XRP gets legal recognition as property in India: Why this court ruling matters

WazirX hack fallout: User challenges $9,400 XRP account freeze

The case began when Rhutikumari, an XRP (XRP) holder, filed a petition against WazirX after the exchange froze her account containing 3,532.30 XRP worth approximately $9,400. The dispute stemmed from WazirX’s response to a July 2024 hack that led to the theft of about $235 million in assets.

To manage the losses, WazirX proposed a controversial “socialization of losses” plan, which would distribute the financial impact proportionally across all user accounts. Rhutikumari challenged the plan, arguing that it infringed on her ownership rights.

In its defense, WazirX argued that the dispute was governed by a Singapore High Court-approved restructuring plan, which outlined a three-step process for pro rata compensation to all users. The exchange argued that it does not directly own user wallets and claimed the Madras High Court lacked jurisdiction because arbitration was based in Singapore. It also added that trading and withdrawals had been temporarily paused for all users during the restructuring process.

This situation prompted the Madras High Court to rule not only on Rhutikumari’s account but also on whether cryptocurrencies like XRP qualify as personal property under Indian law.

Did you know? XRP can settle cross-border transactions in just three to five seconds, making it one of the fastest digital assets for payments.

Court sets legal precedent in India

In a significant interim ruling, the Madras High Court declared that cryptocurrencies are “property capable of being possessed and held in trust,” formally recognizing them under Indian law.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh held that digital assets such as XRP constitute a form of property — intangible yet capable of being possessed, enjoyed and held in trust — rather than mere speculative instruments. In reaching this conclusion, he referred to Section 2(47A) of the Income Tax Act and drew from both Indian jurisprudence and international precedents, including the New Zealand case Ruscoe v. Cryptopia Ltd.

Although WazirX argued that a Singapore court-approved restructuring scheme governed the dispute, the Madras High Court disagreed. The court held that it retained jurisdiction since the petitioner, Rhutikumari, had transferred funds from an Indian bank account. It also noted that she accessed the WazirX platform from within India, creating a domestic cause of action.

As interim relief, the court prohibited Zanmai Labs, the Indian company operating WazirX, from reallocating Rhutikumari’s 3,532.30 XRP and ordered the exchange to provide a bank guarantee of approximately $11,500 until the matter is resolved. The ruling established cryptocurrency ownership as a legally protected property right in India.

Did you know? Many people confuse Ripple and XRP, but they’re not the same. Ripple is the company building blockchain-based payment solutions, while XRP is the decentralized digital asset that powers those transactions on the XRP Ledger, the blockchain network.

Why this ruling matters for crypto holders in India

The Madras High Court’s ruling marks a turning point for India’s crypto market, providing much-needed legal clarity. For the first time, a high court has formally recognized a digital asset like XRP as “property” under Indian law, granting investors clear ownership rights.

The Madras High Court’s interim order protects holders by restraining Zanmai Labs from reallocating or liquidating an investor’s XRP to offset losses from a hack or restructuring. It sets a precedent in which courts may treat crypto holdings as customer-owned property instead of unsecured claims on an exchange.

The ruling is widely expected to strengthen investor confidence in XRP in India, given the new legal clarity it provides.

The judgment may prompt lawmakers to introduce clearer and stronger rules on the ownership and rights of virtual digital asset holders. While this may take time, the ruling could serve as an important first step.

India joins the US, UK and Singapore in treating crypto as protected property

The Madras High Court’s ruling recognizes that cryptocurrencies constitute property under Indian law, offering legal protection to holders in India. With this decision, India aligns with other jurisdictions — including Singapore and the United States — that have also treated crypto assets as property in certain legal contexts.

In the US, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classifies virtual currency as property for federal tax purposes. Courts can freeze wallets, issue injunctions and seize crypto under property law and civil forfeiture rules. This property classification may help victims of hacks or fraud by providing a legal basis for recovery strategies, although actual recovery depends on traceability, jurisdiction and exchange cooperation.

English courts recognize crypto assets as property, enabling injunctive relief, tracing and disclosure orders. A landmark decision was AA v. Persons Unknown [2019] EWHC 3556 (Comm), where the court held that crypto assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) can be treated as property because they are definable, identifiable, transferable and satisfy the criteria for property rights.

Although English law traditionally divides property into “things in possession” and “things in action,” the court accepted that novel assets such as crypto assets may fall into a third category of personal property.

In Singapore, the High Court in ByBit Fintech Ltd v Ho Kai Xin & Ors [2023] SGHC 199 held that crypto assets are “property capable of being held on trust” and accordingly declared a constructive trust over misappropriated digital assets. The court’s decision enabled proprietary rights and equitable remedies (such as freezing orders and tracing) in respect of those assets, reinforcing that ownership of crypto can attract protection equivalent to traditional property.

How property status for crypto could impact XRP in India

The Madras High Court’s recognition of XRP as property could significantly impact India’s crypto market and boost investor confidence.

For XRP, stronger legal protections may increase local demand in India and strengthen investor confidence. As of Nov. 3, 2025, XRP was trading at approximately $2.3, with technical resistance around $2.80. If the ruling boosts demand in India, XRP could break above that resistance level.

For exchanges, the ruling may require a reorganization of their terms of service. They may need to revisit custody arrangements and restructuring plans, as the law now treats users’ tokens as protected property rather than shared assets.

For investors, understanding their legal rights is crucial. They now have stronger ownership recognition over the crypto assets they keep with exchanges. India now stands closer to jurisdictions such as the US, UK and Singapore. This alignment could accelerate India’s regulatory progress, fostering greater transparency, accountability and trust in the digital asset ecosystem.

Did you know? Unlike Bitcoin, XRP uses a consensus protocol that consumes very little energy. Some estimates put it at around 0.0079 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per transaction, compared to estimates of hundreds of kWh for Bitcoin.

Limitations of India’s landmark crypto property ruling

The Madras High Court’s ruling is a significant step forward, but it comes with certain limitations. As a crypto trader, it’s important to understand these constraints clearly.

• Sphere: The Madras High Court’s decision is an interim order specific to one holder’s 3,532 XRP, so it may not automatically apply to all wallets, tokens or exchanges.

• Token type: The court clarified that XRP and similar assets are not “currency” but intangible property, leaving uncertainty over how other types of virtual digital assets might be classified.

• Enforcement and recovery: While property status offers potential protection, actual enforcement and recovery will depend on each exchange’s custody practices and transparency.

• Regulatory evolution: India still lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework. This ruling is judicial, not legislative, and future legislation could override the court’s decision.

• Inter-jurisdictional issues: Cross-border crypto transactions may introduce additional complexity, as protections granted in one jurisdiction may not extend to another.