The first half of 2026 provided a closer look at how Indian investors interacted with the digital asset market and the different assets that captured their attention. As crypto participation continued to evolve, user preferences were reflected not only in the assets they chose to engage with, but also in the frequency and nature of their activity. From established names to assets gaining traction among a newer generation of investors, H1 2026 offered several interesting patterns across the market. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top 5 crypto assets traded in India during H1 2026, based on ZebPay’s internal data, along with understanding the investment patterns across different age groups.
India’s Top Crypto Asset Preferences in H1 2026
The spot trading activity on ZebPay, during H1 2026, highlights 5 assets that drew notable interest from Indian users. While they featured among the most actively traded assets during the period, the way users engaged with each one varied considerably, from the size of individual orders to the frequency of trades:
- Tether (USDT)
USDT stood apart from the rest of the market in terms of trading activity. Its widespread use as a stablecoin and trading part made it a central part of the users’ transactions during the first half of the year.
- Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin saw substantially higher trading activity than Ethereum, generating almost four times its trading volume. With both assets attracting a similar number of traders, the difference points to comparatively larger positions being taken in Bitcoin.
- Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum remained a major part of Indian users’ trading activity, with a trader base comparable to Bitcoin. However, the lower overall volume suggests that the average value of trades was comparatively smaller.
- XRP (XRP)
XRP stood out for the value of individual trades. It recorded the second-highest average order size among the 5 assets, behind USDT, indicating relatively larger transactions compared with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
- Solana (SOL)
Solana displayed a different pattern of engagement, with users placing trades more frequently relative to the total volume generated. This suggests a preference for smaller, more frequent transactions compared with other leading assets.
Also Read: The State of Crypto in India: H1 2026 Review & H2 2026 Outlook
How Crypto Preferences Varied Across Age Groups
Age played an interesting role in shaping both asset preferences and trading behaviour, during H1 2026. Each cohort displayed a distinct combination of preferred assets, investing preferences, and portfolio behaviour:
| Age Group | Top 5 Assets | Key Behavioural Insight |
| 18-25 (The Accumulator Gen-Z) | 1. SOL 2. BTC 3. XLM 4. USDC 5. LTC | Gen-Z showed the strongest accumulation pattern, with buying activity nearly 10x higher than selling. Among this cohort, Solana emerged as the most preferred asset. |
| 26-35 (The Balanced Builder) | 1. BTC 2. ETH 3. XRP 4. SOL 5. SIREN | This age group represented the largest share of users and contributed the highest proportion of trading activity. Their asset preferences centred around Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, while Solana also held a notable position in their portfolios. |
| 36-45 (The Profit Taker) | 1. BTC 2. XRP 3. ETH 4. SOL 5. SIREN | Selling activity was nearly 2x buying activity in this cohort. They also generated the highest Bitcoin trading volume, with preferences centred around more established digital assets. |
| 45+ (The Disciplined Veteran) | 1. BTC 2. ETH 3. XRP 4. SOL 5. SIREN | This group had the largest average portfolios and showed the highest trading frequency, while maintaining the smallest average trade sizes. Their preferences were also more concentrated in established digital assets. |
Final Thoughts
H1 2026 revealed a diverse picture of crypto participation in India, with both asset preferences and trading behaviour varying across user segments. While some assets stood out for their trading volume, others reflected larger individual trades or more frequent activity. Age-based patterns added another layer, with younger users showing stronger accumulation while older cohorts displayed distinct approaches to portfolio allocation and trading frequency. Together, these trends highlight how Indian users are engaging with digital assets in increasingly varied ways.
Note: The insights presented in this report are based on ZebPay’s internal data and reflect user activity observed on the platform, during H1 2026. The data offers a snapshot of user behaviour and trends, related to the timeline, and doesn’t represent the broader Indian crypto market.
FAQs
Which crypto assets were most preferred by Indian users in H1 2026?
1. USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana were the five leading assets by spot trading activity on ZebPay.
2. USDT remained the most prominent trading pair and stablecoin.
3. Bitcoin recorded nearly 4x the trading volume of Ethereum.
How did crypto preferences differ across age groups?
1. Users aged 18-25 showed the strongest preference for SOL, followed by BTC, XLM, USDC, and LTC.
2. The 26-35 cohort primarily preferred Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.
3. Users aged 36 and above showed stronger preferences for established assets, led by Bitcoin.
Which age group showed the strongest accumulation behaviour?
1. The 18-25 age group recorded the strongest accumulation trend.
2. Their buying activity was nearly 10x higher than their selling activity.
3. Solana was the most preferred asset among users in this age group.
How did trading behaviour vary between younger and older users?
1. Younger users showed a stronger tendency towards accumulation, particularly in the 18-25 cohort.
2. Users aged 36-45 recorded selling activity nearly twice their buying activity.
3. The 45+ group traded most frequently while recording the smallest average trade sizes.
What does the H1 2026 data reveal about crypto preferences across India’s users?
1. Asset preferences varied meaningfully across age groups.
2. Bitcoin featured prominently across older cohorts, while Solana was particularly popular among younger users.
3. Trading behaviour also differed, ranging from stronger accumulation to higher trading frequency and larger or smaller average positions.
