Cryptocurrency emerged from a deeply philosophical conviction: that money should be decentralized, insulated from political discretion, and freed from the control of governments and banks. At its core, this belief reflects a distrust of centralized authority—born from repeated historical episodes of inflation, capital controls, financial repression, and crisis-driven bailouts. Crypto promised an alternative monetary order: rule-based rather than discretionary, global rather t

“Cryptocurrency is driven by the belief that money should be  decentralized , not controlled by governments or banks. It champions  financial sovereignty , giving individuals absolute ownership of their assets. The movement favors  code over institutions , replacing intermediaries with transparent, trustless systems. Promoters see it as a pathway to  universal financial access , beyond geography or status. At its core lies a conviction in  economic freedom and censorship resi

trends in Padma awardees Over the last three decades, the announcement of Padma Awards has quietly evolved into more than a ceremonial recognition of individual achievement. In my view, it has become a mirror reflecting India’s changing ideological and philosophical self-understanding. While officially apolitical, the pattern of Padma Award recipients reveals how the Indian state’s conception of merit, contribution, and national identity has shifted over time. In the mid-1990

Finance bill 2026 and its tax proposals on stock market transactions Focus: Securities Transaction Tax (STT) and Taxation of Share Buybacks The Finance Bill 2026 introduces two targeted but high-impact tax changes affecting capital markets: an increase in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on equity derivatives, and a shift in the tax treatment of corporate share buybacks. While narrow in scope, both measures have meaningful implications for market liquidity, investor behaviour