India

Russia is increasingly using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Tether to conduct oil trade with China and India, bypassing Western sanctions. The use of intermediaries and offshore accounts has made crypto a key tool in these transactions, speeding up operations despite financial restrictions.

Aleksej Besciokov, Garantex's lead technical administrator, was arrested in India while vacationing in Kerala. Allegedly tied to illicit finance, he now faces US extradition pending legal proceedings.

Google is laying off staff in its "People Operations" and cloud departments as part of the company's internal reorganisation, according to a report by CNBC.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s domestic crime investigation agency, has conducted searches at over 60 locations as part of an ongoing investigation into the infamous $800 million GainBitcoin Ponzi scheme.

Indian authorities have seized $190 million in crypto and a luxury vehicle linked to the BitConnect Ponzi scheme, which collapsed in 2018. The Enforcement Directorate traced the assets through complex wallet transactions and dark web channels.

Coinbase is trying to restart its crypto operations in India after stopping them in 2023 due to regulatory issues. It is working with Indian authorities to meet compliance rules, following Binance’s successful return to the market.

Bybit resumed operations in India after paying a ₹9.27 crore ($1.06 million) fine and securing registration with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND). The exchange had been blocked for non-compliance but now aims to fully operate under India's regulatory framework.

India’s Finance Ministry banned AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek on official devices over data security concerns. This coincides with rising scrutiny of OpenAI and competition from China’s DeepSeek.

India, a country that is well known for its hard stance and skepticism towards crypto, is facing pressure to also change its regulatory policy regarding crypto less they lose out.

India is reassessing its stance on cryptocurrencies due to global shifts, with other countries like the U.S. becoming more crypto-friendly. This has prompted a delay in India's planned discussion paper on crypto, as differing opinions within the government and the Reserve Bank of India create uncertainty.