India Tightens Crypto KYC Rules with Biometric Checks and Enhanced Monitoring
India's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has implemented stringent new Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols for cryptocurrency platforms, significantly raising the barrier for user onboarding. The updated framework mandates live biometric verification—including liveness detection through eye blinks or head movements—to prevent identity spoofing. Geo-tagging requirements now force exchanges to capture precise location data, device IP addresses, and timestamps at the moment of registration.
A penny-drop mechanism verifies bank account ownership, while PAN cards plus secondary government IDs (Aadhaar, passport, or voter ID) become mandatory. The rules aim to eliminate anonymous trading by tethering on-chain activity to verified identities. Exchanges must refresh KYC annually for standard users and semi-annually for high-risk accounts, with failure to comply risking operational shutdowns under India's anti-money laundering statutes.