How to Start a Crypto SIP in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide

Most guides explain how to buy Bitcoin. This piece walks the system instead. The mechanics matter more than the asset choice in practice, because the discipline of buying through a cadence is what builds the position. Bitcoin can be the underlying, or Ethereum, or a Crypto Index that holds multiple assets. The SIP framework is the same. This guide walks through every step from account creation through the first cadence event, in the order you actually go through them on Qatobit.

Starting a Crypto SIP in India takes six steps on Qatobit: complete KYC, deposit INR (minimum ₹200), choose what to SIP into (a Crypto Index or a single asset), choose cadence (weekly, biweekly, or monthly), choose amount (₹500 minimum weekly or biweekly for single asset, ₹2,000 minimum for any Crypto Index or monthly SIP), confirm and execute. The first cadence runs on the scheduled date.

Before you start: what to have ready

Three things make the setup smooth on the first attempt.

The first is a PAN card. The Indian regulatory framework requires PAN verification for any account that will hold or transact in virtual digital assets, both for the platform's compliance obligations and for the 1 percent TDS reporting under Section 194S that will apply on transfers above the threshold. PAN registration is a single-time step at account creation and is required before any SIP can be scheduled.

The second is a bank account in your name from which the SIP debits will run. Qatobit supports bank transfer (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS) for deposits, and a recurring SIP authorization is set up against a single source bank account. The bank account must be in the same name as the verified PAN; mismatches between the SIP debit source and the PAN holder trigger compliance flags and block the SIP from executing.

The third is a decision about what you want to SIP into. The Crypto SIP mechanism is the same regardless of underlying; the underlying is a separate decision. Qatobit supports SIP into any of the four QSI Crypto Indices (QSI Core, QSI Growth, QSI VRION, QSI GEQ8) and into any supported single asset including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The decision affects the minimum amount (₹2,000 per cadence for any Crypto Index, ₹500 for single-asset weekly or biweekly), but does not affect the setup steps. You can read the QSI Core methodology piece before deciding, or set up the SIP into a single asset first and switch later.

The six steps

The setup runs in sequence. Each step is small and confirm-able before moving to the next.

Step 1. Complete KYC

Open the Qatobit app or web interface and start the account creation flow. The KYC process collects PAN, address proof, and a live photograph for verification against the PAN database. The verification runs automatically and typically completes within minutes. Once the KYC is verified, the account moves from "pending" to "active" status, and all transactional features become available.

The KYC is one-time. The account does not require re-verification at later steps. If the KYC has already been completed for an existing Qatobit account, this step is skipped entirely.

Step 2. Deposit INR

From the active account, go to the deposit section and choose the deposit method. Bank transfer through NEFT, RTGS, or IMPS works, with timing depending on the bank's processing window.

The minimum deposit on Qatobit is ₹200. The amount you deposit at this step is the INR balance from which the first SIP cadence will purchase the underlying asset. For the first cadence to execute successfully, the INR balance must be equal to or greater than the SIP amount at the time the cadence runs.

A practical approach is to deposit at least the amount required for the first two cadences. This avoids the first SIP failing due to a timing mismatch between the bank's transfer-clearance window and the cadence execution time.

Step 3. Choose what to SIP into

From the SIP setup screen, choose the underlying. The two main options are a Crypto Index and a single asset.

A Crypto Index SIP buys into a basket of assets with a documented methodology. QSI Core, QSI Growth, QSI VRION, and QSI GEQ8 are the four indices in the QSI suite, each with a different construction and risk profile. The SIP buys the basket as a single product; the underlying allocation across the basket's constituents is handled by the index methodology, with monthly rebalancing maintaining target weights.

A single-asset SIP buys one asset on each cadence. Bitcoin SIP buys Bitcoin only. Ethereum SIP buys Ethereum only. The investor manages the allocation across assets manually if running multiple single-asset SIPs.

