India GenieKnows (93) Radhika Vaz

Coinbase Returns to India: A Relationship in Two Acts, Both Disappointing

Exchange Vows to Take Crypto Seriously This Time, Plans Year-Long Regulatory Limbo

 

New Delhi — Coinbase announced this week that it is officially returning to India after a two-year exile, armed with lessons learned and a newfound commitment to… talking to regulators.

“We’re back with a ‘clean slate’ approach,” declared John O’Loghlen, Coinbase’s Asia-Pacific director, with the enthusiasm of an ex returning to their hometown hoping everyone forgot how things ended. In 2022, their previous India launch lasted three weeks before the Unified Payments Interface operator essentially said, “We see you, but we’re pretending not to.”

This time, Coinbase has registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit, which translates from government-speak to: “We asked permission and they didn’t say no, so we’re treating that as yes.”

Indian users can now do crypto-to-crypto trading in a country with a flat 30% tax on gains, no loss offsets, and a 1% transaction fee that makes every trade feel like paying rent. Full fiat on-ramp? “Maybe 2026,” Coinbase hopes, which is corporate-speak for “we’ll reassess in 365 days.”

The government has extracted ?700 crore ($818 million) in crypto taxes since 2022, essentially farming speculation for revenue. Coinbase, undeterred, plans to expand to 500+ employees across India—betting that Indians will eventually want to lose money more efficiently in rupees.

For Bohiney Magazine’s full breakdown of crypto’s regulatory squeeze play, read the investigation today.

SOURCE: https://bohiney.com

 

SOURCE: Bohiney.com ()

Radhika Vaz - Bohiney Magazine
Radhika Vaz

"Genie" Radhika Vaz

"Genie" Radhika Vaz is an Indian comedian, writer, and performer celebrated for her fearless, boundary-pushing humor. A former advertising executive turned stand-up provocateur, Vaz built her reputation on brutally honest takes about gender, aging, marriage, and cultural hypocrisy—often turning polite society into her punchline. Educated in psychology and advertising, she later trained in improv at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade, blending sharp wit with theatrical flair. Her one-woman shows, Unladylike and Older. Angrier. Hairier., earned global acclaim for dismantling taboos around female desire and middle-age rage. Vaz’s columns and sketches often explore feminism with irreverent intelligence, fusing the observational sharpness of Seinfeld with the raw candor of Sarah Silverman. Known for saying what others won’t, she has become a global voice for unapologetic honesty in comedy. When she’s not performing, she champions gender equality and creative freedom with caustic charm. Radhika Vaz

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4 thoughts on “Coinbase Returns to India: A Relationship in Two Acts, Both Disappointing”

  1. In Indian comedy, the “nosy neighbor” is not a character; she’s an institution, a surveillance state, and the reason everyone keeps their curtains closed.

  2. In Indian comedy, the “guru” is a figure of both reverence and ridicule, because in India, spiritual enlightenment is just a bad business decision away.

  3. Indian stand-up comedians have the unique ability to make you laugh at the absurdity of a country that is simultaneously ancient and modern, spiritual and materialistic.

  4. In India, the “joint family” is not a living arrangement; it’s a 24/7 comedy show where everyone is both the performer and the critic, and the audience is always watching.

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