Coinbase Resumes User Registrations in India

Coinbase, the major U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, has resumed user registrations in India after more than two years of absence, allowing new customers to sign up and conduct crypto-to-crypto trades as of this month. The platform, which fully suspended operations in the country in September 2023, began limited onboarding through an early-access program in October and now offers broader access, according to John O'Loghlen, Coinbase's director for the Asia-Pacific region. Full integration of fiat currency options, enabling direct purchases with Indian rupees, remains planned for 2026.

The reentry follows a challenging history for Coinbase in India. The exchange initially launched services there in 2022, supporting the country's Unified Payments Interface for fiat transactions. However, it withdrew that feature within days after the National Payments Corporation of India declined to recognize the platform's use of the system. By late 2023, Coinbase had offboarded millions of existing users and halted all access, citing the need to reassess regulatory compliance. O'Loghlen described the decision as a deliberate "clean slate approach," aimed at rebuilding from scratch with...