Crypto
Founders, Builders & Educators: Influential Leaders Shaping India’s Rapidly Growing Cryptocurrency Ecosystem – The Logical Indian
India’s growing cryptocurrency ecosystem has drawn global attention, with the country ranking first in the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index published by Chainalysis.
The rise reflects increasing retail participation, expanding trading platforms, and a wave of entrepreneurs building exchanges, media outlets, and blockchain infrastructure despite years of regulatory uncertainty. Several founders have emerged as key figures shaping how Indians access information about digital assets and participate in the evolving crypto market.
Here are some of the crypto news and platform founders who have played notable roles in shaping India’s digital asset ecosystem.
Naimish Sanghvi: Founder, Coin Crunch India
Naimish Sanghvi left a corporate role at Deloitte to build something the Indian crypto community desperately needed: reliable, unbiased news.
He launched Coin Crunch India in 2018. The platform quickly became a go-to destination for blockchain news, regulatory updates, and in-depth analysis. At a time when mainstream media either ignored or sensationalized crypto, Coin Crunch filled the gap with verified reporting and clear-headed commentary.
Sanghvi’s focus on consumer protection and transparent journalism has earned him trust among both first-time investors and industry veterans. His work continues to shape how Indians understand and engage with digital assets.
Why he matters: He built India’s most credible crypto news brand at a time when the space had almost none.
Nischal Shetty: Founder, WazirX and Co-Founder, Shardeum
Few names carry as much weight in Indian crypto as Nischal Shetty.
He founded WazirX in 2018 alongside Samir Mhatre and Siddharth Menon. The exchange grew into one of India’s most active crypto trading platforms, boasting over 15 million users. After the RBI issued a banking ban on crypto transactions, Shetty launched the #IndiaWantsCrypto campaign. That campaign sustained public pressure until the Supreme Court declared the ban unconstitutional in 2020.
Shetty is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumnus. He later co-founded Shardeum, a Layer 1 blockchain designed for high throughput using dynamic sharding. In 2024, he co-launched Pi42, a crypto-INR futures exchange built to help traders avoid the burden of India’s 1% TDS on crypto transactions.
Why he matters: He fought for the legal right to trade crypto in India. Then he kept building infrastructure for the next decade.
Sumit Gupta: Co-Founder and CEO, CoinDCX
Sumit Gupta co-founded CoinDCX with a clear mission: make crypto accessible and trustworthy for every Indian.
CoinDCX now serves over 16 million registered users and is one of India’s most trusted crypto exchange platforms. Gupta has consistently championed responsible innovation. He advocates for transparent regulation and puts investor education at the center of his platform’s identity.
His commentary on India’s regulatory landscape is widely followed. He approaches market development with a focus on building long-term trust rather than chasing short-term volume.
Why he matters: He helped turn crypto investing into a credible financial activity for millions of mainstream Indian users.
Ashish Sukhadeve: Founder and CEO, Analytics Insight
Ashish Sukhadeve built one of India’s most widely read crypto and emerging tech media platforms through Analytics Insight. While others were busy setting up shops to buy and sell coins, he took a different path. He saw that people didn’t just need a place to trade; they needed to understand what they were actually buying.
He built an influence engine. Analytics Insight today covers crypto, blockchain, AI, fintech, and emerging technologies with a strong global readership. Under his leadership, the platform positioned itself at the intersection of digital assets and future tech, giving crypto coverage a broader economic and innovation context.
What sets Sukhadeve apart is scale and vision. Most platforms focus only on price movements or exchange updates. However, he expanded coverage to include Web3 startups, token ecosystems, enterprise blockchain adoption, regulation shifts, and global market trends. That wider lens helped global readers understand how crypto fits into the larger technology revolution.
Why he matters: He transformed crypto reporting from niche coverage into a mainstream tech intelligence platform. Analytics Insight today is one of the most influential crypto and emerging tech media brands catering to audiences worldwide.
Ashish Singhal: Founder and CEO, CoinSwitch
Ashish Singhal built CoinSwitch around a simple idea: make crypto easy enough for anyone to use.
The platform’s clean interface and beginner-friendly design helped onboard millions of first-time investors. CoinSwitch became India’s second crypto unicorn in 2021, valued at $1.9 billion after a successful Series C round. A Q2 2025 report from CoinSwitch showed that people under 35 now make up roughly 72% of India’s crypto investors, a demographic Singhal helped bring into the space.
