Coinbase Becomes the Only Major International Crypto Exchange to Offer Direct Rupee Payments in India

Coinbase is making its strongest move yet to regain ground in India launching direct Indian rupee deposit and withdrawal services as the U.S exchange seeks a larger share of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital asset markets.

Starting June 1 2026, Indian users can move funds directly between their bank accounts and Coinbase through the country’s Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), eliminating the need for peer-to-peer workarounds and third-party intermediaries that have long complicated crypto trading in the country.

The rollout makes Coinbase the only major international crypto exchange currently offering direct rupee payment rails in India giving it a potential edge over rivals as competition intensifies in a market estimated to process roughly $3 billion in monthly crypto trading volume.

The move marks the latest step in Coinbase’s return to India after a turbulent exit in 2022 when regulatory pressure forced the company to suspend local payment support shortly after launch. The exchange later halted services and offboarded users before restarting its India strategy through engagement with regulators and registration with the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Coinbase is pairing the new banking rails with

• spot and perpetual futures trading,
• local rupee liquidity, and
• a broader expansion plan

aimed at turning India into a key pillar of its international growth strategy. Company executives have described India as a priority market as the exchange pursues its ‘Everything Exchange’ vision across global markets.

Coinbase said:

The renewed push comes despite India maintaining one of the world’s toughest crypto tax regimes, including

• a 30% tax on digital-asset gains, and
• a 1% tax deducted at source on transactions.

Even so, global exchanges continue to view the country’s

• large developer base,
• growing retail participation, and
• expanding digital payments ecosystem

as a long-term opportunity.

For Coinbase, the launch represents more than a payments upgrade. It is a test of whether global crypto firms can successfully rebuild in India after years of regulatory uncertainty and whether one of the industry’s largest exchanges can convert that bet into meaningful market share.

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