too volatile to become part of long-term retirement schemes. There is little certainty on this at present.
Leading Indian banks Axis Bank, ICICI, and HDFC Bank have been instrumental in crypto adoption for the broader population by facilitating crypto-related transactions. Customers are allowed and encouraged to use their accounts for crypto trading,
India’s government is exploring the use of blockchain and fintech advantages.
The crypto phenomenon has been growing in India for some time and investing in crypto for gain, as opposed to using it for payments, is riding a massive wave of enthusiasm. Bitcoin is used for online shopping with a number of major stores including SapnaOnline and Overstock allowing you to use crypto for more or less everything including travel, products, books, toys, gizmos, and services.
Gifting crypto via gift cards or outright gifts as yet has no set tax strategy so you’ll be well-advised to keep records and see what the status of your trading and gifting is under any upcoming legislation.
Best crypto exchanges in India
| NAME | RATING | FOUNDED DATE | DEPOSIT METHOD | BASED IN | REVIEW | SIGN UP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
|
Crypto.com | 4.6 | 2016 | Credit Card Bank Transfer | Singapore | Coincub Review | Register Now |
| #2 |
|
OKX | 4.25 | 2017 | Bank card P2P third-parties crypto | Seychelles | Coincub Review | Register Now |
| #3 |
|
GateSponsored | 4.0 | 2013 | Bank Transfer Credit Card Debit Card SEPA Apple Pay Google Pay | Coincub Review | Register Now | |
| #4 |
|
Bybit | 3.6 | 2018 | Card Crypto Sepa Wise Alipay Wechat Apple Pay Google Pay | UAE | Coincub Review | Register Now |
Crypto.com
4.6
OKX
4.25
GateSponsored
4.0
Bybit
3.6
India has under-regulated its crypto sector but the sheer volume of trading has led to the formation of crypto forums to discuss ongoing development. Plenty of overseas and home-based exchanges operate, each with its own services, features, and layers of protection. You need to do your homework and find which suits you as, at present, any setbacks or mishaps will be down to you and the exchange or wallet you’re using in the current absence of clear regulation.
You have plenty of choices for exchanges, both overseas and home-based. In all cases, you’ll have to verify your email address and identity. Local exchanges all have to comply with central bank guidelines and reporting obligations.
Trade Brains is a Stock market analytics and education service platform in India with a mission to simplify stock market investing.
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