India's Finance Minister: WhatsApp & Google Maps Helped Track ₹250 Cr in Crypto & Black Money
In a bold move to crack down on unaccounted wealth, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that authorities used encrypted WhatsApp messages and Google Maps history to uncover ₹250 crore in hidden income—₹200 crore of which was linked to crypto assets.
The revelations came during a defense of the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which aims to modernize tax enforcement by granting officials more power to investigate digital communications. The bill allows the tracking of digital assets, encrypted messages, and location history to identify undisclosed income and hidden cryptocurrency transactions.
As the Indian government tightens its grip on financial transparency, these measures mark a significant shift in how technology and surveillance intersect with tax policy—raising both support and concerns within the crypto community.
