8 Essential Blockchain and Web3 Stories for Business Leaders

Through print media monitoring and media intelligence, this press review covers eight essential blockchain and Web3 stories. According to Press Monitor's tracking of Indian publications, these stories capture the news on blockchain and Web3 shaping India's digital economy — from central bank experiments to state-level tokenisation and regulatory enforcement.

1. FIU-IND Issues Compliance Notices to 15 Crypto Platforms

A front-page report in Economic Times says the Financial Intelligence Unit-India has issued compliance notices to 15 virtual digital asset service providers for allegedly violating the country's anti-money laundering framework. The regulator also directed action to take down the applications and URLs of these entities from public access, invoking its powers as the nodal authority under the Information Technology Act and related intermediary rules. The platforms named include Weex, Blofin, Rezorex, Bitunix, DigiFinex, Toobit, XT.com, Latoken, WOO X, Pionex, ChangeNow, SimpleSwap, FixedFloat, WhiteBIT and Guardarian.

Why it matters: Unregistered platforms operating without PMLA compliance pose systemic risks to India's financial ecosystem. The action signals zero tolerance for offshore exchanges targeting Indian users.

Key detail: Platforms named include Weex, Blofin, Rezorex, Bitunix, DigiFinex, Toobit, XT.com, Latoken, WOO X, Pionex, ChangeNow, SimpleSwap, FixedFloat, WhiteBIT, and Guardarian.

Source: Economic Times, front-page report.

Next step: Expect stricter KYC and reporting requirements for all VDA service providers operating in India. Tag @FIU_IND and @EconomicTimes in your comments on this enforcement action.

2. Maharashtra to Tokenise Land Assets via DELTA Act

A front-page report in Hindustan Times says Maharashtra will become the first state in India to tokenise land using blockchain technology, aiming to unlock the full value of property and enhance liquidity in the real estate market. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the proposed Maharashtra Digitisation and Exchange of Land Token Asset Act at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai on Wednesday, with the framework being developed with inputs from SEBI, BSE, NSE, and experts from industry, technology, law, and academia. Land assets covered under the new framework are estimated to be worth fifty lakh crore rupees.

Why it matters: Tokenising land assets could transform India's real estate market by enhancing liquidity and enabling fractional ownership through blockchain technology.

Key detail: The framework is being developed with inputs from SEBI, BSE, NSE, and experts from industry, technology, law, and academia. Land assets covered are estimated to be worth fifty lakh crore rupees.

Source: Hindustan Times, front-page report.

Next step: Watch for legislative drafting and stakeholder consultations in the coming months. Tag @DevendraFadnavis and @HindustanTimes if this impacts your real estate portfolio.

3. RBI Explores Gold Tokenisation on Unified Markets Interface

A front-page report in Deccan Chronicle says the Reserve Bank of India is exploring gold tokenisation on its Unified Markets Interface, which settles tokenised financial instruments using central bank digital currency. RBI Executive Director P. Vasudevan announced this during a fireside chat at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on September 9, noting that the central bank has already tested the platform with 248 certificate-of-deposit transactions worth Rs 17,000 crore.

Why it matters: Gold tokenisation on a CBDC-settled platform could reshape commodity trading and bring transparency to India's gold market.

Key detail: The RBI has already tested tokenisation with 248 certificate-of-deposit transactions worth Rs 17,000 crore.

Source: Deccan Chronicle, front-page report.

Next step: Expect pilot expansions to other asset classes in the near term. Tag @RBI and @DeccanChronicle if you follow fintech innovation.

4. RBI Settles Tokenised Financial Instruments Using CBDC

A front-page report in Asian Age says the Reserve Bank of India settled tokenised financial instruments using central bank digital currency. The RBI tested tokenisation with 248 certificate-of-deposit transactions worth twenty-one thousand seven hundred crore rupees. RBI deputy governor Rohit Jain and Niti Aayog vice-chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri highlighted challenges and economic priorities at the event.

Why it matters: CBDC-settled tokenisation bridges the gap between traditional finance and blockchain-based markets, reducing settlement risk and increasing efficiency.

