Zerodha, India’s largest stockbroker by revenue, is finally stepping into the global investing space. CEO Nithin Kamath confirmed during an “Ask Me Anything” session that the firm will roll out U.S. stock investing for Indian users by early 2026 — one of its most anticipated launches.
Kamath shared, “A lot of people asked about the U.S. investing thing. We are working on it, and something should be ready in the next quarter.”
This announcement ends years of speculation that began back in 2020 when Kamath first revealed Zerodha’s plans for global investments — a project delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regulatory Clarity From GIFT City
According to Zerodha CTO Kailash Nadh, the project received a long-awaited boost after gaining regulatory clarity through Gujarat’s GIFT City — India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
“It has been a long-pending thing. We now have the requisite clarity through GIFT City. We’re building a seamless experience both on the backend and frontend,” Nadh said.
This move positions Zerodha among the few Indian fintech platforms leveraging GIFT City to offer international investment opportunities legally and securely.
Tapping Into Global Investment Demand
To enable trading in U.S. equities, Zerodha will need to partner with a U.S.-based broker — a model already used by competitors like INDMoney (partnered with Alpaca Broking) and 5Paisa (partnered with Vested).
Once launched, Indian investors could directly buy shares of global giants such as Apple, Tesla, and Amazon through the Zerodha platform — all from their existing accounts.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the excitement, challenges remain. The high cost of remittance under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) — currently capped at $250,000 per year per individual — could make frequent small-ticket international trades less viable.
Still, as Indian investors increasingly seek global diversification, Zerodha’s move could redefine how retail traders access international markets.
