Coinbase Makes Strategic Move: Files with CCI to Invest in India’s Rising Crypto Star DCX Global

Coinbase doubles down on global expansion with a bold play for India’s crypto future.

The U.S. exchange giant just filed paperwork with India’s Competition Commission (CCI) to invest in DCX Global—a clear signal that institutional money sees long-term potential in India’s digital asset ecosystem.

Why this matters now:

India’s crypto scene has been a regulatory rollercoaster, but the smart money keeps betting on its 1.4 billion-person market. Coinbase’s move comes as other exchanges flee—proving once again that Wall Street’s ‘buy when there’s blood in the streets’ mantra applies to crypto too.

The cynical take? This is either genius timing before India’s next bull run… or another case of American optimism crashing into emerging-market realities.

CoinDCX expansion under review

CoinDCX has said that recent funding will help it expand its products, develop new blockchain-based use cases for Indian users, and support its global expansion plans. Last year, the company also entered the West Asia and North Africa region by acquiring the crypto platform BitOasis.

For regulatory assessment, Coinbase, DCX, and Neblio have been treated as the relevant parties. The filing notes that while the CCI may define the market boundaries as it sees fit, the transaction can be reviewed within the broader “market for exchanges offering cryptocurrency in India.” Coinbase has argued that the proposed stake purchase will not affect competition in this space.

Coinbase’s comeback to India

Coinbase had earlier launched UPI-based crypto buying in 2022 but shut it down within days due to regulatory pressure, later blocking UPI completely and closing many inactive Indian accounts. 

After nearly two years, the company is returning by registering with the FIU to legally restart trading services. Coinbase says it intends to reboot retail trading later this year and also release new products, though it has not announced a date.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) plays a key role in India’s crypto framework. Any crypto exchange operating in India must register with the FIU to offer trading services legally. The FIU ensures that every exchange follows anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) rules. 

The company is not only focused on crypto trading but also looks to expand its work in blockchain development and security. The Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, Paul Grewal, called on Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge in Bengaluru to discuss potential collaboration between the two on blockchain, cybersecurity, and developer training, among other subjects.

They spoke about sharing tools, hosting hackathons, and supporting local builders, and Coinbase demonstrated its developer platform to make on-chain development easier.

Meanwhile, India has been cautious about cryptocurrency but is gradually adopting an evolving approach. While crypto is not illegal, the government has put in place regulations and tax rules to monitor trading and prevent misuse.

Also Read: Coinbase Moves to Texas from Delaware Amid State Rivalry