Amazon’s Zero-Fee Push in India Lifts Stock as E-Commerce Battle Intensifies
Amazon shares edged higher after announcing sweeping fee cuts for Indian sellers, a strategic MOVE to challenge Flipkart's dominance in low-cost, high-frequency goods. The company will eliminate referral fees on over 125 million products priced below ₹1,000 ($10.97) starting March 2026, covering 1,800 categories.
The initiative slashes seller costs by up to 70% on referral fees and over 20% on logistics—a direct response to Flipkart's November 2025 policy shift. Analysts note the modest stock gain reflects Optimism about Amazon capturing India's Tier II/III cities, where sub-$11 transactions drive 62% of e-commerce volume.
This escalation in India's e-commerce war coincides with growing institutional crypto interest. Tokens like BTC, ETH, and SOL saw muted reactions, while BOME and PEPE—popular among Indian retail traders—gained 3-5% on speculative bets about crypto payment integrations.