WazirX Says Futures Volume Rose 236% in July to September
WazirX said on 9 October its futures volume rose 236% and daily futures traders about 279% from July to September, but it gave no rupee totals.
Indian crypto exchange WazirX said on Friday 9 October 2026 that its futures trading volume rose 236% between the start of July and the end of September, and that daily futures traders rose about 279%. Volume at its September peak was about 345% above early-July levels. WazirX did not disclose absolute volumes in rupees or dollars.
Key takeaways
- A 236% rise means volume at the end of September was about 3.4 times its early-July level, but the starting figure was not published.
- WazirX added rupee-margined futures on USDT-priced contracts in August, plus an AI trading assistant, automatic margin top-ups and a free tax-report tool, TaxLyst.
- WazirX said more than 60% of trades were winning trades, but gave no method or period, so the claim cannot be checked.
- WazirX's operator, Zanmai Labs, is one of 54 VDA service providers registered with FIU-IND as of 9 March 2026.
What WazirX announced on 9 October
WazirX's statement on 9 October 2026 covered the July to September quarter. In August it introduced rupee-margined futures on crypto-USDT contracts, so users can trade USDT-priced contracts without first converting rupees into USDT. Rupee markets still made up most futures activity, but USDT contracts took 20% to 35% of daily volume on some September days.
The exchange launched WazirX AI, an assistant that helps users study price moves, review portfolios and place trades from one screen, with a paper-trading mode that uses no real money. WazirX also added take-profit and stop-loss orders on its website and an automatic margin top-up, which moves money from a user's futures wallet into a position when more margin is needed.
For tax records, WazirX launched TaxLyst, a free tool that combines trade histories from WazirX and other supported platforms, calculates gains and losses and produces tax reports. Trade reports now show the user's name and PAN instead of an email address. Vice President Rajagopal Menon said the company wants futures growth to come with more user control and better-informed trading. WazirX also ran contests with combined rewards of about ₹1.04 crore during the quarter.
The numbers in WazirX's statement
The table sets out each figure WazirX gave for the July to September 2026 quarter and what it means in plain terms.
| Measure | WazirX figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Futures volume, early July to end of September | Up 236% | About 3.4 times the starting level |
| Peak September volume against early July | About 345% higher | About 4.5 times the starting level |
| Daily futures traders, end of quarter | About 279% higher | About 3.8 times the starting level |
| USDT contracts' share of daily volume | 20% to 35% on some September days | Rupee contracts remain the majority |
| Contest rewards in the quarter | About ₹1.04 crore | Promotions may have lifted activity |
| Absolute futures volume | Not disclosed | Growth cannot be compared with other exchanges |
Why WazirX's futures growth matters for Indian investors
WazirX's growth figures start from a low base. The exchange lost about $235 million in a hack on 18 July 2024 and restarted trading on 24 October 2025 after a Singapore court approved its restructuring, so large percentage gains do not show how big its futures market is. Our review of whether WazirX is safe and legal covers the hack, the repayment scheme and the Recovery Tokens.
Futures carry more risk than spot buying because of leverage. On Thursday 8 October, NEAR fell about 23% from its 2026 high of $5.595 to $4.301 on Binance. With ₹10,000 of margin at 10x leverage, a trader controls a position worth ₹1 lakh, and a 10% move the wrong way is enough to wipe out the margin before fees and 18% GST on those fees. A high share of winning trades says little if the losing trades are larger. Our guide to leverage in crypto trading explains the risk.
Tax on crypto futures is not settled in India. The cautious view treats profits as income from virtual digital assets, taxed at 30% plus 4% cess with no set-off for losses, so a ₹50,000 futures profit would carry ₹15,600 in tax. Some tax experts treat rupee-settled contracts as business income at slab rates. Read our explainer on crypto futures tax in India and check with a chartered accountant. A tool such as TaxLyst helps with records, but you remain responsible for the numbers.
Zanmai Labs, which runs WazirX, is entry 8 on the list of 54 FIU-registered VDA service providers as of 9 March 2026 that the government gave the Lok Sabha on 30 March 2026. FIU registration is an anti-money-laundering requirement, not an RBI licence or a guarantee of your money. Compare platforms on our FIU-registered exchanges page.
What to watch next at WazirX
- Absolute figures: whether WazirX publishes rupee volumes, open interest or audited numbers for the quarter ending 31 December 2026.
- Recovery Tokens: WazirX reviews recoveries each quarter and buys back tokens only when at least $10 million is available in a cycle. The 9 October statement did not say whether that has happened.
- Policy: Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance is preparing its report on virtual digital assets, which could affect futures products.
FAQ
What did WazirX announce on 9 October 2026?
WazirX said its futures trading volume rose 236% from early July to the end of September 2026 and daily futures traders rose about 279%. It did not publish absolute volumes.
Is WazirX legal in India in October 2026?
Yes. Its operator, Zanmai Labs, is registered with FIU-IND and was on the list of 54 registered VDA service providers as of 9 March 2026. Registration does not guarantee the safety of your funds; see our WazirX review for details.
How are crypto futures profits taxed in India?
The rules are unsettled. The cautious approach is to pay 30% plus 4% cess as income from virtual digital assets, while some experts treat rupee-settled contracts as business income, so check with a chartered accountant.
This article is AI-assisted, educational and general in nature. It is not financial advice and never a guarantee of profit. Every trade is at your own risk on your own exchange. See our risk disclosure and editorial policy.