He has spent years proving that simplicity is a competitive advantage in a market known for complexity.
Why he matters: He made crypto less intimidating for a generation of new investors in India.
Jaynti Kanani: Co-Founder, Polygon
Jaynti Kanani came from a background in data science and product engineering. That practical foundation shaped everything he built.
He co-founded Polygon, formerly known as Matic Network, to solve one of Ethereum’s most persistent problems: slow speeds and high transaction fees during peak demand. Polygon offered faster and cheaper transactions at scale. Global brands, Web3 developers, and enterprise applications adopted it in large numbers.
Polygon stands as one of India’s most significant contributions to global blockchain infrastructure. The MATIC token surged in value as adoption grew. Kanani’s approach combined deep technical knowledge with a clear understanding of what developers and users actually needed.
Why he matters: He put India on the global blockchain infrastructure map with a product that millions of developers use daily.
Sandeep Nailwal: Co-Founder, Polygon
Sandeep Nailwal co-founded Polygon alongside Kanani and has been one of its most visible public voices.
He has championed blockchain education and community growth with equal energy. Beyond his technical contributions, Nailwal became known internationally for his humanitarian work during the COVID-19 crisis in India. He raised tens of millions of dollars in crypto donations for pandemic relief through the Crypto Relief Fund.
His combination of entrepreneurial execution and public service made him one of the most respected figures in Web3 globally.
Why he matters: He showed that crypto founders could drive both technological impact and meaningful social impact at the same time.
Kashif Raza: Co-Founder, Bitinning
Kashif Raza identified a problem that most crypto founders overlooked: education.
He co-founded Bitinning to teach beginners the fundamentals of crypto without overwhelming them. Through YouTube, community programs, and practical workshops, he breaks down wallet safety, market structure, risk management, and basic blockchain concepts into digestible lessons.
His approach focuses on empowering everyday people to participate in crypto with confidence rather than fear. That mission has made him one of the most trusted educators in India’s crypto community.
Why he matters: He serves the largest and most vulnerable segment of Indian crypto users: the beginners who have no one else to guide them.
Balaji S. Srinivasan: Former CTO, Coinbase (Indian-American)
Balaji Srinivasan is an Indian-American entrepreneur whose influence on global crypto thinking is enormous.
He co-founded 21.co, a Bitcoin startup that evolved into Earn.com. Coinbase acquired Earn.com and appointed Srinivasan as CTO. Before crypto, he co-founded Counsyl, a genomics startup whose DNA screening technology now reaches 3% of all births in the United States.
Srinivasan’s intellectual output on decentralization, network states, and the future of governance has influenced founders and investors worldwide. His prolific writing and podcasting make him one of the most original thinkers to emerge from the Indian tech diaspora.
Why he matters: His ideas about decentralized systems have shaped how a generation of builders thinks about the future of crypto and society.
Naval Ravikant: Co-Founder, AngelList and MetaStable Capital (Indian-American)
Naval Ravikant was born in New Delhi and built a career that bridges Silicon Valley and the blockchain world.
He co-founded AngelList, a platform that transformed how startups connect with angel investors. He made early investments in Uber, Twitter, and Postmates. In 2014, he co-founded MetaStable Capital, a hedge fund focused on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets.
Ravikant’s thinking on wealth, technology, and individual sovereignty has been widely shared through his podcast and writing. He sees blockchain as a tool for financial independence and a challenge to centralized financial systems.
Why he matters: His early belief in Bitcoin and blockchain helped legitimize the space for mainstream investors and tech founders globally.
The Bigger Picture
India now leads the Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index across all subindices, including retail, centralized services, DeFi, and institutional activity. That position reflects the work of founders who built real products, fought for clearer regulation, and educated millions of users over many years.
The next chapter of India’s crypto story will be written by this generation of builders and those they inspire. The founders on this list are not just news sources or exchange operators. They are architects of a financial ecosystem that is still being constructed.
Watching what they build next is the best reason to follow crypto news from India.
Mastercard has launched an initiative aimed at exploring the future of cryptocurrency payments.
