Crypto
Can the Bitcoin surge push India to overcome its cryptocurrency hurdles?
The recent remarkable surge in Bitcoin prices has sparked a pertinent query among Bitcoin investors: Will this trend change the fortunes of Indian cryptocurrency firms?
The nation’s cryptocurrency exchanges are witnessing a substantial burst in demand, driven by the recent skyrocketing of Bitcoin prices to unprecedented highs.
The Indian cryptocurrency platform CoinDCX, for instance, has reported a significant five-fold increase in trading volumes over the past month.
âSpecifically, our spot trading volume, which began around $5 million at the beginning of February, rose to approximately $25 million by February 28,â says Sumit Gupta, co-founder of CoinDCX.
âThe recent surge in Bitcoin’s value has undeniably ignited a wave of enthusiasm and confidence.â
Meanwhile, India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, WazirX, which is based in Mumbai, is also experiencing significant growth in cryptocurrency transactions.
âMy servers are humming at overcapacity,â says Rajagopal Menon, vice president, WazirX, which has experienced a 20-fold increase in trading volumes since the beginning of the year.
âMy new users are up, my daily traffic is up. So, the long and short of it is that it is a function of sentiment â the moment price goes up, it’s herd mentality and everyone wants to buy. So, we are definitely seeing an uptick in people wanting to buy their favourite crypto.â
Tax burden
Despite the rise in investor interest, volumes are still down from their peaks as crypto exchanges are burdened by heavy taxes imposed by the country.
In 2022, India imposed a 30 per cent tax on profits from cryptocurrencies, as well as a 1 per cent tax on all transactions of the virtual assets.
While “there is no dearth of people” wanting to invest in cryptocurrencies, Mr Menon says, that âretail investments have not reached the peak that we saw in 2021â.
This development coincides with the growing apprehensions expressed by Indian authorities regarding cryptocurrency trading. The risks associated with it, coupled with fears of potential misuse for illicit activities like money laundering, have raised concerns.
There’s also a worry that it could pose a threat to the stability of the nation’s financial system.
These concerns resonate with numerous nations worldwide, including India. The Indian authorities are indeed wrestling with the challenge of how to regulate these assets, especially considering their sustained popularity.
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, has risen by almost 54 per cent year-to-date to over $68,000 as of Friday evening. This was lower than the new all-time high it reached on Thursday of $73,803, which dived further down to about $65,000 on Sunday.
The rise of Bitcoin has been driven by various factors, such as inflows into US spot exchange-traded crypto products and the expectation of global interest rates falling. This often leads traders to redirect capital into risky assets.
Investor interest in cryptocurrencies has grown following the approval of 11 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in late January.
The Bitcoin âhalvingâ event is anticipated to occur in April, resulting in a reduction in the rate at which new coins are generated. Historically, these events have led to an increase in the value of the cryptocurrency.
Indian exchanges are pleased to witness a resurgence in investor demand, after a challenging period for the sector.
âWe’ve witnessed a remarkable 150 per cent increase in spot market trading volume,â says Mr Gupta. âThis surge in demand for Bitcoin is fuelled by the launch of Bitcoin ETFs, signalling a maturing market.â
The growth trend is not limited to Bitcoin.
The company has seen âsignificant growth across large-cap cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Solana, Shiba Inu, and Binance Coinâ, says Mr Gupta.
The rise in demand âisn’t just confined to retail investors â we’ve also seen a notable increase in engagement from high-net-worth individuals and institutional investorsâ.
Regulation catch-up
However, despite the renewed interest in virtual assets, exchanges are reporting that the current tax regime continues to dampen investor appetite.
âChanges in India’s regulatory landscape, including a new tax regime, have influenced the cryptocurrency appetite,â says Pranav Srivan Elankovan, founder of Crypfi, a cryptocurrency exchange.
âThe introduction of taxes and regulatory uncertainties has prompted investors to adopt a more cautious approach, potentially dampening demand.â
The taxes in 2022 have had an enormous impact on the industry, Mr Menon says.
