India’s Crypto Tax and Its Impact
India introduced a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on cryptocurrency transactions last year, which had a significant impact on the crypto market in the country. This move led to a 97% collapse in trading volumes at domestic exchanges in just ten months. Nischal Shetty, the CEO of WazirX exchange, one of India’s prominent digital asset exchanges, believes that a reduction in the crypto tax regime is not imminent as there have been no formal discussions between the crypto industry and lawmakers regarding this matter.
India’s Call for Global Crypto Regulations
India has been calling for a coordinated global approach to cryptocurrency regulations, seeking assistance from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While India aims to find consensus on crypto rules at the global level, other regions like Hong Kong, Dubai, and the European Union have moved forward by implementing their own regulatory frameworks. This has created a situation where digital asset companies are looking to expand outside the United States after facing increased regulatory scrutiny there.
Hope for a Friendlier Crypto Policy
Despite the current challenges posed by the crypto tax, Nischal Shetty remains hopeful that India will eventually adopt a more crypto-friendly policy. However, he did not specify what those changes might entail. As of now, there has been no response from the Finance Ministry to queries about potential amendments to the crypto tax.
Impact on Indian Crypto Investors
The introduction of the 1% TDS has prompted many Indian investors to shift their activities to overseas-based crypto trading platforms. CoinDCX, a local competitor of WazirX, reported that Indian exchanges lost over 2 million users between February (when the tax was announced) and December of the same year. During this period, overseas platforms gained more than 1.5 million customers from India.
Lobbying for Reduced TDS
CoinDCX is actively lobbying the Indian government to reduce the TDS from 1% to 0.01%, though no specific timeframe has been provided for when this change might occur.
Entrepreneurs Moving Abroad
In response to the challenging regulatory environment, some crypto entrepreneurs are looking beyond India’s borders. Nischal Shetty has relocated to Dubai to work on his new venture, Shardeum, a blockchain project aiming to rival Ethereum and other major networks. Similarly, CoinDCX is exploring opportunities abroad and recently led a funding round in BitOasis, a crypto exchange focusing on the Middle East and North Africa.
Impact on the Crypto Industry
The crypto tax and regulatory uncertainty have taken a toll on the Indian crypto industry. WazirX reduced its workforce in 2022, while CoinSwitch and CoinDCX also announced job cuts in August of this year.
However, India’s standing as a hub for software and information technology engineering still attracts some digital asset firms. Companies like Coinbase and Gemini have maintained a presence in the country, leveraging India’s skilled tech talent.
Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India is forging ahead with the development of a digital rupee, with millions of customers and merchants already using the digital currency.
India’s crypto industry faces a challenging tax environment, but industry players are hopeful for a more favorable regulatory climate in the future. In the meantime, some entrepreneurs are seeking opportunities abroad, while others continue to tap into India’s tech talent pool for their crypto endeavors.
