Major Indian Bitcoin Exchange Discusses the Aftermath of RBI Ban

It has been about two months since the crypto banking ban by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) went into effect. News.Bitcoin.com talked to Sathvik Vishwanath, CEO and co-founder of Indian exchange Unocoin, to discuss the aftermath of the central bank’s ban.

All Eyes on Supreme Court

Sathvik Vishwanath, CEO and co-founder of Unocoin, one of India’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, told news.Bitcoin.com that after the RBI ban:

His Bangalore-based exchange is still growing, albeit at a slower rate than previously. Currently, “We have about 20,000 users coming in on a monthly basis. In the good months, we have seen this kind of number every 3 days,” he shared.

Regulation is the Biggest Challenge

The central bank has also reportedly set up a new unit for cryptocurrencies, blockchains and artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) sent officials to Japan, the UK, and Switzerland last fiscal year to study cryptocurrency and initial coin offerings from each of the three countries’ financial regulators.

Vishwanath commented:

The Popularity of P2P and Crypto-to-Crypto Trading

Since the ban, some local crypto exchanges have come up with their solutions for INR withdrawals. The most popular method to bypass the central bank’s ban is by exchange-escrowed P2P services. News.Bitcoin.com has reported on the rise in popularity of P2P trading in India several times.

As for Unocoin’s likelihood of adding their own P2P solution, Vishwanath revealed that “presently, we do not plan to but we are evaluating.” In May, the exchange launched a crypto-to-crypto platform called Unodax, which now offers 41 trading pairs in multiple base coins. However, he described:

Meanwhile, another major Indian exchange, Zebpay, announced on September 4 that it will return all users’ Indian rupees on deposit at the exchange. Citing the RBI ban, the exchange wrote, “We have been distressed at the raw deal crypto-traders are getting in India as a result of the banking problems.” Zebpay will begin the refund process on September 5. “While it is not possible for us to speak on behalf of our banks, we intend to return your money to you as soon as possible,” the exchange reiterated.