India’s largest discount stock broker, Zerodha, is set to introduce US equity trading for its users by the next quarter—an ambitious move coming as the company faces its first significant revenue decline in a decade. With this launch, Zerodha aims to tap into global markets via the GIFT City framework, catching up with rivals who already offer international trading.
Zerodha’s US Stock Trading: What’s Changing?
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath announced in an open Ask Me Anything (AMA) session that the platform would enable direct access to US stock investments in early 2026. CTO Kailash Nadh added that after years of technical and regulatory delays, “We now have requisite regulatory clarity through GIFT City” and are focused on building a “simple and seamless experience for users.” The company’s move will initially focus on access to US equities, with backend and frontend upgrades aimed at providing a smooth investing process for Indian retail investors.
The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) now provides a faster, more compliant route for international investing. Previously, investors faced hurdles due to remittance limits and operational bottlenecks. With GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) regulations, Zerodha users can access global markets with fewer complexities.
Why Is Zerodha Expanding Internationally?
Zerodha’s strategic expansion comes at a challenging time. For the fiscal year 2025, the company reported a 15% decline in both revenue and net profit—down to ₹8,500 crore and ₹4,200 crore, respectively, from ₹10,000 crore and ₹5,500 crore in FY24. New regulations targeting futures and options (F&O) trading have significantly impacted the broker’s core earnings stream.
Moreover, the company warns of a possible 40% drop in revenue for FY26 due to additional Securities Transaction Tax changes and further restrictions on popular derivatives trading options. This financial pressure is pushing Zerodha to diversify its offerings and reduce reliance on domestic F&O trading.
Competing for Market Share: The Race with Rivals
Zerodha’s late entry into US stock trading is seen as an effort to regain ground against competitors like Angel One, INDmoney, JM Financial, Axis Direct, HDFC Securities, Kuvera, and 5paisa, all of whom already allow Indian users to invest in foreign stocks. These platforms use similar GIFT City-based models to provide streamlined access to US equities.
The timing is crucial as newer competitors have leapfrogged Zerodha in terms of active users. For example, Groww surpassed Zerodha’s active client numbers, highlighting the importance of global investing as a growth lever in India’s brokerage sector. Zerodha’s previous attempt to provide US stock market access in 2020 was stalled by COVID-19 disruptions and regulatory uncertainty—but the technology and compliance landscape have evolved.
How Will US Stock Trading Work on Zerodha?
Zerodha will leverage GIFT City’s two main platforms—India INX Global Access (from BSE) and NSE International Exchange (NSE IX)—to facilitate US stock investing. Most investors will trade in US shares via Unsponsored Depository Receipts (UDRs), with transactions settled in a T+3 cycle. The Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) continues to apply, permitting up to $250,000 USD per year for overseas investments.
The company has invested heavily in revamping its backend systems, ensuring tax compliance and regulatory reporting, and partnering with US-based brokers (as adopted by peers like INDmoney and 5paisa) so customers can seamlessly trade a wide range of US-listed companies.
What This Means for Indian Investors
For Indian retail investors, Zerodha’s launch offers a practical, regulated pathway to invest in global giants like Google, Apple, Tesla, and Meta without leaving their local brokerage account. The move also increases healthy competition and is likely to spur more innovation, better pricing, and new product features across the industry.
Meanwhile, regulatory changes around F&O trading in India continue to alter risk and reward for young investors—a major demographic for Zerodha and its rivals. International diversification, once a niche play, is now a competitive necessity for platforms seeking long-term growth and customer loyalty.
Key Takeaways
- Zerodha will enable direct US stock trading through GIFT City by early 2026 after resolving regulatory and operational hurdles.
- The strategic pivot arrives amid the firm’s first-ever double-digit annual decline in revenue and profit, driven by F&O regulatory shifts.
- Rival brokers have already leveraged GIFT City to win market share in global investing, pressuring Zerodha to accelerate its international product rollout.
- This expansion gives Indian investors a new, regulated channel to participate directly in global stock markets, making international diversification far more accessible than before.
Zerodha’s global ambitions reflect a wave of change in India’s financial sector—where successful brokers must continually innovate, respond to regulatory shifts, and meet investors’ growing appetite for global opportunities.