According to CoinSwitch's Q2 2026 report, nearly three in four Indian crypto investors are aged 35 or below, reflecting the continued appeal of digital assets among India's digitally native population. Investors aged 18-25 accounted for 54.4% of new investors added during Q2, making them the largest contributor to market participation. However, this age group recorded the only negative buy-to-sell ratio at 0.65, indicating more selling than buying activity. The 26-35 cohort contributed 25.4% of new investors, while investors aged 46 and above recorded the strongest buying conviction with a ratio of 1.14. As per CoinSwitch, this data shows that while younger investors are driving entry into the asset class, older investors are more inclined to buy than sell, demonstrating more deliberate investment approaches among older demographics. Sharat Chandra, Founder of EmpowerEdge Ventures, attributes this trend to macro uncertainty and a preference to commit to corporate bonds or traditional assets like gold, noting that "no one can say for sure if Bitcoin will keep rising but bond prices will continue to rise."
The report reveals significant differences in portfolio construction across age groups, with older investors showing more sophisticated investment approaches. 59.2% of investors aged 18-25 held a single crypto, while the share fell to 36.3% among investors aged 36-45. The 36-45 cohort recorded the highest share of investors holding 10 or more cryptos at 9.1%. As reported by CoinSwitch, this data points to a clear difference in portfolio construction, with older cohorts more likely to hold a wider range of assets. "Each market cycle brings in a new set of investors, but over time, we see investors become more informed and deliberate in how they participate. What we are seeing in India is a shift from crypto being viewed simply as a new asset class to investors developing a more nuanced understanding of how they want to participate in it," said Ashish Singhal, Co-founder CoinSwitch. The buying conviction strengthened progressively with age, with investors aged 26-35 recording a ratio of 0.9, 36-45 at 1.10, and 46 and above at 1.14, making the oldest cohort the strongest net buyers during the quarter.
Despite age differences, Bitcoin and Dogecoin emerged as the most popular crypto pairing across every age group in Q2-CY26 on the CoinSwitch platform. The next most popular combinations included Bitcoin + Shiba Inu, Dogecoin + Shiba Inu and Bitcoin + Ethereum. Investors aged 36-45 preferred Dogecoin + XRP, while the 26-35 and 46+ cohorts favoured Dogecoin + Ethereum. The data suggests that while younger investors are driving entry into the asset class, older investors are more inclined to build sophisticated portfolios with diversified holdings, indicating a maturing market where participants are developing more sophisticated investment strategies. As per CoinSwitch, this trend reflects the evolution of crypto adoption from a speculative asset to a more established investment category. However, Sharat Chandra from EmpowerEdge Ventures noted that while Bitcoin picked up in August to $72,000, the spike may not affect youth preference towards selling, citing ongoing macro uncertainty from geopolitical conflicts.
Crypto participation continues to extend beyond India's traditional financial centres, with Uttar Pradesh remaining India's largest crypto market at 12.9% of total investment, followed by Maharashtra at 12.4%. As reported by CoinSwitch, Karnataka accounted for 8.1% and Delhi recorded 7.4% of total investment. Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest female participation at 59.3% among the top ten markets, indicating growing inclusivity in crypto adoption across different demographics. Andhra Pradesh stands out with Dogecoin as its most-traded coin, unlike other states where Bitcoin rules, with Bitcoin being the most preferred crypto across nine of India's ten largest investing states. The findings are based exclusively on activity on the CoinSwitch platform during Q2 2026 and do not represent users of other crypto platforms.
According to CoinSwitch's analysis, the next phase of crypto adoption will be shaped by bringing more people into the market while also building greater confidence, awareness and sophistication among existing participants. Ashish Singhal, Co-founder CoinSwitch, emphasized that "that evolution will be important as crypto moves from an emerging category to a more established part of India's investment landscape." The report indicates that while younger investors continue to drive new participation, the trend toward portfolio diversification and sophisticated investment approaches among older demographics suggests a maturing market where participants are developing more nuanced understanding of cryptocurrency as an investment asset class. Additionally, Indian investors have a clear preference for evening trading with the busiest hour between 10 PM–11 PM, while Thursday is the busiest trading day of the week. Despite the current selling pressure from younger investors, the data suggests a maturing market where older, more experienced investors are providing stability through their buying activity.