For the disciplined first-time allocator, the Crypto Index SIP is the simpler structure because it handles diversification and rebalancing through the index methodology rather than through the investor's own decisions. For the investor who wants direct, single-asset exposure, the single-asset SIP is the structure.

Step 4. Choose cadence

The cadence is weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Each cadence is a different operational pattern.

Weekly cadence runs 52 events per year. The cost basis is averaged across more entry points, which smooths the impact of any single week's price movement. The operational overhead is higher: more transaction events, more TDS events when transfers eventually occur, and more line items at return-filing time.

Biweekly cadence runs 26 events per year. The averaging is less granular than weekly but more granular than monthly. This is the middle path for investors who want frequent cadenced buying without the full operational density of weekly.

Monthly cadence runs 12 events per year. Each cadence is larger in rupee terms (because the same annual amount is concentrated across fewer events), and the cost-basis averaging operates across fewer entry points. The operational simplicity is higher; the per-event amount is larger.

There is no objectively "best" cadence. Weekly produces smoother cost averaging; monthly produces simpler operations. The framework is the same; the choice is the investor's.

Step 5. Choose amount

The amount is per cadence. The minimums are:

• ₹500 per cadence for weekly or biweekly SIP into a single asset.
• ₹2,000 per cadence for monthly SIP into a single asset.
• ₹2,000 per cadence for any Crypto Index SIP, at any cadence (weekly, biweekly, or monthly).

The amount is set once at SIP creation and runs unchanged until modified. You can modify the amount, the cadence, or both at any time through the SIP management screen.

For an investor with a defined annual amount in mind, the math runs in reverse: divide the annual target by the number of cadence events. A ₹24,000 annual target works out to ₹2,000 per month (12 events), about ₹923 per event biweekly (26 events), or about ₹462 per event weekly (52 events). The monthly figure clears the ₹2,000 minimum for both a single asset and a Crypto Index. The weekly and biweekly figures clear the ₹500 single-asset minimum but fall short of the ₹2,000 Crypto Index minimum, which applies at any cadence. Plan the annual amount against the minimum for the cadence and underlying actually chosen before committing to it.

Step 6. Confirm and execute

The confirmation screen shows the full SIP setup: underlying, cadence, amount per cadence, first cadence date, and the recurring authorization. The first cadence is typically scheduled for the next available cadence date after setup, with the option to set a specific start date.

On confirming, the SIP is active. The recurring authorization is in place. The first cadence runs on the scheduled date if the INR balance is sufficient. The platform sends a notification before each cadence so the investor can confirm INR availability.

What happens on the first cadence

On the first cadence date, the SIP runs through three sub-steps automatically.

The first is the INR debit. The cadence amount moves from the deposited INR balance to a settlement holding for the transaction. If the balance is insufficient, the cadence fails, and the SIP attempts the next cadence on the next scheduled date.

The second is the purchase execution. The cadence amount buys the underlying at the prevailing executed price. For a Crypto Index, the basket purchase is split across the constituents according to the current target weights. The basket fee of 0.35 percent applies on Crypto Index purchases. For a single-asset SIP, the buy fee of 0.4 percent applies.

The third is the position recording. The purchased units (or basket weight) is recorded against the investor's holdings, with the cost basis stamped at the executed price plus the relevant fee. The transaction appears in the investor's transaction history within minutes.

No TDS applies on the buy-side cadence. Section 194S TDS applies on transfers (sales and crypto-to-crypto trades), not on INR-to-crypto buys. The SIP buy-side flow is therefore TDS-free at the cadence event. TDS becomes relevant when the investor eventually sells, which is a separate decision from the SIP.

Modifying, pausing, and stopping the SIP

A live SIP can be modified at any time. The modifications available are amount per cadence, cadence frequency, and underlying. Modifying the underlying converts the SIP from one product to another from the next cadence onward; existing holdings from previous cadences remain in their original product unchanged.