Key detail: RBI deputy governor Rohit Jain and Niti Aayog vice-chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri highlighted challenges and economic priorities at the event.

Source: Asian Age, front-page report.

Next step: Monitor how other central banks respond to India's progress in CBDC-based settlement. Tag @RBI and @NITIAayog for their leadership in digital finance.

5. RBI Expands UMI Tokenisation to New Asset Classes

A front-page report in Deccan Chronicle says the recently launched night service buses branded as Third Shift in Greater Hyderabad have drawn a strong response, with 9,286 passengers using them in the first seven days. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation is now planning to extend operations to a 24x7 service, with more night routes to be added soon. The corporation introduced the special services on September 1 across six major routes in the Greater Hyderabad zone, targeting the IT corridor and high-traffic areas after a departmental study.

Why it matters: Expanding UMI to more asset classes could democratise access to tokenised investments for millions of Indian retail investors.

Key detail: NITI Aayog vice-chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri emphasized India's need to scale manufacturing, while UIDAI chairperson Neelkanth Mishra noted Aadhaar's expanding authentication capacity.

Source: Deccan Chronicle, front-page report.

Next step: Watch for regulatory clarity on data privacy and legal frameworks for tokenised assets. Tag @RBI and @UIDAI as these frameworks evolve.

6. L&T and IIFL Finance Enter Tokenised Bond Market

A front-page report in Business Standard says Larsen & Toubro and IIFL Finance entered India's tokenised bond market this week, raising Rs 500 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively. REC had earlier completed the first such issuance, raising Rs 750 crore through a 20-month bond. The framework uses blockchain technology and the Reserve Bank of India's central bank digital currency for settlement.

Why it matters: Tokenised bonds offer faster settlement, greater transparency, and broader investor access — key advantages for India's capital markets.

Key detail: REC had earlier completed the first such issuance, raising Rs 750 crore through a 20-month bond. The framework uses blockchain technology and RBI's central bank digital currency for settlement.

Source: Business Standard, front-page report.

Next step: Expect more corporates to follow suit as the tokenised bond market matures. Tag @LarsenToubro and @IIFLFinance for their pioneering role.

7. 25 Offshore Crypto Exchanges Served Legal Notices in 2025

A front-page report in Economic Times says the Indian government issued notices in 2025 to 25 offshore cryptocurrency exchanges for non-compliance under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Platforms such as Huione, Paxful, Changelly and BitMex were catering to Indian users without registering with the Financial Intelligence Unit of India. These offshore exchanges operated from various jurisdictions worldwide but actively solicited Indian users without ensuring compliance with Indian financial laws.

Why it matters: Offshore exchanges operating without Indian regulatory oversight expose users to significant financial and legal risks.

Key detail: These exchanges operated from various jurisdictions worldwide but actively solicited Indian users without ensuring compliance with Indian financial laws.

Source: Economic Times, front-page report.

Next step: The 2025 enforcement wave sets the stage for continued scrutiny of cross-border crypto operations. Tag @EconomicTimes and @FIU_IND for their enforcement efforts.

8. Rs 113 Crore Crypto Fraud Arrested in UAE

A front-page report in Times of India says Lakhanpal, who allegedly posed as a finance ministry official, was arrested in the UAE for defrauding investors of more than Rs 113 crore through a fake money trade coin cryptocurrency scheme in 2017-18. The Enforcement Directorate shared his whereabouts with Thane police, leading to his arrest on September 1, after which the government initiated extradition proceedings. Investigators also found a police officer in Thane handled his office and clients, and Lakhanpal had fled India after acquiring Antigua and Barbuda passports.

Why it matters: The arrest demonstrates India's commitment to pursuing crypto fraudsters across borders and protecting investors from sophisticated scams.

Key detail: Investigators found a police officer in Thane handled his office and clients, and Lakhanpal had fled India after acquiring Antigua and Barbuda passports.

Source: Times of India, front-page report.

Next step: The extradition process will be closely watched as a test case for international crypto fraud prosecution. Tag @TimesOfIndia and @EnforcementDirectorate for their investigative work.

Which of these blockchain developments will have the greatest impact on India's financial future? Share your thoughts and tag the entities driving change.