• India remains the leader in global cryptocurrency adoption despite regulatory challenges.
  • The ban on offshore exchanges has not significantly reduced their usage in India, and regulatory adjustments are ongoing.

As a researcher with extensive experience in the crypto market and a keen interest in emerging economies, I find it fascinating to witness India’s resilience in leading global cryptocurrency adoption despite challenging regulatory environments. My professional journey has taken me across continents, but no country has shown such tenacity and adaptability as India in navigating the complex world of digital assets.


2024 finds India at the forefront globally in cryptocurrency adoption, according to the latest Chainalysis report. The country remains at the top of the Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, surpassing other nations such as Nigeria, Indonesia, the U.S., and Vietnam. This index is determined by the amount of on-chain cryptocurrency received by retail sectors, centralized exchanges (CEX), and decentralized finance (DeFi) services, which rank the countries in order.

Despite the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of India enforcing a ban on offshore cryptocurrency exchanges in December 2023, the country still maintains a significant role in the crypto market. The FIU flagged popular platforms such as Binance, Kraken, and KuCoin for non-compliance with India’s anti-money laundering laws, leading to restrictions by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. However, data from Chainalysis indicates that these restricted exchanges continue to represent a substantial portion of CEX usage in India, accounting for around 40% of total CEX value as of April 2024.

Continued Access and Regulatory Adjustments

Despite the initial restrictions imposed by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Indian users have found ways to engage in these trades through various alternative avenues. The impact of the ban seems minimal as users are accessing restricted markets via apps or other trading platforms. Recent updates suggest that the FIU is softening its stance, having registered both KuCoin and Binance following fines paid in May 2024. Furthermore, there are indications that the FIU may allow new offshore exchanges to operate within India.

Sumit Gupta, the CEO of CoinDCX, shared on Twitter: “India has once again taken the top spot in Chainalysis’ Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index for two consecutive years! Despite regulatory uncertainty and high taxes, the cryptocurrency sector in India is thriving robustly!

Countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are among the world’s top 20 in terms of cryptocurrency adoption. In Indonesia, although cryptocurrencies cannot be used as a form of payment, they are allowed for investment purposes, with trading volume reaching an impressive $157.1 billion during the year prior to July.

India’s persistent dominance in worldwide cryptocurrency adoption, even amidst a challenging legal landscape, underscores the nation’s increasing enthusiasm for digital currencies. The widespread adoption of both regulated and decentralized systems indicates investor trust in the cryptocurrency market. Moreover, the CSAO region saw approximately $750 billion in crypto investments, primarily driven by substantial professional and institutional investment through centralized exchanges (CEXs).

 

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2024-09-16 12:46