Coinbase picks Karnataka to rethink its role in India’s onchain evolution

2025/08/07 00:46

Karnataka’s tech capital appears to be going all-in on blockchain. Behind closed doors, Coinbase’s legal chief and Indian officials mapped out a surprising alliance: developer tools, cyberdefense, and a potential policy shift that could influence India’s onchain playbook.

Summary
  • Coinbase held high-level talks with Karnataka’s IT minister on blockchain infrastructure and developer support.
  • The discussions signal a strategic shift as Coinbase aims to embed itself in India’s digital public infrastructure.
  • This move follows Coinbase’s exit from India’s retail crypto market in late 2023 amid regulatory challenges.

On August 6, Coinbase’s chief legal officer Paul Grewal revealed high-level discussions with Karnataka’s IT minister, Priyank Kharge, signaling a strategic pivot for the exchange in India.

https://twitter.com/iampaulgrewal/status/1952931887451914647

The talks centered on blockchain infrastructure, with proposals for developer education, cybersecurity partnerships, and even state-backed hackathons. The meeting marks a deliberate shift in Coinbase’s approach to one of the world’s most challenging crypto markets, where regulatory friction has historically pushed the company to the sidelines.

Local alliances, national implications

According to IT Minister Priyank Kharge, the conversation with Coinbase was less about crypto as an asset class and more about blockchain as a civic tool. In his official statement, Kharge noted that the U.S. firm’s developer platform could help streamline how onchain applications are built and deployed.

For a state that has positioned itself as India’s tech vanguard, the emphasis on blockchain infrastructure aligns with its history of early adoption. Notably, this isn’t Karnataka’s first foray into blockchain.

Back in 2017, Kharge himself spearheaded a seminar on blockchain’s governance potential, framing it as a tool for transparency rather than just a speculative asset. That forward-looking stance makes Karnataka an ideal testing ground for Coinbase’s new approach.

The exchange, which has faced regulatory roadblocks in India since its failed UPI rollout in 2022, appears to be sidestepping direct consumer services altogether. Instead, it’s leveraging its institutional expertise in developer tools, compliance infrastructure, and cybersecurity to embed itself in India’s digital public stack.

The timing is strategic. Coinbase’s talks coincide with its broader push to advise governments on crypto policy, a pivot announced earlier this year. It also follows the exchange’s quiet withdrawal from India’s retail market in late 2023, when it abruptly instructed users to liquidate holdings.

While the company hasn’t officially re-entered trading, its behind-the-scenes maneuvering, including Grewal’s February appointment to the US-India Business Council, hints at a long-game strategy. If Karnataka adopts Coinbase’s proposals, it could serve as a blueprint for other states, softening regulatory resistance in the process.

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Sol Strategies Files for Nasdaq Listing as SOL Holdings Exceed 420,000

Sol Strategies Files for Nasdaq Listing as SOL Holdings Exceed 420,000

Canadian digital asset firm Sol Strategies has filed for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market amid its US market expansion strategy. Key Takeaways: Sol Strategies has filed to list on Nasdaq under the ticker “STKE” as part of its U.S. expansion. The firm holds over 420,000 SOL tokens and is positioning itself as a blockchain-focused investment vehicle. Sol Strategies will follow Canadian governance standards and remain exempt from certain US rules. The company, which currently trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), aims to have its common shares listed under the ticker “STKE” on Nasdaq, according to a Form 40-F registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The listing comes as Sol Strategies reveals it holds over 420,000 SOL tokens, which makes the firm one of the more prominent institutional holders of Solana’s native asset. Source: SEC Sol Strategies Eyes Growth as Digital Asset Investment Vehicle Sol Strategies is positioning itself as a digital asset investment vehicle with a focus on emerging blockchain technologies. In its filing, the company cited expectations of further growth driven by Solana’s growing market share in asset tokenization and the digital asset infrastructure landscape. The company also revealed it has 172.2 million common shares outstanding, along with a range of convertible securities—including over 12 million warrants and 5.3 million stock options. These figures point to a potentially active capitalization table, should investor interest pick up following a successful U.S. listing. Sol Strategies qualifies as a “foreign private issuer” under SEC rules, which exempts it from certain U.S. regulatory requirements, including proxy solicitation rules and Section 16 filings. It intends to continue following Canadian governance practices under the CSE framework, which differ in several ways from U.S. standards. For instance, its board does not require a majority of independent directors, and it does not maintain separate nominating or compensation committees as mandated by Nasdaq for domestic issuers. Despite the listing ambitions, the firm acknowledged a range of risks, including the evolving nature of crypto regulation, potential volatility in digital asset prices, and the uncertainty surrounding classification of certain tokens under securities laws. SOL Strategies Files $1B Shelf Prospectus for Future Growth In May, SOL Strategies filed a preliminary shelf prospectus in Canada on May 27, aiming to raise up to $1 billion . While the company has no immediate fundraising plans, the filing is a strategic move to create financing flexibility as it targets expansion within the Solana ecosystem. Once approved, the shelf will allow SOL Strategies to offer a mix of securities, ranging from common shares to debt instruments, over time without re-filing for each issuance. In April, the company also secured a $500 million convertible note facility from ATW Partners in April. Proceeds will be used to acquire and stake SOL tokens on SOL Strategies’ own validators. The notes are interest-bearing in SOL and performance-linked, aligning the firm’s capital strategy with Solana’s staking economy. In another development, SOL Strategies has signed an MOU with Superstate to explore issuing tokenized company shares on the Solana blockchain. The initiative, still subject to regulatory review, would mark one of the first attempts to move public equity on-chain.
Share
CryptoNews2025/06/19 14:29