Coinbase Restores Crypto Access in India Following 2-Year Exit

Major US cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has officially resumed operations in India after a two-year hiatus. The platform now accepts app registrations nationwide and plans to launch local fiat on-ramps in 2026.

🔥 JUST IN: COINBASE BACK IN INDIA, RESUMING USER ONBOARDING AND TRADING AFTER A PAUSE SINCE 2022, BOOSTING CRYPTO ADOPTION NATIONWIDE. pic.twitter.com/TDrQOf9m2L

— Coinwaft (@coinwaft) December 8, 2025

Coinbase APAC director John O’Loghlen announced the return at India Blockchain Week. Users can immediately execute crypto-to-crypto trades on the platform following registration.

The exchange had ceased local services in September 2023 after a troubled market debut. Its 2022 launch collapsed within days when the Unified Payments Interface refused to acknowledge its presence.

We had millions of customers in India, historically, and we took a very clear stance to off-board those customers entirely

O’Loghlen said

He described the decision as “burning the boats” for a clean regulatory slate.

Coinbase Fresh Start Through Regulatory Compliance

Coinbase began engaging with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit following its 2023 exit. The government agency oversees financial transactions and fraud prevention across the country.

The exchange secured FIU registration earlier this year. This marked a critical milestone in its strategy to re-enter the Indian market through proper channels.

An early-access onboarding program launched in October. The company hired Karan Malik as India marketing lead around the same time to spearhead growth efforts.

Malik previously led marketing for India Blockchain Week 2024. Coinbase served as a platinum sponsor at this year’s event.

Last year, I was leading the charge and building the marketing and brand playbook for IBW. This year, I’m bringing Coinbase to the party

Malik stated

Meanwhile, Coinbase has demonstrated commitment to India through strategic investments. Its venture arm recently invested in local exchange CoinDCX at a $2.45 billion post-money valuation.

The company maintains over 500 employees in India. It plans additional hiring for roles serving both local and global markets.

Regulatory Challenges Persist in Indian Market

India presents significant obstacles for cryptocurrency companies despite its massive online user base. The country ranks as the world’s second-largest internet market.

While social platforms and AI firms like OpenAI have achieved rapid growth, crypto businesses face stricter conditions. Taxation policies remain particularly burdensome for digital asset holders.

India imposes a 30% tax on cryptocurrency income with no provision for loss offsets. An additional 1% deduction applies to each transaction.

These policies discourage frequent trading activity among users. O’Loghlen expressed hope that the government will eventually relax taxation requirements.

“Because we wanted to kind of burn the boats, have a clean slate here,” O’Loghlen explained. He acknowledged the commercial difficulty of voluntarily off-boarding millions of existing customers.

Following this Indian expansion, Coinbase recently made headlines with another major corporate move. The exchange announced plans to reincorporate from Delaware to Texas on November 13, 2025.

:recalculating:
:recalculating:
:reincorporating:

Bye Delaware.
Hi Texas.

Who’s got restaurant recos? pic.twitter.com/z9pVnNT8gr

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) November 12, 2025

Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal revealed the decision in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. Coinbase joins companies like Tesla in abandoning Delaware’s traditional corporate jurisdiction.

In contrast to its cautious India approach, the Texas move reflects concerns about Delaware’s legal framework predictability. The crypto exchange continues positioning itself across multiple strategic fronts globally.

Coinbase’s return signals renewed confidence in India’s long-term cryptocurrency potential. The company appears willing to navigate complex regulations for access to this critical market.