Crypto
Bitcoin has mined 20 million coins: why the last of the remaining 1 million won’t arrive until 2140 | Fortune
On Monday, Bitcoin minted its 20 millionth coin, meaning that more than 95% of all coins have now been mined, leaving the total untapped supply at fewer than one million. The last coin is expected to be discovered in approximately 114 years.
This milestone reinforces how economics of Bitcoin are different from traditional currency systems like the dollar, which allow governments to always print more money. This “hard money” aspect of Bitcoin has been one of its primary appeals since the first batch of 50 coins was first minted 17 years ago.
“Having only one million Bitcoin left to be mined is a powerful reminder of something unique: this is the first monetary system in history with a fully predictable policy written in code,” said Raphael Zagury, CEO of the Bitcoin mining company Elektron Energy.
By 2035, 99% of Bitcoin’s total supply will be mined, but it will take a little over 100 years to mint what is left. This timeline is due to a concept called halving, which means that about every four years, miners are rewarded with half as much Bitcoin.
Today, miners receive 3.125 Bitcoin, whereas prior to 2024 they received more than 6 Bitcoin. When Satoshi Nakamoto created the original cryptocurrency in 2009, miners would receive 50 Bitcoin as a reward. The system is intended to make the original cryptocurrency more scarce, at a predictable rate, over time. When Bitcoin runs out in 2140, miners will be compensated solely through transaction fees.
The original cryptocurrency is currently priced at about $71,000, according to Binance. While this is down about 46% since its all-time high in October, Bitcoin has grown about 16,000% in the past ten years, as its price in March of 2016 was a measly $430.
Zagury, the CEO of the Bitcoin mining company, shared his short-term and long-term views on the original cryptocurrency. “I don’t think the milestone alone moves price in the short term. Liquidity and macro still dominate,” he said. “But long term, scarcity plus predictable policy is a powerful combination. Over time, markets tend to reward systems people can trust.”
At 11 a.m. Eastern Time today, the price of Bitcoin (1 BTC) is $70,828.84. That represents a $1,437.12 increase from yesterday morning—but about a $7,700 loss compared with the price one year ago.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency ever created and is still the most widely recognized digital coin available today. Its market capitalization sits around $1.33 trillion, far above runner-up Ethereum, which has a market value of roughly $233 billion.
At its core, Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency. That means it operates on a peer-to-peer network instead of being controlled by a government, bank, or other central authority. It lets you transfer value straight to another person without using a financial middleman.
Many investors are drawn to Bitcoin because they see it as a potential hedge against inflation or simply as a way to add another asset class to their portfolio. Over the past decade, its performance has been massive, often beating the returns of major stock market indices, which helps explain why it has captured so much attention.
However, like other cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin is exposed to extreme volatility and can experience rapid price swings.
Bitcoin price history
Since launching in 2009, Bitcoin’s journey has been anything but smooth. In the early days, software developer and early believer Laszlo Hanyecz famously spent 10,000 Bitcoins on a couple of pizzas; today, those coins would be worth more than $668 million.
Over roughly the last decade, Bitcoin’s price has soared by more than 15,000%. That upside has come with serious risk, as cryptocurrencies tend to be highly unpredictable. Bitcoin has experienced steep drops, at times losing tens of thousands of dollars in value within a few months, but it has also staged similarly dramatic rallies. In 2025, it ended the calendar year about 30% below the all-time high it hit in October of that same year.
What affects Bitcoin’s price?
Several forces can influence the price of Bitcoin, including:
- Investor speculation: As with many assets, trader sentiment and hype play a major role in Bitcoin’s value. In the short term, its demand often reflects investor instincts and speculative trading activity rather than deeper fundamentals.
- Adoption by major companies: As businesses adopt crypto technology and begin accepting Bitcoin as payment, its growth potential can increase. For instance, Bitcoin’s price climbed following announcements from companies like Tesla and Ferrari that they would accept it for certain purchases.
- Economy: Bitcoin doesn’t react to inflation data or Federal Reserve decisions in quite the same way as traditional investments such as stocks. Even so, it often performs better when the U.S. economy is strong. When consumers feel flush, they may be more willing to experiment with alternatives like crypto.
- Regulatory developments: Cryptocurrency is still a relatively young space, and regulation is evolving. New rules or government actions can make investors nervous and affect Bitcoin’s price.
