Zerodha's US market push via GIFT City could open doors

A Regulatory Shortcut Goes Live

Wait, Zerodha is about to let you trade US stocks from India—through a special zone in GIFT City—and it could happen in the next quarter. That’s not a gimmick. It’s a route designed to bypass some of the old friction in cross-border investing. GIFT City, backed by IFSCA, uses platforms like India INX and NSE-IX to make remittance and foreign-trade rules easier to handle. The big idea? A smoother path from your India-based account to US-listed shares, with fewer snags around remittance regulation and US broker partnerships.

This move isn’t happening in a vacuum. Regulators gave clarity on the route, clearing hurdles that had slowed entry before. Zerodha isn’t just adding a new product; it’s rethinking how an Indian trader accesses the world’s biggest market from a domestic app. For everyday investors, it could mean simpler onboarding, fewer paperwork gaps, and a more straightforward currency flow. But it also ties your buying choices to the rules of a special financial territory, and to how US-listed stocks are taxed and reported back home.

Revenue Headwinds Meet Innovation

Look, the numbers aren’t glowing. Zerodha saw a 15% decline in revenue and profits in FY25, driven by multiple regulatory changes hitting its core business. The company even warns of a further 40% revenue drop in FY26. That’s not a tease—it’s a real pull on what the firm can grow this year. So why push into US stocks now? Because diversification isn’t a luxury; it’s a response to a tougher domestic regulatory climate and slowing growth.

And there’s a twist with other players too. Groww faced its own headaches with the TCS on investments over ₹7 lakh. The GIFT City route promises a more predictable remittance experience, cutting through some of the friction that slowed earlier attempts to go US. It’s a classic “do more with less friction” move. If it works, Zerodha can unlock new revenue streams from cross-border trading while its home market adjusts to tighter rules. If it falters, the pressure on margins could widen. The timing matters—and so does how seamlessly traders adopt the new US investment option.

The Investor at the Center of the Web

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re an Indian investor, you might soon see US stocks appear in your Zerodha dashboard with a smoother path to buy and sell. That could widen the investable universe, a big plus when local risk is high and earnings growth has been uneven (as seen in FY26 projections). It could also change how you think about currency risk, tax reporting, and cross-border commissions.

But there are caveats. The cross-border route depends on regulatory stability, currency controls, and US-market access rules staying friendly. If those align, this could be a practical, everyday upgrade—a way to balance your portfolio with US names without leaving the Zerodha app. If they don’t, you might see delays, higher fees, or more paperwork than expected.