India risks losing $2b in tax revenue as crypto traders shift to offshore platforms: report
India could lose over $2 billion in tax revenue from cryptocurrency transactions over the next five years due to its tax policies driving traders to offshore platforms, according to a recent report.
The December report from Indian technology think tank Esya Centre reveals that the government has already missed out on collecting over INR 6,000 (roughly $724 million) crore in tax revenue from virtual digital assets since July 2022 as traders migrated to offshore exchanges to avoid compliance burdens and high tax rates.
After overturning a 2018 shadow ban, India levied a 30% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency transactions, which does not allow users to offset losses against gains, while also subjecting domestic crypto trades to a 1% Tax Deducted at Source.
Additionally, the government has attempted to regulate the sector by bringing VDAs under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and blocking URLs of non-compliant offshore exchanges to curb tax evasion and improve oversight.
However, the report highlights that these measures have been largely ineffective, as traders continue to bypass restrictions using VPNs, and offshore platforms still dominate trading volumes.