Goel highlighted the various methods that are actively being used by fraudsters to dupe investors such as lucrative investment opportunities, illegitimate bank transfers and cryptocurrencies. Acknowledging the growth of Indian crypto users, Goel added: “They [fraudsters] ask you to share your cryptocurrency details. And once you put it in your wallet, then the money is taken away.” After simplifying the elaborate fraud in a sentence, Goel also highlighted that sixteen such cases have been registered involving cryptocurrencies. The Additional Commissioner of Police Shikha Goel warned Indian citizens about the rise in cybercrime in an event hosted by the city police …

The state government of Telangana announced the launch of the India Blockchain Accelerator program to foster early-stage Web2 and Web3 startups and blockchain developers aimed at solving real-world challenges. The program will be launched in partnership with unicorn crypto exchange CoinSwitch Kuber and Lumos Labs, a technology innovation management firm. In a dialogue with Cointelegraph, Rama Devi Lanka, Director Emerging Technology and Officer on Special Duty (OSD), ITE&C Department, Government of Telangana, highlighted the state’s intent to adopt blockchain projects across multiple use cases: “Some of the interesting use cases that the state has already piloted in Blockchain include - …

According to reports from local media, the Indian government will not move for an outright ban on crypto and will instead regulate the sector. On Nov. 23, Cointelegraph reported that the Indian government was considering a bill proposing the creation of an official digital currency while imposing a ban on all “private” cryptocurrencies. The news sparked panic selling on local crypto exchange WazirX the following day, and the vague wording on the bill and lack of clarification from the government have since left many onlookers divided on the prospects for crypto in India. But Indian news outlet NDTV reported on …

The creator of India’s crypto bill, former Finance Minister Subhash Garg, dismissed the notion of banning “private cryptocurrencies” as a misinterpretation while highlighting the enormous potential of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The Parliamentary discussions around a controversial crypto bill sparked fears around the ban on cryptocurrencies, with no clear indication about the ban's scope. As Cointelegraph reported, an episode of panic selling among Indian investors followed the announcement. In an interview with local news channel News 18, Garg clarified: “[The description of the crypto bill] was perhaps a mistake. It is misleading to say that private cryptocurrencies will be banned …

Despite India’s unpredictive stance towards crypto regulations, Singaporean crypto exchange Coinstore has allocated a $20 million fund to set up three new offices in the Indian cities of Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. Coinstore announced to launch its web and app platform in India for spot and futures trading, opening up a new crypto investment avenue for Indian investors. The platform mandates Know Your Customer verification before allowing users to purchase and sell over 50 cryptocurrencies. #Coinstore is very excited to be bringing our services to our users in India! Thank you so much for your unwavering support towards Coinstore, as …

Government documents from 2019 have been cited by an Indian crypto expert to suggest that the proposed ban on all “private cryptocurrencies” could include just about every crypto. The Indian government this week announced it would introduce the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 when it convenes at the Winter Session on Nov. 29. The bill seeks a legislative vote on creating an official digital currency while imposing a ban on “all private cryptocurrencies.” However, there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding what exactly constitutes a “private cryptocurrency," with some users speculating it could refer …

Regulatory discussions in India around a crypto ban caused panic selling on major crypto exchange WazirX, resulting in massive price drop on leading cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). Crypto prices in India crashed soon after the parliament announced to introduce and list 26 new bills in the Winter Session, which included the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021. As Cointelegraph reported, the bill seeks a legislative vote on creating an official digital currency while imposing a ban on “all private cryptocurrencies,” starting Nov. 29. A mass sell-off on WazirX in the morning of Nov. 24 …

India appears to be taking a progressive stance on Bitcoin (BTC). Especially given the fact that the country is attempting to reach a uniform viewpoint on the categorization and legality of this new asset class. Amid a slew of cabinet meetings, industry debriefings and mounting banking issues, the country's prime minister has grown increasingly vocal about cryptocurrencies. At the Sydney Dialogue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for democratic countries to work together to get the most out of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. He also stated that they should not be used for unethical purposes. Take crypto-currency or bitcoin for example. …

Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS — a right-wing Hindu nationalist society — has urged India’s government to pursue crypto regulations “in the larger interest of society.” According to Asian News International, the RSS chief made these remarks during his speech marking the celebration of the Hindu festive Dussehra. Despite numerous reports of looming crypto bans, the narrative from government sources has been that stakeholders prefer to create a framework for regulating the market. A coalition of pro-crypto entities was even able to secure a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a previous ban imposed by …

A former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has spoken out about the nation’s financial and crypto ecosystem and stated that digital assets need to be accepted. Speaking at the inaugural Hodl 2021 virtual conference organized by the Blockchain and Crypto Assets Council of the Internet and Mobile Association of India on Tuesday, Rama Subramaniam Gandhi said that crypto could be used for payments for economic activities, but he sees them more as an asset class. The regulatory situation in India remains unclear, with bills and legislation still being mulled by politicians. Earlier this month, the government …

Commercial banks in India are reportedly reluctant to do business with crypto exchanges in the country. According to Reuters on Thursday, crypto trading platforms in India are still finding it difficult to open accounts with financial institutions. While there is no crypto ban in India, banks are reportedly acting on the advice of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to shun cryptocurrency exchanges. Back in May, the RBI clarified its position on the matter, stating that there was no prohibition against banks servicing crypto exchanges. Indeed, India’s Supreme Court overturned a previous RBI rule that prevented banks from offering account …

According to local sources, the Indian Government’s 2% “equalisation levy” could be extended to crypto-assets purchased from off-shore exchanges. According to a June 22 report from Economic Times, analysts are inferring that existing law could require a 2% levy to be added onto the settlement price of crypto bought from overseas-based crypto exchanges operating in India’s market. The equalisation levy was first introduced by the government in 2016, imposing a 6% tariff on payments for e-commerce supply and services to non-resident companies without a permanent establishment in India. However, the equalisation levy was updated in mid-2020. Now dubbed the “Google …