If you had bought 1000 Rupees worth of Bitcoin in 2010 at 3.38 Rupees per BTC, you would have 2,263 crores as of Jan 2026.
In simple terms, you would be one of the top 10,000 richest people in India.
What was the Price of Bitcoin in 2010 in INR?
In 2010, the price of Bitcoin averaged 3.38 Rupees. In absolute dollar terms, it fluctuated between 0.4 and 5 cents.
The year 2010 was also the year when Bitcoin saw its first real transaction. Programmer Laszlo Hanyecz sold 40,000 Bitcoins to another programmer, Jeremy Sturdivant, who then sponsored the two large Papa John’s Pizzas.
How Rich Would I be in Absolute Terms?
In absolute terms, you would have roughly 2,263 crore.
The underlying data includes:
- The price of Bitcoin is 3.38 Rupees.
- The assumed price of Bitcoin was $85,000 in the calculations.
- The cost of exchange between USD and Rupees at 90.
Would I be one of the richest in India?
Yes, and you would be in the top 0.01% of Indians with less than 10,000 people having the same or higher wealth than you.
Yet you still would not be the richest, because the richest in India have more than 300,000 crore in wealth, far exceeding your 2,263 crore. This is considering without any tax. With a 30% tax, you would further lose wealth and end up with only 1,584 crore rupees.
Some Realities to Ponder
You would be one of the wealthiest people, assuming you had not sold your Bitcoins in the meantime. However, that is not a straightforward answer, as it seems.
Assuming you bought Bitcoin in 2020, you would likely have used Mt. Gox, the most popular Bitcoin exchange at the time. Mt. Gox got hacked in 2014, draining everything its users had. The resolution process took over 10 years, and even in 2025, the repaid amount is far less in Bitcoin terms.
Another assumption is that you would have survived the 2018 ban on Bitcoin by the Indian Government. That year, it was mandated that everyone sell their Bitcoins or risk a fine and a jail term. As a law-abiding citizen, it was too high a risk considering you might never be able to sell your Bitcoins if the ban weren’t lifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was it legal to hold Bitcoin in 2010 in India?
Yes, considering there were no regulations, good or bad, on Bitcoin back in 2010 anywhere in the world. However, it was illegal in India between 2018 and 2021.
Disclaimer: BFM Times acts as a source of information for knowledge purposes and does not claim to be a financial advisor. Kindly consult your financial advisor before investing.
