Crypto Regulations in India 2025

India’s cryptocurrency landscape in 2025 remains a mix of cautious regulation and rapid adoption. While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are not recognized as legal tender, they operate in a regulatory grey area with evolving tax and compliance frameworks. Over 107 million Indians now engage with crypto assets. 

Below is a timeline of key crypto regulation updates in India during 2025, 

Crypto Regulation India Timeline – 2025

July 7, 2025: Bybit Imposes 18% GST

Bybit imposed an 18% GST on all crypto transfers of – spot and margin trading, derivatives, fiat-related transactions, withdrawals, and stakings. Additionally, it also launched the termination of some legacy products and services on July 9, 2025.

June 2025: Discussion paper on Cryptocurrency

The Indian government planned to release a discussion paper to establish a regulatory framework for crypto in India. The initiative also promised to seek public consultation on– stakeholders, including financial institutions, legal experts, crypto companies, and the general public.

May 22, 2025: FSB Peer Review Preparation

India gears up for the Financial Stability Board (FSB) review in October, aiming to align local crypto regulation with global regulatory standards.

April 1, 2025: SEBI Oversight Begins

SEBI starts monitoring crypto tokens that resemble securities. A multi-agency regulatory model is proposed, including RBI, SEBI, and the Finance Ministry.

February 13, 2025:VDA Income Tax Amendment Bill Introduced

The bill expands the scope of Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) to include NFTs and undisclosed income. However, the 30% tax rate remains unchanged.

February 10, 2025: Crypto Exchanges Declared Reporting Entities

Exchanges, wallets, and even mining pools are categorized as “reporting entities.” They must report all transactions to tax authorities under the new AML

Crypto Tax in India – 2025 (Fact-Checked)

As of now, no official reduction has been made to the 30% tax on crypto gains or the 1% TDS, despite industry demands.

1. For Investors and Traders

• Flat 30% Tax on gains from crypto sales, swaps, or gifts.
  No deductions allowed except for cost of acquisition.
  
• 1% TDS on transfers above ₹10,000 (buyer deducts and remits).
  
• No loss set-off or carry-forward permitted.
  

Example:  Buy BTC at ₹2.72 lakh → Sell at ₹8.72 lakh → ₹6 lakh profit → Tax = ₹1.8 lakh + TDS = ₹6,000

2. For Crypto Companies & Exchanges

• KYC/AML compliance is mandatory.
  
• 1% TDS to be collected and remitted on every qualifying user transaction.
  
• Transaction reporting to tax authorities under PMLA and IT laws.
  

3. Bybit tax

• All Bybit users must pay 18%Goods and Services Tax (GST)
  on all crypto transfers.

• Services like spot and margin trading, derivatives, fiat transactions, and crypto withdrawals are subject to tax.

Category	Tax Rate	TDS	Example
Investors	30%	1% if >₹10k	₹50k profit → ₹15k tax + ₹500 TDS
Traders	30%	1% if >₹10k	Taxed as business income
Companies	NA	1% collected	₹10L transaction → ₹10k TDS

Crypto License in India

Crypto exchanges and service providers must register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) policies to be eligible for an official license in India. 

What Do Indians Think About Their Crypto Legislation?

• Vote for a better crypto framework: 1 in 93% support crypto regulation. The citizens of India want smart regulations instead of bans. 56% of them support a strong crypto framework, 13% support taxation, and only 24% prefer lighter rules.

• Votes over new authority: The report also shows that 51% of the total crypto users prefer a new authority over RBI (22%) or SEBI (20%).

• Vote against tax regime: When asked about what the biggest discouraging point in crypto in India is, 66% of people voted for 30% on tax gains, while 84% say crypto taxes are unfair vs equities.

• Vote on policy clarity and teaching crypto:  90% would invest more if rules were clearer & taxes fairer. People also showed positive support for crypto education in India, with 76% of votes.

• Vote on Web3: 78% voted that Indians are missing out Web3 trend.

India Leads Overall Institutional Strength in Crypto

According to Chainalysis data, India ranks 1 across the overall index in digital assets. With a thriving fintech ecosystem, widespread use of UPI payments, and innovations such as eRupi, the country is dominating the fintech space. Its crypto space has grown by 99%, as per reports. 

	India’s Rank
Overall Index Score	1
Retail	1
CeFi	1
DeFi	1
Insitutional	1

Crypto Adoption in India (2025 Snapshot)

• Active Users: Over 107.3 million Indians (7.37% of population) hold or trade crypto.
  
• Revenue Forecast: India’s crypto market is projected to hit $6.4 billion by year-end.
  
• Exchanges: Platforms like CoinDCX, CoinSwitch, and Mudrex offer access to over 500 tokens.
  
• Growth Drivers: Rising financial inclusion, smartphone penetration, and blockchain innovation.
  
• Government Holdings: No official disclosure yet; policies prioritize transparency and user safety.

Conclusion

India’s crypto regulation in 2025 reflects a delicate balance between enabling innovation and enforcing oversight. With strict taxes (30% + 1% TDS) and real-time transaction reporting, the government is creating a compliant ecosystem without enforcing an outright ban. As the FSB review nears, clarity in crypto regulation India could open new doors for mass adoption and position the country at the forefront of the $7 trillion global digital economy.

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