Coinbase introduces direct INR deposit and withdrawal support

Sudhanshu Ranjan
Written by Sudhanshu Ranjan

Coinbase has officially launched direct Indian Rupee (INR) deposit and withdrawal services in India, allowing users to seamlessly transfer funds between their bank accounts and the cryptocurrency exchange using the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS). Along with this, the company has launched local INR order books, spot trading, perpetual futures, and institutional-grade trading tools tailored exclusively to the Indian market.

The introduction by Coinbase comes after the company registered itself with FIU-IND, India’s Financial Intelligence Unit, thereby indicating that the firm is willing to comply with the legal system of India. As per Coinbase, the introduction of INR integration would enable easier and more efficient crypto trading as India develops into one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency markets.

Inside Coinbase’s renewed push in India

Coinbase’s return to India in 2026 marks a shift from its earlier struggles. In 2022, Coinbase made an attempt to operate via UPI payments but soon received pressure from the authorities that forced the cryptocurrency exchange to cease its operations there due to compliance issues. Moreover, the high taxes on crypto transactions and the deduction of transaction fees contributed to a drop in trading.

However, things started changing after Coinbase became officially certified by FIU-IND, the anti-money laundering agency in India. Now Coinbase has relaunched its onboarding process for Indian citizens by accepting payments via IMPS bank transfer and not via UPI.

Role of IMPS in crypto transactions

Direct INR rails enable Indian users to transfer money directly between their bank accounts and Coinbase without intermediaries. Coinbase has integrated with IMPS, India’s instant payment system, making deposits and withdrawals faster and more straightforward. The use of this new feature negates the need for earlier peer-to-peer transactions, which could be riddled with issues of scams, arguments, and even freezing of the user’s accounts.

With the ability to transfer funds from your own personal bank account into Coinbase directly, the transaction is made safer and less uncertain, as well as promoting trust in crypto trading. Users will find that depositing and withdrawing crypto is now easy as any bank transfer.

Key features

The new service offered by Coinbase in India is aimed at simplifying the trading experience for Indians. Users can deposit and withdraw money from and into their bank accounts in INR without involving any intermediary or using peer-to-peer transactions. In addition, Coinbase is providing spot trading along with INR order books. This will help enhance the liquidity and pricing for traders operating in the Indian market.

Apart from the basic services, there are some advanced products available for experienced users. Perpetual futures contracts have been provided to help professionals engage in more activities. In addition to that, Coinbase Advanced has also been launched in India, offering features such as API, streaming order book, and TradingView integration.

Coinbase’s regulatory compliance

In its efforts to target institutions and high-frequency trading in India, Coinbase offers services like API and WebSocket streaming, allowing for automation of trades and access to real-time market information. With these, companies can carry out trades as well as incorporate the service into their system.

TradingView is also offered by Coinbase, giving customers various features that are useful for analysis purposes. In addition to advanced order types and liquidity, it is clear that Coinbase is trying to satisfy more functional requirements of professionals than retail requirements.

Coinbase’s long-term investment

Coinbase has been growing its presence in India through a combination of investments and developer activities. One of its significant initiatives was to invest in CoinDCX, a leading Indian cryptocurrency exchange, which allowed the company to acquire exposure to the local market while also collaborating with an established operator.

In addition to investments, Coinbase has committed over a million dollars to help develop its Base blockchain network. Indian developers have played an important role in such developments, and several thousand projects have turned out to become start-ups. The purpose of such developments by Coinbase is to build bridges with the Indian blockchain ecosystem rather than trading only.

India’s growing cryptocurrency market

India’s cryptocurrency market is expected to see substantial growth over the next decade, rising from an estimated $3.04 billion in 2025 to $14.21 billion by 2034. The growth is being supported by increasing internet access, higher levels of digital awareness, wider use of fintech services, and the country’s expanding technology sector.

India has already won the race to become a leading adopter of cryptocurrency, winning over big foreign exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance, and Bybit. These companies are seeking to expand their presence in the country as people grow more active in digital assets. India’s huge young population and vibrant start-up culture make it an increasingly important market for crypto firms hoping to reach new users and gain influence.