âThe moment this happened, [crypto investors] stopped trading in India,â he says.
âThey fled to exchanges abroad, because crypto knows no boundaries. So, you had a lot of foreign exchanges or offshore exchanges benefiting from Indian customers actually shifting the capital abroad.
âOur volumes were down by 90 per cent in the bear marketsâ, by the end of 2022 and last year, he says.
However, he adds that the âIndian government has taken a very serious view of offshore exchanges not complying with Indian lawsâ and is taking steps to prevent Indian citizens from trading cryptocurrencies on them, thereby benefiting Indian exchanges.
In January, India blocked access to the websites of major global cryptocurrency exchanges after issuing notices to them for not complying with the country’s money laundering laws.
Furthermore, despite the high 30 per cent tax rate, it is widely accepted within the industry that this serves as a clear indication that the government acknowledges cryptocurrencies as a legitimate form of investment. Speculation had long persisted that India would impose a ban on cryptocurrencies.
âSustained demand hinges on ongoing regulatory clarity and the confidence of investors in the Indian cryptocurrency market,â says Mr Elankovan.
Sidharth Sogani, the founder and chief executive of the cryptocurrency research firm Crebaco, made the decision to relocate from India to Dubai three years ago. He cited the UAE’s more ârobust and open-mindedâ approach to the cryptocurrency market as a key factor in his decision.
He states that despite the Bitcoin rally, Indian cryptocurrency exchanges are still at a disadvantage.
âVolumes have not reached the previous bull cycles we observed in 2021, when the market had a way higher volume, and exchanges were more aggressive and they were advertising a lot,â says Mr Sogani.
He asserts that regulation is of paramount importance.
âIndia is not a regulated market for crypto. It is legal, but it’s not regulated â they are two different things,â says Mr Sogani.
âWhen you say regulation, that means the regulatory body is responsible for all the market exchanges to report in a certain manner and that regulatory body does not exist yet. Once it does exist, there will be a different market for India.â
What is Bitcoin and how did it start?
The exchanges have expressed their openness and readiness to embrace a regulatory framework.
âWe want clear guidelines,â says Mr Menon. âFor example, it’s very difficult, even now, for Indian crypto companies to get reliable banking connections.â
But he believes âa change is on the horizonâ. This belief stems from India’s recent actions under its G20 presidency, which together with other member nations, embraced a strategic plan to guarantee a synchronised execution of a policy framework for crypto assets.
âWe are hopeful that regulation will make the [cryptocurrency] industry a better place to be in and things would be much better in the coming years for India,â says Mr Menon.
Updated: March 18, 2024, 5:30 AM
Crypto
Top 100 Bitcoin Treasuries Now Hold 1.26M BTC
Key Takeaways
- Top 100 institutional bitcoin holders now control nearly 1.26 million BTC, although Strategy alone accounts for more than two-thirds of that total.
- Mining firms, technology companies, private enterprises, and treasury vehicles are using bitcoin to diversify reserves, hedge inflation risk, and signal long-term conviction.
- The data shows broad institutional participation, but holdings remain highly concentrated among crypto-native firms and one dominant corporate buyer.
Bitcoin Treasuries Are Turning Scarcity Into Strategy
Institutional bitcoin accumulation has grown dramatically, with the top 100 holders now controlling 1,258,090 BTC as of June 8, 2026, according to a chart published on X by HODL15Capital. This group includes public companies, private firms, mining operators, and treasury-focused entities, reflecting specialized corporate allocations alongside one dominant buyer.
At the top of the list, Strategy holds exactly 845,256 BTC, far surpassing every other entity. Twentyone Capital follows with 43,514 BTC, and Japan’s Metaplanet holds 40,177 BTC, showing that institutional BTC accumulation is global and spans multiple industries. Marathon Digital contributes 35,303 BTC.
