Coinbase is returning to India after a two year absence, restarting app registrations and preparing to introduce local fiat on ramps in 2026. The update was confirmed by Coinbase APAC director John O Loghlen during India Blockchain Week, according to reporting from TechCrunch.
The move marks the exchange’s first major step back into the Indian market since September 2023, when Coinbase halted local services following operational friction around its 2022 launch. At the time, challenges with payment integrations and regulatory coordination forced the company to scale back activity.
O Loghlen said Coinbase had once served millions of users in India through its overseas entities. He explained that the exchange fully off boarded those customers to reset operations and re enter the market with a clean structure aligned with local compliance expectations.
Coinbase resumes onboarding
With registrations reopened, Indian users can now access crypto to crypto trading immediately. The service rollout follows Coinbase’s early access program that began in October, a period when the exchange also hired Karan Malik as India marketing lead.
Malik previously led marketing for India Blockchain Week in 2023, where Coinbase participated as a platinum sponsor this year. He stated that his role has shifted from building the event’s brand strategy to supporting Coinbase’s return to the Indian market.
The restart reinforces Coinbase’s larger push to rebuild relationships with Indian policymakers. In early December, the company appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance through its international policy adviser Katie Mitch. She wrote that Coinbase is optimistic about the potential for forward looking virtual digital asset regulation in India.
Coinbase strengthens presence in Karnataka
Coinbase’s re engagement in India also includes a new memorandum of understanding with Karnataka’s IT minister Priyank Kharge. The collaboration aims to support blockchain innovation and cybersecurity initiatives within the state.
As part of the agreement, Karnataka will work with Coinbase to incubate startups using the Base protocol, enhance developer tools and accelerate real world use cases of blockchain technology in governance.
The relaunch follows Coinbase securing a Financial Intelligence Unit license in March 2025, a key requirement for operating in India’s regulated virtual asset sector. Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal also met with minister Kharge in August to discuss tools for developers, blockchain security systems and frameworks for Web3 growth.
Cointelegraph reported that Coinbase did not issue an official comment on the relaunch at the time of publication.
Conclusion
The return of Coinbase to India signals a renewed commitment to long term expansion in one of the world’s most active crypto user bases. By restarting onboarding, preparing local fiat ramps and rebuilding regulatory partnerships, the exchange positions itself for a more stable and compliant re entry into the Indian market. The combination of licensing progress, government collaboration and strategic hiring indicates that Coinbase views India as a priority region for 2026 and beyond.
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