Upstox launches US stock and ETF investing via GIFT City

Following IFSCA approval, Upstox has introduced US investing for Indian users, offering access to more than 8,000 US-listed stocks and 2,000 ETFs. The service includes rupee funding, fractional investing from $1 and after-market orders.

— Source publishedMon, 7 Sept, 2026, 16:19 IST·First seen Mon, 7 Sept, 2026, 17:30 IST·Source Inc42

What happened

Upstox launched US stock and ETF investing for Indian users via GIFT City after IFSCA approval. The service supports rupee funding, fractional shares from $1

Key facts

  • More than 8,000 US-listed stocks
  • More than 2,000 ETFs
  • $1 minimum investment
  • $250,000 annual LRS remittance limit
  • Up to $400 million potential IPO raise

Why this matters

Upstox’s entry highlights growing strategic value in cross-border investing infrastructure, creating partnership opportunities across GIFT City custody, FX, payments, market data and US brokerage execution.

What to watch

  • Upstox disclosures on funded accounts, first-time international investors, assets under custody and repeat-investment frequency.
  • FX conversion spread, custody charges, withdrawal fees and whether promotional pricing becomes permanent.
  • Competitive announcements from Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, ICICI Direct, HDFC Securities and global-investing fintech partners.
  • IFSCA or RBI changes affecting GIFT City outbound investing, LRS compliance, remittance limits or tax collection treatment.
  • US market volatility or a sustained rally in megacap technology stocks, which could materially affect retail acquisition and trading activity.
  • Evidence of adoption beyond equities, especially low-cost broad-market ETFs and recurring fractional investments.
  • Introduce introductory FX-rate or brokerage-fee incentives to build funded international accounts.
  • Add curated US thematic baskets, recurring-investment plans and India-relevant research on AI, semiconductors, healthcare and index ETFs.
  • Cross-sell US investing to active Indian equities and mutual-fund customers through in-app prompts and portfolio allocation tools.
  • Rivals may accelerate GIFT City partnerships, fractional-share capabilities and rupee-funded international investing launches.
  • Expect increased investor education around LRS limits, TCS, capital-gains reporting, dividend taxation and currency risk.

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