The size of Strategy’s lead reveals how uneven the race has become. One company controls more bitcoin than the rest of the top 100 combined, turning corporate treasury policy into a marketwide talking point. For investors, that concentration makes Strategy one of the clearest equity-market proxies for BTC exposure.
Other major names on the chart include Coinbase, Riot Platforms, Tesla, Spacex, Cleanspark, Block, Galaxy Digital, American Bitcoin Corp., and Hut 8. That lineup makes the trend easy to understand: bitcoin is no longer only a crypto-sector balance sheet bet. It now reaches miners, exchanges, technology firms, private companies, and treasury vehicles.
The BTC Concentration Across Sectors and Borders
The global spread of BTC holders is as notable as the headline total. Metaplanet’s top ranking shows adoption is no longer U.S.-centric, with participants from Japan, Canada, Europe, and Asia signaling worldwide corporate and institutional demand for bitcoin.
The supply angle is what makes the chart matter beyond crypto circles. The top 100 holders control more than 6% of bitcoin’s maximum 21 million supply, giving a singular corporate buyer a highly visible role in market liquidity. For shareholders, that creates both upside potential and sharper exposure to crypto-driven swings.
Overall, the chart illustrates a highly centralized institutional concentration of bitcoin reserves. The focus is no longer just who holds the most, but how BTC has become a balance sheet battleground, with companies using treasury positions to signal conviction, attract investors, and position themselves in a more bitcoin-integrated financial landscape.
Crypto
About 1 in 5 Americans have used crypto; Republicans’ use has ticked up
Even after years of buzz, the use of cryptocurrency has remained fairly stable in the United States. Today, about one-in-five U.S. adults (19%) say they’ve invested in or used a cryptocurrency – about on par with the 16% who said this in 2021.
But for the first time, there is a partisan gap in use. Republicans’ crypto use has ticked up from 16% in 2021 to 22% today, and they are now more likely than Democrats to say they’ve used it, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January 2026.
Crypto has become part of the national political conversation in recent years. The Trump administration has set out to make America the “crypto capital of the world,” including steps to allow crypto firms to become banks.
Who uses cryptocurrency?
Some of the biggest demographic differences in cryptocurrency use are by gender, age and income.
Men under 50 stand out for being crypto users; Republicans are more likely to use it than Democrats
% of U.S. adults who say they have ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency such as bitcoin or ether
* Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income tiers are based on adjusted 2024 earnings.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Men under 50 stand out for being crypto users; Republicans are more likely to use it than Democrats
% of U.S. adults who say they have ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency such as bitcoin or ether
| Demographic | % | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. adults | U.S. Adults | 19 |
| Men | Gender | 27 |
| Women | Gender | 11 |
| Ages 18-29 | Age | 26 |
| 30-49 | Age | 28 |
| 50+ | Age | 10 |
| Men 18-29 | Male and Age | 38 |
| 30-49 | Male and Age | 40 |
| 50+ | Male and Age | 14 |
| Women 18-29 | Female and Age | 15 |
| 30-49 | Female and Age | 17 |
| 50+ | Female and Age | 6 |
| White | Race/Ethnicity | 18 |
| Hispanic | Race/Ethnicity | 19 |
| Black | Race/Ethnicity | 20 |
| Asian* | Race/Ethnicity | 25 |
| Upper income | Income | 27 |
| Middle income | Income | 20 |
| Lower income | Income | 16 |
| Rep/Lean Rep | Party | 22 |
| Dem/Lean Dem | Party | 17 |
* Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income tiers are based on adjusted 2024 earnings.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
By gender and age
As was true in past surveys, young men stand out for their use of crypto:
- 38% of men ages 18 to 29 say they have ever invested in, traded or used cryptocurrency, compared with 15% of women in the same age range.
- 40% of men ages 30 to 49 have done this, compared with 17% of women in this age group.
Crypto use among men and women ages 30 to 49 has gone up since 2021. And men 50 and older are also more likely to have ever used crypto today than in 2021.