A SIP can be paused. Pausing keeps the recurring authorization in place but skips cadences until the SIP is resumed. Pausing is useful for short interruptions (a temporary cash-flow constraint, a deliberate halt during a research window) without losing the SIP setup.

A SIP can be stopped. Stopping ends the recurring authorization and closes the SIP. The holdings built up to that point remain in the investor's account unchanged. Stopping does not sell the position; it only ends the scheduled buying.

A word on what the SIP does not do

The SIP does not time the market. The cadence runs on the scheduled date regardless of price. This is the design feature, not a limitation. The premise of a cadenced buying system is that the investor cannot reliably time entries; the SIP replaces the timing decision with a calendar decision. The investor decides the cadence; the system executes at the prevailing price on each cadence event.

The SIP does not eliminate market risk. The position value moves with the underlying asset. Crypto markets are volatile, and the SIP's cost-basis averaging operates within that volatility rather than against it. The 1 percent TDS framework on transfers continues to apply when the investor eventually sells. The 30 percent flat tax under Section 115BBH applies on gains at the time of sale. The SIP is a buying discipline; the tax framework is the same as for any crypto holding.

Qatobit is India's Crypto Wealth Architect. The Crypto SIP into a QSI Crypto Index runs the same operational framework described in this guide, with the basket fee of 0.35 percent applying on each cadence purchase and the per-index minimum of ₹2,000.

For the broader mechanic of how a Crypto SIP averages cost over time, see How a Crypto SIP works. For the specific concept of rupee cost averaging, see What is rupee cost averaging in crypto?. For QSI Core methodology before deciding on the underlying, see What is QSI Core?. The SIP product page is at /products/sip.

Frequently asked questions

**What is the minimum to start a Crypto SIP in India?**

The minimum on Qatobit is ₹500 per cadence for weekly or biweekly SIP into a single asset (such as Bitcoin or Ethereum), or ₹2,000 per cadence for any Crypto Index SIP at any cadence and for monthly SIP into a single asset. The minimum is per cadence, not per year. A ₹2,000 monthly SIP into QSI Core runs as twelve ₹2,000 purchases through the year, totaling ₹24,000 deployed annually.

**Can I pause or stop my Crypto SIP?**

Yes. A live SIP can be paused at any time, which keeps the setup in place but skips cadences until resumed. A SIP can also be stopped, which ends the recurring authorization. In both cases, holdings built up to that point remain in the account unchanged; pausing or stopping does not sell the position. The actions are available in the SIP management screen.

**What happens to my SIP when the crypto market is falling?**

The SIP runs on the scheduled cadence regardless of market direction. When prices are lower, the same rupee amount buys more units, which is the cost-averaging effect the SIP is designed to produce. The position value reflects the market price; when the market falls, the position value falls with it, partially offset by the additional units acquired at lower prices. The discipline of the SIP is that it does not respond to short-term market movement; it executes on the calendar.

**Do I pay TDS on a Crypto SIP?**

The 1 percent TDS under Section 194S applies on transfers of virtual digital assets (sales and crypto-to-crypto trades). The buy-side SIP cadence does not trigger TDS, because the cadence is an INR-to-crypto purchase, not a transfer. TDS becomes relevant when you eventually sell the position. The 30 percent flat tax under Section 115BBH applies on gains at the time of sale. The Crypto SIP setup itself does not create TDS events.

**Can I SIP into a Crypto Index instead of Bitcoin?**

Yes. Qatobit supports SIP into any of the four QSI Crypto Indices (QSI Core, QSI Growth, QSI VRION, QSI GEQ8) at the ₹2,000 per cadence minimum at weekly, biweekly, or monthly cadence. A Crypto Index SIP buys the basket as a single product, with the index methodology handling diversification across the constituent assets and monthly rebalancing maintaining target weights. The setup steps are the same as for a single-asset SIP; only the underlying choice differs.

Disclaimer

Crypto investments are subject to market risk and volatility. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. This is not investment advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before investing.

*Written by Manjusri, Content Operations, Qatobit.*