Signalling renewed interest in India’s growing digital infrastructure, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal met with Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge this week to explore possible collaboration around blockchain, cybersecurity, and developer engagement.
The meeting in Bengaluru focused on how Coinbase could help Karnataka strengthen its work in emerging tech. According to both sides, discussions touched on sharing developer tools, training programs, cybersecurity partnerships, and the possibility of hosting joint hackathons.
Grewal, who posted about the meeting on X, said he was “excited to explore how Coinbase can further support Karnataka’s tech leadership.” He added, “The future is onchain—and it’s being built here.”
Kharge, in his own post, said the Coinbase team presented their developer platform, which is aimed at simplifying blockchain development and encouraging local builders to create on-chain applications. He also confirmed discussions around capacity building, incubation, and government-level cybersecurity support.
The Karnataka government, he said, is keen to explore how blockchain technology could be integrated into governance and digital public infrastructure. The minister has long shown interest in emerging tech. Back in 2017, he attended a state-level seminar on blockchain and Bitcoin, aimed at building awareness and shaping future policy.
Coinbase Explores Market Re-Entry Strategy
This meeting comes as Coinbase looks to return to India. It had shut down its services in India late 2023, asking users to pull out their funds after hitting regulatory roadblocks. A year earlier, in 2022, its India launch flopped, and UPI payments were pulled just three days in.
In recent months, Coinbase has resumed talks with Indian regulators. The company is considering a more formal re-entry into the market. Grewal’s addition to the U.S.-India Business Council’s global council in February is also part of that effort to re-engage.
The meeting also comes shortly after the introduction of the COINS Act, a draft policy aimed at guiding crypto regulation in India. It has no legal standing yet, but could shape future discussions if taken up in Parliament.
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