By income
About one-in-four adults in upper-income households (27%) have invested in or used crypto, up from 23% in 2024 and 17% in 2021.
By comparison, 20% of middle-income Americans have used crypto, up slightly from 17% in 2021. Use has not changed among lower-income Americans (16% this year vs. 15% in 2021).
By party
Republicans are now more likely than Democrats to have invested in, traded or used crypto (22% vs. 17%). Before this year, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents were as likely as Democrats and Democratic leaners to say they’d done so. But GOP crypto use has grown from 16% in 2021 to 22% now, while Democrats’ use has held steady at 17%.
By race and ethnicity
A quarter of Asian adults say they have ever invested in, traded or used crypto – which is similar to Black and Hispanic adults. White adults remain less likely to be crypto users than Asian adults but are on par with Black and Hispanic adults for the first time. This is partially due to crypto use among White Americans ticking up from 13% in 2021 to 18% today.
For more about Americans and cryptocurrency, read our 2024 analysis, which has information on:
Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis, the topline and the survey methodology.
Crypto
Bitcoin Surges 5% to $64K, Settles Near $62.5K as Trump Says Netanyahu Must Accept Iran Deal
Key Takeaways
Trump Says the Deal Is ‘Almost Complete’
The rally followed remarks in which Trump framed the agreement as a near-certainty and signaled he would push it through with or without Israel’s full cooperation. Speaking about Netanyahu, the president said the Israeli leader will have “no choice” but to sign because, in his telling, he “calls the shots.”
Trump described the deal as “almost complete” and said he expected an announcement at the start of the new business week, with traders treating the language as a firmer commitment than the ceasefire speculation that has come and gone for months, and risk assets reacted within hours.
Analysts first flagged the price reaction, noting bitcoin’s 5% jump to $64,000 came directly on the back of the comments, indicating that the market read the statement less as a rumor and more as a direct signal that Washington intends to close the matter regardless of how Jerusalem responds.
A Bounce off the 2026 Low
The surge marked a sharp turn from the prior week as Bitcoin touched an intraday low near $59,100 on June 5, its weakest level since February (during what Bitcoin.com News described as the worst week of 2026 for the asset). At the lows, more than half of all BTC sat in unrealized loss, a condition that has historically lined up with major market bottoms.
Short-term chart readings had already pointed to an oversold market primed for a snapback, leaving the rally needing only a catalyst. The geopolitical headline supplied it. Even after the move, bitcoin remained roughly $18,000 below the $82,000 record it set in mid-May, underscoring how much ground the recent decline erased.
The recovery offered relief to leveraged traders after a brutal stretch of forced selling earlier in the month. Hundreds of thousands of positions were wiped out as the price slid, and a swift reversal of that kind often triggers a wave of short liquidations that amplifies the upside.
Geopolitics Back in the Driver’s Seat
Bitcoin’s sensitivity to Middle East headlines has been one of 2026’s defining patterns given that earlier in the year, the digital currency’s topped $77,000 as Trump weighed his options on Iran, while prediction-market wagers on a peace deal swelled into the hundreds of millions of dollars. De-escalation signals have repeatedly lifted risk appetite, and threats of conflict have pulled it back down.
Crypto tends to trade as a high-beta risk asset in these episodes, selling off harder than equities when fear spikes and rallying faster when it eases. That makes bitcoin an unusually sensitive barometer of how traders price the odds of war or peace, even when the headlines have no direct link to digital assets.
The same tensions had been a drag in recent weeks as higher oil prices tied to the standoff have fed inflation concerns and complicated the Federal Reserve’s rate path, with some officials declining to rule out further hikes and expected cuts being pushed back. That backdrop helped drag crypto lower before Sunday’s rebound.
Analysts caution that headline-driven rallies can fade quickly and only a confirmed agreement could sustain the move. Collapse in talks or a fresh exchange of fire risks sending the price back toward its recent floor. The Fed’s stance remains a second swing factor that could cap any extended recovery.
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