India’s cryptocurrency market has seen exponential growth over the last few years. Millions of traders and investors are exploring digital assets, but the government’s tax regime has created a complex landscape. While crypto is not banned, the taxation structure in India is among the toughest worldwide.
For traders, this doesn’t just impact profits—it determines whether trading strategies like arbitrage, high-frequency trading, or AI-powered automation (such as Arbique) can remain viable.
In this blog, we’ll explore India’s crypto tax rules, their impact on traders, and how platforms like Arbique help navigate this challenging environment.
All profits from trading, investing, or selling cryptocurrencies—legally defined as Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs)—are taxed at a flat 30% rate.
No benefit from lower income slabs.
No deductions allowed (except the cost of acquisition).Tax applies equally to short-term and long-term gains.
This significantly reduces net profitability for active traders and arbitrageurs.
Alongside the 30% tax, India mandates a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on every crypto trade, regardless of profit or loss. For frequent traders: This locks up liquidity. Capital efficiency drops.
A digital paper trail is created for each transaction.
Unlike other asset classes, losses in crypto cannot be set off against gains. Example: If a trader loses ₹1 lakh in Bitcoin but gains ₹50,000 in Ethereum, they still owe tax on the ₹50,000 profit.
Every transaction must be declared in income tax filings.
Exchanges must register under FIU-IND and comply with PMLA KYC/AML rules.
This adds regulatory overhead for both platforms and traders.
The 30% flat tax + 1% TDS combination severely cuts returns, making short-term trading strategies—like arbitrage or intraday scalping—less effective.
Many Indian traders have shifted to offshore exchanges or even moved abroad to escape heavy taxation, reducing volumes on Indian platforms.
High-frequency trading activity dropped sharply since July 2022, when TDS rules came into effect. Traders are holding assets longer to minimize taxable events.
Web3 startups and trading innovators face uncertainty. Instead of building in India, many are relocating to crypto-friendly hubs like Dubai and Singapore.
The Indian government is reviewing the crypto tax regime. Key proposals under consultation include:
Reducing 1% TDS to 0.01%–0.1%.
Allowing loss offsets for VDAs.
Drafting a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets.
Even the Supreme Court has urged the government to clarify rules, noting that the industry currently operates in a “grey zone.”
What Traders Should Do Now
Stay Compliant Report all trades, pay TDS, and file taxes accurately. The IT department now uses AI-driven analytics to track crypto flows.
Plan Strategically Factor taxes into trading strategies. Long-term investing or AI-powered DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) may be more tax-efficient than high-frequency trading.
Stay Updated Reforms could arrive in 2025–26, especially around TDS and loss treatment. Traders should adapt as the rules evolve.