---
title: "New Law in India Would Imprison Anyone Who Uses Cryptocurrency"
description: "India is considering a new law that would not only ban the use of cryptocurrency, but would imprison offenders for ten years without bail."
date: "2019-06-07"
modified: "2019-06-07"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/law-india-imprison-cryptocurrency"
categories:
  - "Blockchain"
  - "Cryptocurrency"
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "cryptocurrency"
  - "money"
  - "the digest"
---

# New Law in India Would Imprison Anyone Who Uses Cryptocurrency

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10F2C924-DE2C-48FE-953F-63B3CF52F6F4.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Shutterstock\</em\>*

## Criminalized Tech

The Indian government is considering a new bill that would punish anyone who trades, mines, or holds cryptocurrency with ten years in prison.

The "Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2019," if it's passed, would also prevent anyone arrested for a crypto-related offense from being bailed out of prison, [according to *The Economic Times*](<https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/draft-law-proposes-10-year-jail-term-for-dealing-in-cryptocurrency/articleshow/69693984.cms?from=mdr>). It's a staggeringly harsh crackdown on technology that the Indian Government argues is often used for [money laundering](<https://futurism.com/cryptocurrency-laundering-criminals-arrested>) and other [financial crime](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/onecoin-crypto-exec-arrested-scheme>).

## In Progress

Government officials in India have been working on the bill for some time. Meanwhile, numerous government organizations that deal with taxes have advocated a crypto ban, the *ET* reports.

But the government won't make a final decision until consulting with the Reserve Bank of India, which *[CoinDesk ](<https://www.coindesk.com/reserve-bank-of-india-denies-involvement-in-draft-bill-to-ban-cryptocurrencies>)*[reports](<https://www.coindesk.com/reserve-bank-of-india-denies-involvement-in-draft-bill-to-ban-cryptocurrencies>) has distanced itself from the bill.

## Forced Choice

This bill takes the nuclear approach to the problem of [crypto regulation](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/did-a-crypto-ceo-fake-his-own-death-the-latest-updates>).

But it's not surprising, given that India has considered launching its own [state-approved digital currency](<https://cointelegraph.com/news/indias-complex-relationship-with-crypto>). Given that context, an open market of cryptocurrencies would serve as competition.

**READ MORE:** [Draft law proposes 10-year jail term for dealing in cryptocurrency](<https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/draft-law-proposes-10-year-jail-term-for-dealing-in-cryptocurrency/articleshow/69693984.cms?from=mdr>) \[*The Economic Times*\]

**More on cryptocurrency:** *[Two Hacker Groups Pilfered $1 Billion Worth of Cryptocurrency](<https://futurism.com/cryptocurrency-hacking-groups-1-billion-dollars>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)