Cryptocurrencies

Pakistan bets big on crypto: Here's why the rush is raising concerns

In December 2025, Pakistan allowed global exchanges Binance and HTX to receive preliminary approvals as the government accelerates crypto adoption

Cryptocurrency markets trade sideways as investors await macro clarity

Overall, muted capital inflows, analysts said, are likely to keep ETH range-bound, while Bitcoin's relative strength continues to support broader sentiment, though there is no clear breakout signal

Selfie, 'penny drop' mandated as KYC for crypto customers in India

Selfie with liveness detection, recording of geographical coordinates, and verification of bank account by the 'penny-drop' method are among the mandatory new measures listed by India's financial intelligence agency under the anti-money laundering and terrorist financing KYC protocols for cryptocurrency exchanges while onboarding users. The directives also discourage Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Initial Token Offerings (ITOs), equivalent to IPOs in stock markets, by the exchanges. They say that tumblers, mixers, and anonymity-enhancing tokens-linked transactions shall "not" be facilitated. PTI has reviewed the updated set of guidelines brought out by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), a body that functions under the Union Finance Ministry, on January 8 as part of the 'anti-money laundering (AML) and combating financing of terror (CFT) guidelines for reporting entities providing services related to virtual digital assets (cryptocurrency).' The guidelines have been updated .

49 cryptocurrency exchanges registered with FIU in 2024-25: Report

A total of 49 crypto currency exchanges, a majority of them based in India, were registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) during the 2024-25 fiscal as part of the country's legal regime to mitigate anti-money laundering and terrorist financing risks emerging from this sector, according to a report. Also, a "strategic analysis" of suspicious transaction reports (STRs) generated and furnished by these exchanges to the federal agency found "exploitation" of crypto funds for "serious" criminal activities like hawala (unaccounted) transactions, gambling, scam, fraud and an instance of operating an illegal adult content website. In legal parlance, crypto currency is called Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) and the exchanges that trade them are called VDA Service Providers (VDA SPs). These exchanges were brought under India's anti-money laundering regime (Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA) linked reporting system in 2023. Being reporting entities under the PMLA, these exchange

Crypto defies geopolitical tensions as BTC reclaims $93k, ETH hits $3,200

Bitcoin, analysts said, benefited from its safe-haven narrative, short-covering near key levels of $91,500-$93,000, and robust stablecoin inflows

India's crypto market in 2025: Adoption grows while regulations stay vague

As digital assets continue to operate in a tightly regulated environment, the sector, analysts said, has displayed significant resilience, innovation, and growing integration into the broader system

Macro trends, Fed policy drive crypto's wild ride; check what lies ahead

The macroeconomic sentiment for the crypto markets, analysts believe, remains closely tethered to the Federal Reserve's policy path

Oversold and volatile: Bitcoin fails to find floor as market stress holds

Bitcoin News: While the market appears oversold on short-term indicators, analysts said that has not been enough to establish a durable floor

Late-night traders, younger investors: India's crypto buzz in 2025

Younger investors continued to dominate activity in the final quarter of the year. On an annual basis, however, the 26-35 age group led, accounting for 45 per cent of all crypto investors

From Bitcoin to meme coins: How Indian crypto portfolios evolved in 2025

The flagship digital asset now accounts for 8.1 per cent of total holdings, highlighting renewed investor appetite for stability in a market often defined by volatility

Uttar Pradesh leads India in crypto adoption, tops invested value in 2025

India's crypto boom is led by non-metro regions; Tier-III and IV towns account for 43.4 per cent of activity, Tier-II add 32.2 per cent, while Tier-I cities make up about a quarter of participation

Non-metros accounted for 75% of crypto activity in 2025: CoinSwitch

CoinSwitch's 2025 report shows non-metro regions now account for over three-quarters of India's crypto activity, led by Uttar Pradesh and strong participation from Tier-2 and smaller cities

Beyond metros: How tier-3, tier-4 towns powered India's crypto boom in 2025

Uttar Pradesh led all states, contributing 13 per cent of the total invested value nationwide. Investors in the state displayed a diversified approach in 2025

BoJ hawkish signals weigh on crypto; Bitcoin dips below $90k, ETH holds $3k

In the near term, holding $88,000 could allow a relief bounce, while a break lower, analysts believe, may open downside toward $86,000-$87,000

Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison for $40 bn fraud

One-time cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison after a USD 40 billion crash revealed his crypto ecosystem to be a fraud. Victims said the 34-year-old financial technology whiz weaponised their trust to convince them that the investment -- secretly propped up by cash infusions -- was safe. Kwon, a Stanford graduate known by some as "the cryptocurrency king," apologised after listening as victims -- one in court and others by telephone -- described the scam's toll: wiping out nest eggs, depleting charities and wrecking lives. One told the judge in a letter that he contemplated suicide after his father lost his retirement money in the scheme. Engelmayer said the government's recommendation of a 12-year prison sentence was "unreasonably lenient" and the defense's request for five years was "utterly unthinkable and wildly unreasonable." Kwon faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. "Your offence caused real people to lose USD 40 billion in real

India joins global crypto elite, ranks among top 10 in transactional use

As a utility-driven innovator, the country is witnessing rapid growth in its developer ecosystem alongside millions of users turning to digital assets for savings, remittances, and investments

Crypto fails to cheer Fed rate cut; BTC dips below $93k, ETH slips to $3.2k

While equities briefly rallied, the momentum failed to carry over to digital assets

Crypto markets hold steady as investors await US Fed rate-cut guidance

If Bitcoin remains range-bound post-FOMC, rotational flows, analysts believe, may continue to support altcoins at the margins

Bitcoin sees renewed demand, reclaims $93k; check what's driving momentum

The rebound followed the Federal Reserve's decision to halt its Quantitative Tightening (QT) program and inject liquidity into the markets, boosting short-term financial stability.

Bitcoin attempts modest recovery, yet macro headwinds persist, say analysts

Analysts remain cautiously optimistic but note that liquidity conditions and global macro developments will shape the near-term trajectory