Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath has revealed in a conversation with CoinDCX CEO Sumit Gupta that he has never owned Bitcoin. Despite engaging with high-profile global business leaders and prominent blockchain figures, Kamath admits that he is less familiar with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. He added that he is still learning about the space and plans to explore it further in 2026.
No Bitcoin Exposure Yet, Says Nikhil Kamath
During a recent exchange on X, Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, disclosed that he holds zero Bitcoin. He added that he has never invested in cryptocurrency. While the CoinDCX CEO sought to know about Kamath’s views on blockchain and Bitcoin, he admitted that his knowledge on the subject is limited.
Notably, Nikhil Kamath has conversed with global leaders across multiple industries via his WTF podcast. He had insightful talks with top industry players like Elon Musk, Ray Dalio, Nandan Nilekani, Ruchir Sharma, and more, focusing on blockchain and crypto.
Despite these discussions, Nikhil Kamath acknowledges that he is not a subject expert. In an X post, he stated,
“I hold none, never have, honestly don’t know enough to comment, would love to take some time and learn more about it next year…”
Significantly, Nikhil Kamath’s successful WTF podcast with tech behemoth Elon Musk ignited this conversation. In response to the event, Sumit Gupta, the CEO of CoinDCX, one of the largest crypto exchanges in India, inquired about Kamath’s approach to Bitcoin and blockchain. During the podcast, Musk equated Bitcoin with “energy,” which he believes to be the “true currency.” Musk stated,
“Energy is the true currency. This is why I said Bitcoin is based on energy. You can’t legislate energy. You can’t just pass a law and suddenly have a lot of energy. It’s very difficult to generate energy, especially to harness energy in a useful way. Probably (in future) we won’t have money, and probably will just have energy, with power generation, as the de facto currency.”
After engaging with numerous crypto personalities, Gupta expected Kamath to offer his perspective on the topic. He asked, “Would be keen to know what your view on blockchain and bitcoin is now? Has it evolved from those conversations? Do you hold any BTC?”
However, his response was unexpected. Despite being one of India’s youngest billionaires, with an estimated net worth of $2.5–$3.1 billion, Kamath stated that crypto is still something that he has never experienced.
Does This Indicate a Cautious Stance?
Considering India’s cautious approach to cryptocurrency, Nikhil Kamath’s statement echoes a similar stance. Despite global countries’ progressive measures to embrace crypto, India is still lagging behind without clear regulations. Although the government had promised to introduce comprehensive rules this year, no specific actions have been taken. For instance, tax regulations in India remain unchanged, with crypto gains still applicable to a massive 30% tax.
Kamath’s revelation also unveils a stark reality in India, where even prominent business personalities remain hesitant to invest in crypto. It also highlights the ongoing crypto debate in India, with traditional finance leaders turning away from digital assets.