According to a report from CoinSwitch titled ‘India’s Crypto Portfolio: How India Invests’ for the first quarter of 2026, cryptocurrency trading in India peaks between 10 and 11 p.m. This pattern indicates that many investors schedule their activities after regular business hours to fit around their daily routines. Despite the round-the-clock availability of digital assets, trading volumes are higher on weekdays than weekends, pointing to more deliberate investment approaches rather than spontaneous actions. Notable spikes occurred on February 5 and 6, aligning with market downturns and reflecting heightened purchases during price drops. Bitcoin holds a central role in the Indian crypto landscape, comprising 9.2% of overall portfolio allocations and 17.4% of trades, solidifying its status as a reliable long-term asset and favored trading option. Meme coins like Dogecoin (6.0%) and Shiba Inu (4.4%) also maintain strong presence in portfolios. Long-term holding is the primary strategy, with 61.3% of investors keeping assets for over a year, while 28.3% pursue momentum trading and 20.4% focus on buying during dips. This mix underscores a trend toward organized investment tactics over impulsive decisions. Investors aged 26 to 35 represent 48% of participants, but the over-35 group is expanding rapidly, including Generation X and older millennials who enter after assessing long-term potential and regulatory stability. This development signals a maturing market with more experienced participants. Regionally, Uttar Pradesh (12.9%) and Maharashtra (12.3%) top adoption rates. Karnataka demonstrates strong preference for established assets with 32% allocation. Portfolios nationwide show a diversified blend of major, large-, mid-, and small-cap cryptocurrencies, emphasizing structured approaches. Bihar leads in small-cap investments, Andhra Pradesh has the highest female involvement at 59.1%, and Haryana shows the most male participation. CoinSwitch co-founder Ashish Singhal noted that the quarter highlights evolving investment behaviors, including growth in the over-35 demographic, more dip-buying, and sustained long-term holding, indicating greater market sophistication. The analysis draws from data of over 25 million CoinSwitch users nationwide and reflects only their platform’s activity, not broader market trends.
