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Coinbase Reopens in India With Crypto-Only Trading, Sets 2026 Target for Rupee On-Ramp

The move follows a 2023 shutdown tied to UPI payment friction after a compliance reset anchored by FIU registration.

Overview

  • New registrations are live nationwide after an October early-access phase, with trading limited to crypto-to-crypto pairs.
  • INR deposits and withdrawals remain unavailable until a planned fiat on-ramp launches in 2026, as outlined by APAC director John O’Loghlen.
  • Coinbase completed registration with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit earlier this year, describing its return as a clean‑slate approach after off-boarding millions of users in 2023.
  • The company deepened its local footprint by increasing its investment in CoinDCX at a $2.45 billion valuation and plans to expand its 500-plus India workforce.
  • Operations continue under India’s strict rules, including a 30% tax on crypto gains and a 1% tax deducted at source, as competitors such as Binance and Bybit also re-enter the market.