How to buy and invest in Bitcoin
You have several ways to gain exposure to Bitcoin. Here are some of the most common.
Buy Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange
One of the most straightforward strategies is to buy Bitcoin directly. You can open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange, connect it to your bank account, and then use your funds to purchase Bitcoin.
Invest in Bitcoin ETFs
If you prefer not to hold Bitcoin yourself, you might consider a cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF). A Bitcoin ETF owns Bitcoin on your behalf, and its shares trade on regular stock exchanges. This approach lets you avoid setting up a separate crypto wallet and lowers the risk of losing access to your coins due to password or wallet mishaps.
Buy crypto stocks
Investors who are hesitant to invest in Bitcoin directly can also look at stocks tied to the crypto industry. These may include technology companies, publicly traded crypto exchanges, or payment processors. Because these businesses use or hold Bitcoin in their operations, their performance can be influenced by Bitcoin’s price, giving you indirect exposure.
Open a Bitcoin IRA
For those focused on retirement, a Bitcoin IRA might be appealing. It’s a tax-advantaged retirement account that lets you use your retirement contributions to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. A Bitcoin IRA offers the same tax benefits and contribution limits as traditional or Roth IRAs, but it allows you to invest in alternative assets.
Bitcoin vs. other cryptocurrencies
While Bitcoin is the best-known name in crypto, it’s not your only choice. As you decide where to allocate your money, you may also want to look at:
- Ethereum: Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, it wasn’t created mainly as a currency; instead, it was built as a decentralized computing platform and is widely used by developers.
- Tether: Tether is a type of stablecoin, which means its value is tied to another asset. In this case, it’s linked to the U.S. dollar. Because of that, Tether usually experiences less volatility than Bitcoin, but it doesn’t offer the same potential upside.
- XRP: XRP is designed specifically for transferring money across borders quickly and at low cost.
Crypto coverage from Fortune
Looking to stay informed as the crypto scene evolves? Check out our recent coverage:
Is it a good time to invest in Bitcoin?
Compared with established blue-chip stocks like Walmart, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola, Bitcoin is still a relatively new asset. That makes it difficult to predict how it will behave over several decades. Even so, its performance in recent years has been extraordinary. And its price may continue to rise as more companies decide to take Bitcoin as a form of payment. As it matures, its price swings could become less dramatic.
As with any investment, it’s important to not go all in. Only put money into Bitcoin that you won’t need in the near future, and make sure the rest of your portfolio is diversified enough so other holdings can help offset Bitcoin’s volatility.
In practical terms, Bitcoin often makes the most sense as a long-term holding rather than a short-term trade, and it may not be a fit for investors who are easily rattled by big price moves. If you’re prepared to hold for years and keep it as one slice of a broader, well-balanced portfolio, putting some money into Bitcoin could be a reasonable choice.
Frequently asked questions
How much will Bitcoin be worth in 2030?
While the answer is obviously unknowable, crypto experts are generally optimistic about the short-term success of Bitcoin. Some models price it at more than $700,000 by 2030, with conservative estimates closer to $300,000.
What is Bitcoin’s all-time high price?
As of this writing, Bitcoin reached its highest price ever on Oct. 6, 2025, pricing at a whopping $126,198.07.
Can you buy a fraction of a Bitcoin?
Yes, you can buy a fraction of a Bitcoin. Most cryptocurrency exchanges offer fractional investing, meaning you can buy portions of crypto coins. Thanks to fractional investing, you can invest in Bitcoin with as little as a few dollars.
How do I start investing in Bitcoin as a beginner?
If you want to invest directly in Bitcoin by owning the currency, you’ll typically open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange. Once the account is created, you can transfer money to your crypto account from your bank and place an order for Bitcoin and other tokens or coins. You can also indirectly invest in Bitcoin via an ETF or a business that uses Bitcoin.
What can you buy with Bitcoin?
You can use your Bitcoin holdings in several ways, from selling for cash to trading it for other coins. In some cases, you can also pay for purchases, such as with Tesla and Microsoft.
Does Bitcoin outperform the stock market?
Bitcoin has well outperformed the stock market since its launch, but its extreme volatility makes it far less than a guarantee to be a better investment than stocks.
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