Crypto

First identify the asset and the claim

A token name alone does not establish its issuer, rights, supply, custody arrangement or exchange venue. Ask what the token actually entitles a holder to, how transfers are validated and whether the quoted market has meaningful liquidity. A chart without its venue and observation time is incomplete evidence.

A stable-value claim deserves its own check: what assets, redemption terms and independent evidence, if any, support it? This primer does not endorse any token or platform.

Custody and counterparty risk

Self-custody and platform custody carry different failure modes. Protect recovery information and understand what happens if access is lost, a platform suspends withdrawals or a smart contract fails. The RBI’s historical consumer warning identifies wallet, security and price-volatility risks; its 2013 wording should not be treated as a current legal-status determination.

• Do not enter a recovery phrase into a link sent by a stranger.
• Distinguish a platform statement from a verifiable public record.
• Check fees, withdrawal rules and the jurisdiction that would govern a dispute.

India-specific checks

The Financial Intelligence Unit India publishes notices and guidance about virtual-digital-asset service providers. A platform’s statement that it has completed a reporting obligation does not by itself make an asset safe, guarantee recovery or constitute an investment endorsement. Check current official guidance and obtain qualified legal or tax help for situation-specific obligations.

TradeGrows does not offer crypto trading, custody, exchange access, personal tax advice or real-time token recommendations.