Platforms ready products to make crypto less taxing

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

investments, crypto platforms are introducing new products. They are looking to earn interest on their crypto deposits or draw loans against cryptocurrencies, without attracting the new tax. The Budget proposed a 30% tax on returns from digital currencies and a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on digital assets. The government has not used the term «cryptocurrency» in the budget, but rather «virtual digital assets». This means there will not be any tax on crypto-based products, investors said. «The way the regulations are today, investors who invest in crypto-based products should not be covered either under the 1% TDS, or 30% tax on income. However, we have sought clarity on this from the government and will be approaching them in this regard,» said Darshan Bathija, cofounder of Vauld, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange. Crypto platform executives say if there is no tax incidence on crypto-based products, it could lead to greater demand from investors. «It (tax) will increase our operations as people will prefer to take out a loan on their crypto holding, instead of selling it to avoid the tax implications,» said Kumar Gaurav, founder and CEO of Cashaa.

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There is no clarity on how the new tax will apply to crypto investments and whether it will impact returns from loans drawn against cryptocurrencies. It will also boost long-term holders, who will use our savings account to generate passive income without trading, which will trigger TDS complications, Gaurav added. Given the volatile nature of crypto assets, investors may be