Coinbase Resumes India Operations with Crypto Trading Access

Lede: Coinbase has resumed crypto operations in India, allowing user onboarding and crypto-to-crypto trading. This reopening was confirmed by John O’Loghlen, Coinbase’s APAC Director, at the India Blockchain Week. Coinbase’s India operations align with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) regulations. The platform previously halted operations due to regulatory issues but now facilitates account setups and trading without fiat integration.

Coinbase’s return to India improves accessibility for Indian users to trade using the Coinbase platform. Transactions, however, remain limited to crypto pairs without fiat on-ramps, which affects liquidity dynamics.

Financially, this move could impact Indian crypto markets by introducing local players to global platforms. Politically, the FIU-IND compliance strengthens Coinbase’s position but does not involve the National Payments Corporation of India participation. As noted by John O’Loghlen, Managing Director, APAC, Coinbase,

“Coinbase has reopened registrations for Indian users with crypto-to-crypto trading, and we are working towards launching a regulated fiat on-ramp in 2026.”

Coinbase’s decision to resume operations without fiat options aligns with regulatory conditions. It signals a shift towards enhanced compliance and engagement in the Indian market. Potential outcomes include greater crypto adoption in India, accelerated by Coinbase’s presence. The alignment with FIU-IND could set a precedent for compliance-driven access by international platforms, affecting the broader Indian crypto ecosystem.