Buying your first crypto in India is simple — but the steps matter. KYC, exchange choice, wallet safety. Here's the exact process, step by step, for 2026.
India's top regulated exchanges: CoinDCX, WazirX, Mudrex. All are RBI-compliant and support UPI. CoinDCX is the most popular with lowest fees (0.1-0.2%). Mudrex is great for beginners — it offers simple crypto baskets. Avoid unregulated offshore platforms.
KYC is mandatory in India. You'll need: Aadhaar (for address proof) + PAN card (mandatory for tax). Upload photos, do a selfie verification. KYC approval takes 15 minutes to 24 hours. Without KYC you can't withdraw to your bank account.
Deposit via UPI (instant, no charges). Buy Bitcoin (safest first purchase) or a blue-chip like ETH. Start small — ₹1,000 to ₹5,000. Don't invest money you need in 6 months. Use the limit order feature to set your price, rather than buying at market price.
India taxes crypto gains at 30% (+ 1% TDS on transactions above ₹50,000). Keep records of every purchase price. Use Koinly (links to your exchange) to auto-track your portfolio for ITR. The biggest beginner mistake: not tracking cost basis from day one.
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