What Unocoin does

Unocoin Technologies Pvt Ltd is an Indian cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset platform founded in July 2013 by Sathvik Vishwanath and co-founders, headquartered in Bengaluru with a registered office in Tumkur, Karnataka. The company operates a retail-facing platform where Indian users can buy, sell, store, and trade 100+ digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT, with instant buy/sell at fixed spreads (0.5% BTC, 0.7% ETH/USDT) and a maker-taker exchange (0.2% maker / 0.3% taker). The core technology stack supports INR on-ramp and off-ramp, mobile apps on iOS and Android, a programmatic trading API, and—as of April 2025—Lightning Network integration via Voltage for near-instant Bitcoin settlements, with Tether on Lightning planned.

The business model is transaction-fee driven, augmented by subscription-style fees (monthly custodial fee on inactive accounts, Crypto Wealth Club membership), affiliate/referral revenue (Sub-Broker program, Shake & Earn gamification), and the Higlobe USD receiving service (0.3% transaction fee) which targets Indian freelancers, e-commerce sellers, IT services firms, and content creators receiving cross-border payouts from 180+ countries. Customer segments span retail crypto investors, high-value Elite Club and Crypto Wealth Club members, sub-brokers, and cross-border payment users; FIU-IND registration as a Reporting Entity provides PMLA compliance standing. Additional products include Systematic Buying Plan (SBP) for rupee-cost averaging from ₹10, themed Crypto Baskets, lending against crypto collateral at ~50% LTV, OTC trading, merchant gateway, Autosell, Paper Wallet, and Unoversity educational content. Notable risks include the 2017 exchange hack (60.6 BTC stolen), India's punitive 30% crypto gains tax and 1% TDS regime, and the absence of disclosed AI capabilities across product and risk functions.

Name

Unocoin

Legal name

Unocoin Technologies Pvt Ltd

Website

https://unocoin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unocoin is an Indian cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013 that enables retail and business users to buy, sell, store, and trade 100+ digital assets with INR, and offers cross-border USD payments via its Higlobe service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cryptocurrency Exchange

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Finance Services (6199), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms (BPAMAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Unsecured / Under-Collateralized Crypto Credit (FSADAFAI), Crypto/Web3 Neobanks (FSABAFAG)

Keywords

• Cryptocurrency exchange
• Bitcoin trading
• Digital asset platform
• Crypto investing
• Cross-border payments

Headquarters

HQ city

Tumkur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trading Fees: Unocoin charges transaction fees on buy/sell trades. Instant buy/sell fees are 0.5% for BTC, 0.7% for ETH and USDT. Exchange trading uses maker-taker model with 0.2% maker fee and 0.3% taker fee. An 18% IGST is charged on transaction fees.
2. Crypto Deposits and Withdrawals: Free deposits for all cryptocurrencies. Withdrawal fees vary by coin (e.g., BTC network fee 0.0005, ETH network fee 0.01). Minimum withdrawals apply.
3. Custodial Fees: Monthly custodial fee of 0.0001 BTC (inclusive of 18% GST) charged to inactive accounts starting March 2023. Applies to accounts with no trading activity, active loans, or Earn Interest deposits during the calendar month.
4. Sub-Broker Program: Sub-brokers earn a percentage of transaction fees generated from their referred clients' trades. Provides passive income for verified users who manage client accounts.
5. Higlobe USD Services: Fee of 0.3% transaction fee plus applicable GST for withdrawing USD to local Indian bank accounts. No markup on live FX rate.
6. Crypto Wealth Club Services: Exclusive wealth management services for members including portfolio management, risk management, tax planning, and priority support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Unocoin is an Indian cryptocurrency exchange platform that enables users to buy, sell, trade, store, and accept Bitcoin and over 100 other digital assets. The platform provides INR-to-crypto on-ramp and off-ramp services, instant buy/sell, P2P exchange trading, automated Systematic Buying Plans (SBP), themed Crypto Baskets, Lightning Network settlements, sub-broker services, and a global USD receiving account (Higlobe) for Indian freelancers and businesses.

Product overview

Unocoin operates as a comprehensive cryptocurrency exchange platform offering a multi-module architecture. The core platform centers on Instant Buy/Sell and Exchange trading services, supported by specialized investment tools including SBP (Systematic Buying Plan) for automated rupee-cost averaging and Crypto Basket for diversified portfolio investing. Additional value-added services include the Crypto Wealth Club (premium wealth management), Elite Club (VIP membership), Paper Wallet (cold storage), Shake & Earn (rewards), and Sub-Broker (referral program). The platform also extends internationally through Higlobe for USD payment reception. Additional features encompass mobile trading, merchant gateway services, OTC trading, and Autosell functionality. The platform supports over 100 cryptocurrency assets including major coins like BTC, ETH, USDT, and various altcoins.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Higlobe: A USD receiving account service enabling Indian businesses and individuals to receive international payments in USD and instantly withdraw to Indian bank accounts
• Crypto Wealth Club
• Elite Club
• Paper Wallet
• Shake & Earn
• SBP (Systematic Buying Plan)
• Crypto Basket
• Sub-Broker

