Coinbase Returns to India After Two-Year Pause

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Coinbase Returns to India After Two-Year Pause, Plans Rupee Trades by 2026

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: December 08, 2025

Key Takeaways

Coinbase has reopened registrations in India and plans to enable local-currency trading by 2026;
The company aims for a clean restart after closing old accounts tied to overseas entities;
Coinbase is rebuilding ties with Indian officials and supports clearer digital asset rules.

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Coinbase Returns to India After Two-Year Pause, Plans Rupee Trades by 2026

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Coinbase $1.43B , the US-based cryptocurrency exchange, is restarting its operations in India after stepping away from the market for about two years.

At India Blockchain Week (IBW), Coinbase’s Asia-Pacific director, John O’Loghlen, said the company has reopened app registrations in India and plans to introduce local currency transactions in 2026, according to TechCrunch.

O’Loghlen explained that Coinbase once had a large customer base in India but decided to close all those accounts linked to overseas entities. He said the goal was to start fresh in the country with a clean and independent setup.

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For now, Indian users can make crypto-to-crypto trades, while Coinbase prepares to launch support for local money transfers later.

The company began reopening registrations in October through an early-access program.

Around the same time, Coinbase appointed Karan Malik as its India marketing head. Malik said, "Last year, I was leading the charge and building the marketing and brand playbook for IBW. This year, I’m bringing Coinbase to the party".

Coinbase is also focusing on improving ties with Indian authorities. In December, its international policy adviser, Katie Mitch, spoke before India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.

She later wrote on X, "We are optimistic on the potential for forward-looking VDA regulation in India".

Recently, Coinbase announced plans to launch its decentralized trading option, called "DeFi Mullet", for users in Brazil. How does it work? Read the full story.