Relevance: Mains: G.S paper II: Polity and Governance
The Inter-Ministerial Committee has proposed a draft Bill which bans cryptocurrencies, criminalises activities associated with cryptocurrencies in India, and provides for regulation of official digital currency. Key features of the Bill include:
- Cryptocurrency and its mining: The Bill defines cryptocurrency as any information, code, number or token which has a digital representation of value and has utility in a business activity, or acts as a store of value or a unit of account. The Bill defines mining as an activity aimed at creating a cryptocurrency and/or validating a cryptocurrency transaction between a buyer and seller.
- Prohibited activities: The Bill provides that cryptocurrency should not be used as legal tender or currency in India. It prohibits mining, buying, holding, selling, dealing in, issuance, disposal or use of cryptocurrency in the country.
- In particular, the Bill prohibits the use of cryptocurrency for:
- (i) use as a medium of exchange, store of value or unit of account,
- (ii) use as a payment system,
- (iii) providing services such as registering, trading, selling or clearing of cryptocurrency to individuals,
- (iv) trading it with other currencies,
- (v) issuing financial products related to it,
- (vi) Using it as a basis of credit,
- (vii) issuing it as a means of raising funds and
- (viii) issuing it as a means for investment.
- The Bill allows for use of technology or processes underlying cryptocurrency for the purpose of experiment, research or teaching.
- Offences and Penalties: The Bill provides for the following offences and penalties:
Table 1: Offences under the Bill
| Offence | Punishment |
| Mining, holding, selling, issuing or using cryptocurrency | Fine or imprisonment up to 10 years, or both |
| Issuing any advertisement, soliciting, assisting or inducing participation in use | Fine or imprisonment up to seven years, or both |
| Acquiring, storing or disposing of cryptocurrency with intent to use | Fine |
- The Bill provides that any subsequent conviction for any offence under the Bill would be punishable with a fine and imprisonment of 5-10 years. Further, attempting to commit an offence will be punishable with 50% of the maximum term of imprisonment for the offence or the applicable fine, or both. All offences punishable with fine may be compounded. Offences related to use of cryptocurrency for issuing related financial products or issuing it as a means of raising fund or investment, would be cognisable and non-bailable. All other offences would be non-cognisable and bailable.
- The Bill provides that the maximum amount of fine levied will be the higher of: (a) three times the loss caused and (b) three times the gain made by the person. If the loss caused or the gain made by the person cannot be determined, the maximum amount of fine for acquiring, storing or disposing of cryptocurrency will be up to one lakh rupees. For all other offences, the maximum fine will be up to Rs 25 lakh. The Bill amends the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to give effect to the offences.
- Regulation of digital rupee and foreign digital currency: The Bill provides that the central government may, in consultation with the central board of RBI, approve a digital form of currency to be legal tender. Further, it provides that the RBI may notify a foreign digital currency as a foreign currency in India to be governed by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. Foreign digital currency means a digital currency recognised as legal tender in a foreign jurisdiction.
- Investigating Authority and punishment: Only officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or above may investigate offences under the Bill. The court will consider few factors while determining the quantum of punishment for the offences. These include the gains made by the individual and the harm caused to the financial system, among others.
- Immunity and exemptions: The Bill empowers the central government to grant immunity to any person from prosecution under the Act, if such person makes full disclosure of the violation. Further, the central government may exempt certain activities from the list of prohibited activities under the Act, if it considers it necessary in public interest.
- Transition period: The Bill provides for a transition period of 90 days from the commencement of the Act, during which a person may dispose of any cryptocurrency in their possession, as per the rules notified by the central government.