Cryptocurrency in the Indian Economy (2024)

Cryptocurrency is the new buzzword in the Indian market. A number of startups have cropped up throughout the country, allowing the average citizen to start investing and trading in crypto coins. According to the latest report, the popularity of cryptocurrency in the country can be evaluated from the fact that India already has the highest number of crypto owners in the world at 10.07 crore. India’s population, especially the youth, is driving crypto growth rapidly. So What does this trend of exponential increase in interest of Indians in cryptocurrency mean for the Indian economy? Let’s find out.

Analyzing the Impact of Cryptocurrencies on the Indian Economy

Following are the five significant impacts cryptocurrencies will have on the Indian economy:

• Transparency improvement

Cryptocurrency enhances transparency where every transaction can be traced back to the source. Additionally, blockchain, the technology on which cryptocurrency is based, is immutable. This means that transaction histories are permanent and unalterable. This can help bring down corruption significantly as the data cannot be altered by any means.

• Employment growth

The crypto industry currently employs about 50,000 individuals. As per a report, the industry is poised to see massive employment opportunities, pegged at over 800,000 by 2030. India already has a strong talent pool of Fintech professionals and IT experts. Additionally, the talent is available at cost-effective rates. With the rise of the cryptocurrency market, we can see India becoming a major hub and global destination for the cryptocurrency market. This will help create ample job opportunities in the BFSI, IT, customer support and service, and many other industries. In today’s times, the cryptocurrency market continues to lead to improving the employment rate across the nation.

• Boost to the FinTech sector

As mentioned earlier, India already has a strong base of IT professionals. The collaboration of IT and the financial sector can bring endless possibilities in terms of business opportunities and overseas cash influx. Additionally, with the government bringing strong regulatory measures and creating laws for an official digital currency, it will attract huge foreign investments. This will provide a huge boost to the FinTech sector and propel the Indian economy forward.

• Enhance digital payments

Cryptocurrency transactions are both time and cost-effective. The transactions are carried out between the sender and receiver without the need of a third party, making the transactions instantaneous. Additionally, the transaction charges levied by intermediaries like banks and payment gateways are eliminated. This helps bring down the cost of the transaction, helping save money on each transaction. Thus, cryptocurrency transactions can significantly enhance digital payments, bringing down the time and cost of each transaction.

• Achieve the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat

With the government proposing the creation of a single, officially-recognized cryptocurrency, the dependence on third-party, private, and foreign-based cryptocurrency will be eliminated. Currently, popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and others are foreign-based. The official cryptocurrency will be completely developed in the country and will forgo the need to depend on other cryptocurrencies. Investors, traders, and other individuals will have a single cryptocurrency for their needs and help the government fulfill their goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in the cryptocurrency sector.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency market cannot be ignored, and the possibilities are endless. Even the government has acknowledged the potential of cryptocurrency as a means of payment, thereby proposing a bill to issue and regulate cryptocurrency in the country. In the future, we can see cryptocurrency becoming the primary player fueling the country’s economy.

If you want to be future-ready and learn about the next-age technologies that will drive the Fintech sector and possibly the Indian economy, you should consider enrolling in world-class FinTech Certification programmes, such as the PG Certificate Programme in Fintech Technologies from IIM Nagpur. The course will provide in-depth knowledge about advanced technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data, and cryptocurrency – the future of Fintech in India, opening up new avenues of attractive career opportunities.

FAQ’s

1. What is cryptocurrency? How is it stored?

Cryptocurrency is virtual, digital currency. Transactions involving cryptocurrency are verified and maintained with a decentralized system using cryptography. Cryptocurrency is stored in a digital wallet and can only be accessed using a private key.

2. What is the purpose of cryptocurrency?

The purpose of cryptocurrency is to enable individuals to carry out transactions over the internet securely and move from a centralized payment system to a decentralized one, eliminating the need for a third party.

3. How to start trading in cryptocurrencies?

Trading in cryptocurrency can be done through various crypto exchange platforms that are available. Users will need to open a crypto trading account on these platforms to start trading. However, the government is set to introduce a bill banning private cryptocurrencies. Trading in digital currencies can even attract a jail term. Thus, please analyze the risks involved before starting cryptocurrency trading.