• India’s Finance Secretary stated that digital assets including Bitcoin will never become legal tender in the country.
  • The Finance Secretary further emphasized that cryptocurrencies do not have the government’s backing.
  • The nation recently proposed a 30% tax on cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

The Finance Secretary in India, T.V. Somanthan stated that cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum will never become legal tender in the country. Only the digital rupee issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be a legal tender.

India will not follow El Salvador’s footsteps in adopting Bitcoin

India’s Finance Secretary has declared that cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will never become legal tender in the country.

India has recently revealed plans to introduce a central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital rupee, which will be backed and issued by the RBI, which would “never default.” The Finance Secretary added that only the digital rupee will be a legal tender, while the “rest all are not legal tender.”

India’s central bank has been testing its CBDC in the nation for several months to examine its impact on the banking and monetary systems. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the introduction of a CBDC will lead to a more efficient and cheaper currency management system while boosting the digital economy. 

Somanthan added that cryptocurrencies’ values are “determined between two people,” and similar to diamonds or gold, it does not have the “value authorization by the government.”

The Finance Secretary further warned citizens in India that those who invest in cryptocurrencies should understand that it does not have the “authorization of the government.” He added that those who invest in the new asset class could suffer losses that the government is not responsible for.

While India has struggled to decide whether to ban cryptocurrencies for years, no such ban has been put in motion. However, a 30% tax on digital assets was proposed on income from the transfer of any crypto assets.

However, the nation’s Finance Minister proposed a 1% tax deduction at source on payments created in relation to the purchase of digital assets. 

 


Note: All information on this page is subject to change. The use of this website constitutes acceptance of our user agreement. Please read our privacy policy and legal disclaimer. Opinions expressed at FXstreet.com are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of FXstreet.com or its management. Risk Disclosure: Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to invest in foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.

Recommended content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Crypto ETF adoption should pick up pace despite slow start, analysts say

Crypto ETF adoption should pick up pace despite slow start, analysts say

Big institutional investors are still wary of allocating funds in Bitcoin spot ETFs, delaying adoption by traditional investors. Demand is expected to increase in the mid-term once institutions open the gates to the crypto asset class.

More Cryptocurrencies News
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Will the “Uptober” rally reach a fresh all-time high?

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Will the “Uptober” rally reach a fresh all-time high?

Bitcoin continues to climb this week after breaking its resistance barrier, aiming for a new all-time high. US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $1.86 billion in inflows until Thursday, the largest streak of inflows since mid-July.

More Bitcoin News
Crypto Today: Main tokens gain as Bitcoin is less than 10% away from all-time high

Crypto Today: Main tokens gain as Bitcoin is less than 10% away from all-time high

Bitcoin climbs above $68,000 and pulls back as market participants turn greedy, according to the indicator that checks trader sentiment. Ethereum holds gains above $2,600 and XRP hovers around $0.55 on Friday. 

More Cryptocurrencies News
Solana Price Forecast: SOL gains 2% as community discusses Firedancer validator for better performance

Solana Price Forecast: SOL gains 2% as community discusses Firedancer validator for better performance

Solana gains 2% as its community discusses performance improvements through its new validator, Firedancer. Bitcoin’s Layer 2 project Solv Protocol launched BTC staking token on the Solana blockchain.

More Solana News
Bitcoin: Will the “Uptober” rally reach a fresh all-time high?

Bitcoin: Will the “Uptober” rally reach a fresh all-time high?

Bitcoin (BTC) rallied nearly 8% so far this week until Friday after breaking its resistance barrier, aiming for a fresh all-time high (ATH). This rise in Bitcoin’s price is supported by an increase in institutional demand, which showcased a $1.86 billion inflows this week, the largest streak of inflows since mid-July. Rising apparent demand and institutional reports suggest that the current BTC cycle resembles the third halving, when prices increased sharply.

Read full analysis
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

BTC

ETH

XRP