Ethereum Trading in India: Complete Beginner Guide (2026)
Summary Box
| You can do Ethereum trading in India on the Trade246 platform at lifetime zero* brokerage. All you have to do is register on the platform and complete your KYC verification. Next, log in to your account and access Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and 50+ other digital assets from your dashboard (under the “International Markets” tab). *Statutory taxes and charges may apply |
Crypto trading has gained significant traction in India. According to a Reuters report, dated February 25, 2025, trading volumes across four major Indian crypto exchanges more than doubled quarter-on-quarter to $1.9 billion in October-December 2024.
Among the thousands of digital assets available, Ethereum is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. It has continuously attracted investors towards its price movements and blockchain ecosystem. (Source: Economic Times Report, last updated on July 30, 2026)
Are you also interested? Read this article to learn everything about Ethereum trading in India.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a blockchain network, while Ether (ETH) is the cryptocurrency used on this network. Investors can buy and sell ETH using Indian rupees or exchange it for other cryptocurrencies.
Unlike shares, which represent ownership in a company, ETH does not give investors ownership of a business or a right to its profits. Before doing Ethereum trading in India, investors should consider the following risks:
| Risk | What It Means for Investors |
| Price Volatility | ETH prices can rise or fall sharply within a short period. Investors may lose a substantial part of their investment if prices decline. |
| No Guaranteed Returns | ETH does not provide assured returns or guarantee the recovery of the invested amount. |
| Cybersecurity Risks | Hackers may steal ETH or gain unauthorised access to crypto wallets and exchange accounts. |
| Permanent Loss of Funds | If investors lose their wallet’s private keys or recovery details, they may lose access to their ETH permanently. |
| Limited Investor Protection | ETH holdings do not have deposit insurance like eligible bank deposits. If funds are lost due to fraud, hacking, or unauthorised transactions, recovery may be difficult. |
“Investing” vs “Trading” Ethereum in India: What Beginners Should Know in 2026
Before buying Ether (ETH), investors should understand the difference between investing and trading. Both involve buying ETH, but they differ in:
- How long investors hold it
and
- How often they buy or sell it
Investing usually involves holding ETH for an extended period, while trading involves frequent transactions to profit from price changes. Realise that both carry the risk of financial loss. Let’s understand in detail:
| Activity | What It Involves |
| Investing | Buying ETH and holding it for an extended period in the hope that its price will rise. |
| Trading | Buying and selling ETH frequently to profit from short-term price movements. |
Ideally, beginners should avoid (without a thorough understanding of them):
- Borrowing money to do Ethereum trading in India
- Using leverage
- Trading futures or options, and
- Trusting tip groups or schemes that promise guaranteed returns
Additionally, beginners should learn how orders work, how to secure their ETH, and how Indian crypto taxation applies to their transactions. Also, they should only risk money they can afford to lose.
Tax Rules Related to Ethereum Trading in India (For FY26-27)
As per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, Ether (ETH) is classified as a Virtual Digital Asset (VDA). VDA gains are subject to a “special tax rate”, and losses have restricted tax treatment. Let’s understand in detail:
A) Tax on Profits from ETH Trading In India
Under Section 115BBH of the Income Tax Act, 1961, gains from transferring VDAs are taxed at 30%, plus applicable surcharge and 4% health and education cess. The cost of acquiring ETH can be deducted when calculating the taxable gain (any other expense cannot be deducted under this provision).
Besides, losses from VDA transfers cannot be set off against other income or carried forward to reduce tax in later years.
B) TDS on ETH Transactions
Under Section 194S of the Income Tax Act, 1961, tax deducted at source (TDS) applies at 1% of the consideration for transferring a VDA, subject to the applicable thresholds and rules.
For those unaware, TDS is only an advance tax credit and not the final tax on the transaction. For example,
- A platform may deduct TDS when ETH is sold.
- But the investor must still calculate and report the taxable gain in the Income Tax Return (ITR).
Note: For transactions up to March 31, 2026, Form 26QE was used for the relevant TDS reporting. However, for transactions from April 1, 2026, the Income Tax Department’s new rules provide for Form 141, which includes a schedule for TDS on VDA transfers.
How to Trade Ethereum on Trade246?
Firstly, register on the Trade246 platform and create an account. Complete the required KYC verification. After verification, sign in with the registered credentials and PIN to access the trading dashboard. Now, you may follow these steps to do Ethereum trading in India:
Step 1: Click on the International Markets Tab
Open the “international markets” section from the dashboard and locate ETH/USD, available under the heading of Crypto.
Step 2: Select Ethereum (ETH)
You will see three buttons next to ETH/USD:
- Green B (Buy): Opens the window to place a buy order for ETH/USD.
- Red S (Sell): Opens the window to place a sell order for ETH/USD.
- Zigzag Chart: Opens the ETH/USD price chart, where you can review price movements and available technical indicators.
Step 3: Review the Price Chart (Optional)
Open the chart using the “chart icon” beside ETH. Perform market analysis using advanced TradingView charts loaded with 100+ technical indicators.
Step 4: Open the Buy Order Window
Select the green “B” (Buy) option to open the order window. The red “S” (Sell) option is used to access the sell order interface.
Step 5: Choose an Order Type
Select the order type from these options:
- Market Order: Attempts to execute the order at the prevailing market price.
- Limit Order: Specifies the price at which the order should be placed for execution.
- Stop-loss (SL) Order: Uses a specified trigger price to initiate an order.
Step 6: Enter the Order Details
Enter the required quantity of ETH and the relevant price details based on the selected order type. For a market order, the quantity is generally required. Whereas, limit and stop-loss orders may also require a limit or trigger price, as applicable.
Step 7: Review and Submit the Order
Check the selected instrument, order type, quantity, and price details before submitting* the order. If required, you may also add money to your trading account.
To do so, select “Add Funds” in the same pop-up window. The minimum deposit required is ₹1,000. You may also review the platform’s terms and conditions before proceeding.
*Order execution depends on the selected order type and prevailing market conditions. An order may not execute at the expected price or may remain unfilled.
Do Ethereum Trading in India Via Trade246 at Lifetime 0* Brokerage
So now you know how to do Ethereum trading in India online. If we were to revise, Trade246 is a premier multi-asset trading platform that offers access to Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Bitcoin, and 50+ other digital assets.
To get started,
- Register on the platform and complete KYC verification.
- Log in using your credentials and PIN.
- Open “International Markets” from the dashboard and select the ETH/USD.
- To place a buy order, click on the “B” button.
- Select an order type: Market, Limit, or Stop-Loss (SL).
- Enter the required quantity and price details.
- Review the order before submission.
Besides, you can also add funds through the order pop-up, with a minimum deposit of ₹1,000.
*Statutory taxes and charges may apply
Ethereum Trading in India FAQs
1. How can I check the rate of Ethereum in India?
You can track the Ethereum price in INR (along with 50+ other digital assets) on Trade246. The quotes are sourced directly from Yahoo Finance and refresh every second.
2. How much money is required to start trading Ethereum on Trade246?
A minimum deposit of ₹1,000 is required to trade across the available market segments (including cryptocurrencies).
3. How is Ethereum trading taxed in India?
Profits from transferring ETH are taxed at 30%, plus applicable surcharge and cess, under Section 115BBH of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Cost of Acquisition (COA) is deductible, but VDA losses cannot be set off against other income or carried forward.
4. Can investors lose their entire investment in Ethereum?
ETH prices are volatile, and investors may lose their entire investment if its value falls to zero. Some additional risks include hacking, wallet access loss, and fraud.

