A common search before trading is whether Binance is 'SEBI registered'. It's the wrong regulator — but the underlying question (is Binance officially allowed to serve Indians?) has a clear answer.
SEBI is the wrong regulator for crypto
SEBI regulates securities — stocks, bonds, mutual funds and the exchanges that trade them. Crypto assets (Virtual Digital Assets) are not treated as securities in India, so SEBI does not license or register crypto exchanges.
The body that matters for crypto is FIU-IND, which requires every VDA service provider serving Indian users to register and comply with anti-money-laundering (PMLA) obligations.
What Binance actually registered for
Binance was blocked in India in early 2024 for operating without FIU registration. It subsequently registered with FIU-IND, paid an ₹18.82 crore penalty, and resumed services for Indian users in mid-2024.
So the correct statement is: Binance is FIU-IND registered (not SEBI registered), which is the registration that makes it compliant to serve India.
Key takeaways
- Binance is NOT SEBI registered — SEBI doesn't regulate crypto.
- Crypto exchanges register with FIU-IND under PMLA.
- Binance completed FIU-IND registration in 2024 after a ban + ₹18.82 cr penalty.
- It now operates legally for Indian users.