Products and services

• Instant Buy & Sell Allows users to instantly buy or sell Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at current market rates with transparent fees (0.5% for BTC, 0.7% for ETH/USDT). For retail Indian crypto investors.
• Exchange (P2P Trading) A peer-to-peer exchange platform where users can buy and sell Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by matching their orders with other users, enabling spot trading with market or limit orders at maker-taker fees (0.2% maker / 0.3% taker).
• SBP (Systematic Buying Plan) Automates cryptocurrency investments by allowing users to set up regular purchases of Bitcoin and Ethereum on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, starting from as low as Rs 10, leveraging rupee-cost averaging to mitigate market volatility.
• Crypto Basket Allows users to invest in diversified, expertly curated cryptocurrency portfolios (themed baskets) such as Blue Chip, DeFi, Memecoins, Beginner, Gaming, NFT, and Metaverse, enabling instant diversification across multiple coins in a single click.
• Higlobe (Global USD Account) A service providing Indian businesses and individuals with free USD receiving accounts to receive international payments from 180+ countries, convert USD to INR instantly, and withdraw to Indian bank accounts with lower fees than traditional SWIFT transfers (0.3% transaction fee + GST, no FX markup).
• Crypto Wealth Club An exclusive membership offering comprehensive crypto wealth management services including portfolio management, tailored investment strategies, risk management, tax planning, and priority support for serious crypto investors.
• Elite Club An invitation-only membership program for high-value users providing priority support, enhanced security features, exclusive offers and promotions, personalized account management, and access to invite-only events and networking opportunities.
• Paper Wallet A secure offline method for storing and managing cryptocurrencies by generating a physical document with public and private keys, providing cold storage protection against online threats for long-term asset holding.
• Shake & Earn A gamified rewards feature where users earn cryptocurrency rewards (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more) by simply shaking their mobile devices daily, providing an easy engagement and entry point for crypto newcomers.
• Sub-Broker Program A program allowing verified Unocoin users to earn passive income by managing trading accounts for clients, receiving a percentage of transaction fees while benefiting from centralized tech and customer support.
• Merchant Gateway Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Join over 2.34 million users on Unocoin
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Voltage Systems Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 10 April 2025Unocoin integrated with Voltage to enable instant Bitcoin settlements via the Lightning Network in India. Tether support on Lightning is planned. This partnership brings cutting-edge payment infrastructure to Indian crypto users.
• HiglobecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Unocoin partnered with Higlobe to provide global USD receiving accounts for Indian businesses and individuals. The service enables receiving USD from 180+ countries with instant withdrawals to Indian bank accounts, processing $500M+ and serving 50,000+ active users.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BitBNS: Indian crypto exchange offering spot trading, INR deposits, and a wide token selection. A direct peer competing for the same Indian retail crypto audience as Unocoin, with comparable product modules including token baskets and lending.
• WazirX: Major Indian crypto exchange (Binance-affiliated) offering INR trading of major crypto assets and P2P transfers. A direct peer to Unocoin in the Indian retail crypto exchange market, with overlapping product lines including spot trading, INR on/off ramps, and token baskets.
• ZebPay: One of India's oldest and longest-running crypto exchanges, offering spot trading, INR deposits, and a mobile-first experience. A direct peer to Unocoin sharing the Indian retail exchange value proposition, longevity (founded 2014), and focus on INR-based crypto trading.
• CoinDCX: India's largest crypto exchange by volume, offering INR trading, staking, lending, and Crypto SIPs (similar to Unocoin's SBP). Directly competes for the same Indian retail crypto investor base and is a comparable benchmark for Indian crypto exchange scale and product breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Coinbase: US-listed global crypto exchange offering spot trading, staking, custody, and developer APIs. A broad incumbent that anchors the global crypto exchange category; relevant as a comparable for Unocoin's exchange, API, and wealth management product lines, despite serving different geographies.
• OKX: Global crypto exchange offering spot trading, derivatives, Web3 wallet, and payment products. A broad incumbent relevant as a comparable for Unocoin's exchange plus wallet-plus-payments stack, particularly as Unocoin expands Lightning and Higlobe USD services.
• Binance: Global crypto exchange leader and parent-affiliate of WazirX. Competes indirectly with Unocoin through P2P INR rails and global reach; serves as the broader incumbent benchmark for exchange scale, product breadth, and liquidity that Unocoin is benchmarked against.
• Bybit: Global crypto exchange focused on derivatives and spot trading with strong retail and API user base. A broad incumbent comparable to Unocoin on retail exchange functionality and programmatic trading API offerings for the Indian/global retail audience.
• KuCoin: Global crypto exchange with broad altcoin coverage, trading bots, and lending. A broad incumbent peer relevant to Unocoin for its extensive token list (Unocoin supports 100+ tokens) and bot-trading API that competes for the same retail/developer trading audience.

Others

• Higlobe: USD receiving account service for Indian freelancers and businesses, and a sub-brand/partner of Unocoin. Comparable as the embedded cross-border payments arm of Unocoin; could be analyzed alongside standalone cross-border payment platforms like Payoneer or Wise for the India USD receiving use case.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unocoin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/unocoin
• Facebookfacebook.com/unocoin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unocoin
• Instagraminstagram.com/unocoin

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unocoin